Dave's Simplified FTP Windows Walkthrough

Important Tips: After you have completed your transfer, please make sure that your files transfered correctly. For example, if you are transferring files to your public_html account you can view them on any computer with internet access. It is also wise not to name your folders or files involved in the FTP with spaces in the name.


If you are using an FTP program with a graphical user interface the connection path is:
gateway_machine_name.seas.columbia.edu



Otherwise, here is a brief walkthrough on how to FTP from your Windows computer.
Please note: If you are FTP'ing from your CUNIX account, open a CUNIX a.k.a. "command" window and start at step #4.
  1. Click on the Start button on your windows tool bar
  2. Click on the Start menu choice Run

    A Run window should appear.

  3. Type in the Run window: 'command' and then hit enter.

    A Command window should appear.

  4. In the command window change the directory to the location of the files you wish to transfer and hit 'return'

    Example:      cd c:\folder_name\folder_name2

  5. Then type:     ftp machine_name.seas       and then hit return. Where the machine_name is name of any machine in the lab, ex. faraday or dalton.

    The Command window will display a prompt for your user ID.

  6. Enter your lab user ID and then when prompted enter your lab password.

    Once logged in, the prompt will change from your computer directory to:      ftp>

  7. You are now working inside the computers at the Gateway Lab. Change your directory to the location you want to place the files and hit 'return'. Example:      cd public_html

  8. Now you can do one of four things:

CommandFunction
put file_name.ext puts a copy of the file: file_name.ext into the directory you changed to in the line before. -- In our example it was the public_html folder.
mput * puts a copy of all of the files from the directory on your computer that you specified at the beginning of the command window, -- in our example it was c:\folder_name\folder_name2, -- into the directory you changed to in the line before -- In our example it was the public_html folder.
get file_name.ext gets a copy of the file: file_name.ext from the directory you changed to in the line before. -- In our example it was the public_html folder, -- and places it in the directory on your computer that you specified at the beginning of the command window, -- in our example it was c:\folder_name\folder_name2.
mget * gets a copy of all of the files from the directory you changed to in the line before -- in our example it was the public_html folder -- and places them into the directory on your computer that you specified at the beginning of the command window, -- in our example it was c:\folder_name\folder_name2.


There are three other commands that can also be useful, especially if you transfers were not fully successful:

CommandFunction
bin If you are experiencing problems with the way an image file is being transferred. Type in this command and then hit enter and then try again using one of the three transfer commands above. What this command is doing is giving more information about the way the file should be transfered. In this case you're telling the computer to transfer it in binary mode.
ascii If you are experiencing problems with the way a text file is being transferred. Type in this command and then hit enter and then try again using one of the three transfer commands above. What this command is doing is giving more information about the way the file should be transfered. In this case you're telling the computer to transfer it in ASC II mode.
lcd c:\other_folder_name This command changes the directory on your local machine that you are working with -- For our example, this would change the directory of c:\folder_name\folder_name2 to the directory of c:\other_folder_name. -- Now all of the file transfers will occur between the gateway computers and the files located in c:\other_folder_name