Downloading Files with FTP

To download files from the Internet, you must indicate whether the file is an ASCII or a binary file. By default, when you begin using FTP, you are working in ASCII mode. To transfer text files, it is not necessary to change modes; however, you cannot transfer a binary file while you are in ASCII mode.

Tip

Most text-based FTP clients are case-sensitive, so make sure you use the correct case when you attempt to transfer resources from these FTP sites.

To switch from ASCII to binary transfer mode

• At the ftp> prompt, type binary

  The following message appears to confirm the change to binary transfer mode:

• 200 Type set to I

To switch from binary transfer mode to ASCII

• At the ftp> prompt, type ASCII

  The following message appears to confirm the change to ASCII:

• 200 Type set to A

To transfer a file to your computer

• At the ftp> prompt, type get filename

  For example, to get the directory map on the Microsoft FTP server, type

  get dirmap.txt

  To place the file on a computer with a name other than the one it had on the server, type

  get filename newname

If you get an error, remember that you are using software that is case-sensitive, so make sure you typed the word dirmap.txt exactly.

When you see the ftp> prompt again, look in Windows Explorer for the DIRMAP.TXT file and open it by using a text processor such as WordPad.

To disconnect from your host

• At the ftp> prompt, type disconnect

To stop using FTP

• At the ftp> prompt, type quit