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Using FTP for File Transfer:

We use ws_ftp.  There is a lite version (free) and a professional version (shareware).  Find either on the Web and download and install it.
At a computer with a modem, go online before opening ws_ftp.
At a computer on campus with a direct connection, opening ws_ftp will connect you immediately.

Here is the opening screen:

Click on New and assign a new Profile Name.  Type the Host Name or Address for the remote computer.
The host name for the Lehman alpha server: alpha.lehman.cuny.edu
Automatic detect generally works for Host Type.
For anonymous FTP, click into the box in front of Anonymous.
For other FTP, type your User ID, your password, and click into the box in front of Save Password - but only on your own private computer -- if you do this elsewhere, make sure to delete the profile to keep other users out of your account.
Now click on the Startup tab, and enter starting directories for both the remote host and your local computer.
Click on OK.
If you did all of this correctly, you will get connected to the remote computer and see the following screen:

As you can see, you get a split screen, 2 windows showing where you are on both your local and remote systems.
The paths which you typed in your Startup window should show.  If they do not, you can navigate to them by scrolling down in each window and clicking on a drive or folder, or by clicking the green uparrow to go to a higher directory.

Now, let's say you want to upload the local file best.htm to the remote system.  Single-click the file in the left window to select=highlight it.  Make sure that below, Binary is checked, i.e., has a black dot:  this works for all types of files.
Now click the arrow between the windows that faces right.  The file is copied to the remote system, and, when copying is done, the right window is refreshed and shows the file.

To get=download a file, say, from your alpha account and copy it to a diskette, select drive A on the left (scroll down), then click on the name of the file you want on the right to select it.  Then click on the arrow pointing to the left.

I believe the remaining options are self-explanatory.

When done, be sure to click on Close and then on Exit.


A WORD ABOUT ANONYMOUS FTP (File Transfer Protocol for online text archives)

A simple ftp session goes as follows:
At the system prompt type lynx ftp:// followed by the URL:
(e.g. lynx ftp:// ftp.netcom.com Location: /pub or see /pub)
or, within Lynx, type ftp:// followed by the URL --
then type your username, which is always anonymous
type, for password, your full e-mail address, eg. <username>.@lcvax.lehman.cuny.edu
enter login if you made a typo.

Find the file you're looking for. Note: FTP is case sensitive!! Type capitals or lowercase letters as shown.

ftp> binary to download a binary file, e.g. one with accented characters (you see the message I for Image)
ftp> hash to get visual feedback while downloading
ftp> get <filename> will send the file to your local address on the VAX, UNIX etc.
ftp> enter bye or quit to log off this ftp site
ftp> enter bye or quit to get out of ftp, returning to the system prompt.
Prof. Ursula Hoffmann, 2/99