FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a very simple program that can be used to transfer files between different computers. In CSCI 201, you will use FTP to transfer program solutions to your assignment drop-off directory stored on the UNCA CSCI file server.

Preparing to FTP

In order to work this example, you will need a file to ftp. You can get one by copying the following Java code and pasting it into your editing (gedit or wordpad) application.

//********************************************************************
//  Lincoln.java       Author: Lewis and Loftus
//
//  Demonstrates the basic structure of a Java application.
//********************************************************************

public class Lincoln
{
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------
   //  Prints a presidential quote.
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------
   public static void main (String[] args)
   {
      System.out.println ("A quote by Abraham Lincoln:");

      System.out.println ("Whatever you are, be a good one.");
   }
}

Before you can transfer the file you must know the name of the directory that you will use when submitting your homework. This is your personal ftp directory and it should never be used by others. Your ftp directory name is like a password, it should be kept secret.

The original FTP program

The ftp program "speaks" the FTP protocol to a file server when it transfer files. The ftp program was one of the first two Internet applications. It is a text-oriented program that may seem a little quaint compared to today's graphic-oriented programs, like the ones you'll be writing in Java. We are going to use the original ftp program because it is the only FTP uploader that "ships" with every copy of Windows XX and Unix. So you should be able to follow this procedure at home or school, no matter what computer is sitting in front of you.

Transferring files to your drop-off directory

Remember, you are going to transfer a file (and later files) to your drop-off directory. You'll need to know three pieces of information to complete this task.

1. The name of the PC directory containing the file. In our example, that is csci/201/lab1 (C:\Files\Lab1 for Windows).
2. The name of the files to be transfered. We'll use Lincoln.java.
3. The name of your drop-off directory. In our example, we'll use alincoln1809.