What we think of as an internet connection (modem, DSL, Cable, whatever) is not as continuous as it could be.  There are numerous starts and stops that are transparent to us as end users - until we try FTP.  FTP operates on the premise that it has effectively uninterrupted access to the server over the web.  Well, it does not.  One of the many possible solutions is to get FTP client software to make up for the inadequacies of the FTP in Windows.  This is analogous to replacing Notepad with a more robust word processor.

There are many options for such products.  OGS staff have installed and tested one good candidate - Core FTP LE.  The tested version is free.  There are other options as well - including a ‘talking' version (not tested).  For other possibilities C/net Download.com has 1,466 FTP programs in all with 348 that are for Windows XP and are ‘free'.  For a direct connection to Core FTP LE try http://www.coreftp.com/ or http://www.coreftp.com/download.html .  Whatever you find might need some modification to suit your system and needs.  Adding software may not resolve problems you are experiencing using FTP.  An FTP client may well smooth out some of the rough spots using FTP from Windows.

But wait there is more …

For those not put off by technical jargon, acronyms and peripheral associations to what you are trying to do, there is a plethora of possibilities for background information on the web.  From my web browser I typed in "how to use FTP."  The results indicated that there were more than 4,000,000 web sites that fit the search criteria.  The following is a list of five of the web resources with help using FTP.  Some sites promote a specific product, some are more general. 

Beginner's Guide to FTP
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a way to exchange files over the Internet ...
www.ftpplanet.com/ftpresources/basics.htm - 12k

UCC EPU: How to FTP: Using the File Transfer Protocol to upload ...
University FTP support page ...
www.ucc.ie/doc/other/howtoftp.html - 31k

What is FTP, and how do I use it to transfer files? - Knowledge Base
FTP is used to transfer files between computers on the Internet ...
www.kb.indiana.edu/data/aerg.html - 14k

FTP Tutorial - Part 1
Learn how to use FTP to upload files to your site (Free Webmaster Help) …
www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/ftp - 30k

Using ftp for file transfer
Examples of Ftp use are: to transfer files ...
www.circa.ufl.edu/handouts/networks/ftp.html - 9k

These sites are listed as examples and do not imply any preference, approval or promotion by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and or the Office of Geological Survey.

Links change - if any of the links on this page do not work please email Steven E. Wilson .

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