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IglooFTP: More than just a cool name
By Shiv Chadha <shiv@columnist.com>
File Transfer Protocol Although, over the years, Web browsers have become a popular means of transferring files via the HTTP, FTP still continues to remain a powerful and convenient method. In applications, which require direct computer-to-computer transfer, or when uploading and maintaining a Website, FTP is the best choice. Today FTP comes with all kinds of nifty features, including auto resumption of interrupted transfers, basic file management capabilities and such others. FTP clients feature an easy-to-use interface where transferring a file from your computer to half way across the world is a simple two-step method--drag and drop. They also allow you to `queue? your various upload and download jobs; so dealing with multiple files and servers is usually a snap. IglooFTP IglooFTP is an X-based shareware FTP client. That?s right, its shareware and you have thirty days to evaluate it. This is becoming an increasingly popular route that Linux software writers take. While Linux purists might disagree with the concept of Linux shareware, the fact remains that some great Linux software is shareware. Having said that lets go back to IglooFTP, which is available at http://www.littleigloo.org/iglooftp_downloads.php3. Download the appropriate version for your distribution and fire up X. The file to get it going is IglooFTP-PRO which sits in /usr/local/bin. After a nice little splash screen it opens up with a simple but intuitive layout. (See image below)
As you can see the screen is roughly divided into four sections. The top section bar deals with the connection information and displays all the actual FTP commands that are sent when you are connecting and transferring files with a remote computer. The mid-section of the screen is divided into two halves, the left hand side is the local file system listing and the right hand side is the remote file system listing (when you are offline this section doubles as a list of book marked FTP servers). The bottom box displays all the files that are currently in your queue. Finally, at the end of the screen is a main information area that gives you important information about which files are being transferred, what the transfer rates are and the time remaining, etc. Move through the menus and you will realize what a comprehensive and easy to use FTP client this is. If you have used an FTP client before, adapting to this is almost instantaneous, but even if you are new to the concept, it won?t be long before you?ll turn into a pro! How it works IglooFTP works straight out of the box, but if you want to make some configuration changes you can do them easily. The program offers some powerful options if you want to fine-tune your settings. The configuration option is accessed by first clicking on FTP then Settings and then finally Preferences. Everything from the programs appearance to the way it handles files can easily be set from here. (See image below)
Now that you are all set to transfer, lets do a quick run-through of how that is done. In case you are new to the FTP scene, don?t worry. IglooFTP includes a built-in list of some of the most popular FTP sites where you can download some great software and learn more about IglooFTP in the process. Connecting to a server in IglooFTP is very simple. If you are connecting to one of the built in ones, simply select it from the list and click on the connect button in the toolbar at the top. If you wish to connect to one of your own specific servers, simply put in the details in the FTP host toolbar at the top and click connect. In case you frequent a particular server, just automate the process by adding it to the built in list. As mentioned earlier, when you are not connected to an FTP host, the right hand half section of the screen displays a list of the built in server listings. Choose an appropriate category for the site you are adding and them simply right click and choose `Add Site?. The dialog box, which appears next, will offer a host of options, which you can specify for the site. (See image below)
Using it Here?s a quick look at using IglooFTP. Connect to a server and change to the remote directory where you want to upload/download files from. You can perform all the operations you wish to, by selecting and right clicking on the particular files. Everything from basic file operations to the transferring options is available from this menu. Incidentally, there are two ways to transfer large batches of files, one is simply to select all of them and choose upload/download or you can add them to the queue. To initiate the transfers for files in the queue, simply go to the `Queue? menu bar and choose transfer queue. The queue option is really great as it allows you to keep track of all the transfers that are in progress, whereas a direct upload/download only gives you information about the current file being transferred. What?s more, while both ways support resumption of interrupted files, if the files are done via the queue method the process becomes simpler still. All you have to do is select `transfer the queue? option and the software will automatically log into the server for you and begin the transfer! The queue option has some very interesting possibilities. If you need to perform multiple uploads and downloads across different servers, first log into all of them and queue the tasks. Then simply disconnect from them and choose the transfer queue option. The software will then do all the tedious work of logging into the servers and perform the operations you have assigned it. Conclusion In a nutshell, IglooFTP is a great FTP client that is well worth its registration fee. The authors have not only made a good product, but they have handled the shareware issue very well. There are no nag screens or automatic expirations. They rely on their product alone to convince you to register within the thirty days. IglooFTP is everything you would want in an FTP client, so go ahead, try it out and you?ll agree that it goes beyond having just a cool name! Suggestions for programs, which you think should be featured here, are welcome.
Other articles by Shiv Chadha
Current Rating: [ 6.42 / 10 ]
Number of Times Rated: [ 36 ]
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