Uploading files
From HelpBase
You may wish to upload files via the File Transfer Protocol. FTP is a convenient way to transfer many files at once.
To transfer files via FTP, you need an FTP client program. Most FTP clients are applications you run on your computer. Some FTP clients are extensions to other programs, such as web browsers. Those differences usually don't matter much except they determine how you start the FTP client.
Contents |
Basic Steps
- Start the FTP client program
- Connect to the remote host (FTP server) from which files are to be read or to which files are to be written and login with a user name and password
- Navigate to the proper folder on the remote host
- Navigate to the proper folder on your PC
- Use the FTP client's upload or download command to transfer files
Configuring Your FTP Client
To connect to a remote host, you must tell the FTP client the name or address of that host. Each FTP program is different and so it is beyond the scope of this knowledgebase to describe the configuration process in detail, but the table below describes common settings you will use to connect to the FTP server for your site. Where you specify the information will vary, and the FTP client may use slightly different wording to describe them.
| Setting | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Address | ftp.familyhistoryhosting.com | The address is the name of the FTP server to which you want to connect. Customers of FamilyHistoryHosting.com that are using their cPanel (Control Panel) credentials can specify ftp.familyhistoryhosting.com or their own domain name. You must use the prefix "ftp" and your own domain name when using FTP accounts you've added via the cPanel. |
| UserName or User ID | user1234 | Enter the UserName assigned to you when you created the account (see the New Account Information message). You may also enter a username you have created via cPanel. |
| Password | ******** | Enter the password for the given UserName. When entering passwords, type carefully and make sure the Caps Lock feature of your keyboard is off. Most modern FTP clients will hide the password as you type and show asterisks (*) instead. |
| Port | 21 | Our servers only support port 21. |
See the FireFTP page for detailed instructions on installing and configuring FireFTP.
Transferring Files
Most modern FTP clients are easy to use. You can usually select multiple files and operate on them as a group. So, for example, you can select multiple files on the remote host and and download them to your PC, or you can select multiple files on your PC and upload them to the remote host.
When you transfer files, make sure you are viewing the right folders on both the local PC and the remote host.
Some FTP clients will warn you if you are about to replace an existing file by transferring a file. You should not rely on that feature unless you are certain you know how the feature works and you are also certain the feature is enabled.
| Note: Files that represent your web site content must be placed in or under the public_html folder. The www folder is an alias for the public_html folder: it's another name for the same folder. |
