FireFTP -- FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL SOFTWARE

FireFTP is a freeware file transfer protocol utility (FTP) that bundles with Modzilla Firefox (a web browser that is also open-source and free).

OVERVIEW

Along the top-edge of the FireFTP window you will find links for Manage Account settings, Connect/Disconnnect, Abort, etc.

FireFTP divides its window into two parts.  The "local" folders and files on your computer are the left side of the window and the "remote" folders and files on your network space are on the right (when you are connected that is). Similarly, at the top-edge of the window, you will find an FTP address entry box for your local computer on the left and the remote server on the right.

In the middle of the FireFTP window you will find two arrow buttons; one points to the left (or from the remote server to the local computer) and the other points to the right (or from the local computer to the remote server).  In other words, clicking on the buttons will do the following:

  • Left button [<] will "get" stuff from the server and put it on your local computer.
  • Right button [>] will "put" stuff on the server.

If you context-click in one of the columns (Windows right-click; Macintosh Control-click), you can access a context menu, which you might want to use to make new directories (folders) on the local and remote sites, delete files, etc.

To log in at Emily Carr

To connect, go to the FireFTP window and click on Connect (and subsequently, when you are done with your session, make sure that you click Disconnect.)

WHEN YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LOGGED ON

Once you are logged on, your network partition should come up on the right side of the FireFTP window. The remote FTP address box should read:

  • /home/students/your_username

In addition to your ECU Home Directory, you should be able to navigate through the various folders in the Students Directory and locate the Dropboxes and Public folders.  For example:

  • Public disk = /home/students/Public/Instructor/Martin_Rose
  • Dropboxes disk = /home/students/Dropboxes/mrose

TO MOVE DATA BACK AND FORTH

To shift files between your local computer your remote network space, you should move through the folders and find where you want to "get" a file and where you want to "put" it.  For example, if you want to move a file from your network partition at Emily Carr and move it to your computer desktop:

  1. Refer to the Remote column at the right-hand side of the FireFTP and select a folder or file that you want to move to your computer.
  2. Look to the Local column on the left side of the FireFTP window and find where to transfer the remote folder or file.
  3. Once you have located the Remote file, locate the arrow icons in the centre of the FireFTP window and click on the "get" button (or the arrow pointing left [<]).  By doing so, the software will do a file transfer and shift the file from the remote ECU server to your local computer.  Obviously, you would do the opposite to "put" stuff from your computer to your ECU network partition (click on the arrow pointing right [>]).
  4. While the transfer occurs, a status bar at the bottom right-hand edge of the FireFTP window will show the status of the file transfer.  Similarly, you can read the status in percent on the FireFTP tab in the Firefox browser window.

TO use fireFTP from home - to SET UP A NEW ACCOUNT

By referring to the top-left of the FireFTP window, click Manage Accounts, choose "New" from the pull-down menu, and enter the following information:

Main > Main Details:

  • Account Name: emily carr ftp (this will be your FireFTP name for the account)
  • Host: ftp.euad.ca

Main > ID:

  • Login: Enter your ECU username
  • Password: Enter your ECU password

Connection > Connection Type:

  • Make sure that "Passive Mode" is "checked."

To connect, go back to the FireFTP window and click on Connect (and subsequently, when you are done with your session, make sure that you click Disconnect.)

Links to Modzilla Firefox