Use Internet Explorer for File Transfer


CSI Staff
Staff Writer
Center for Support of Instruction

Category: » Tech-skills-software » File-transfer-protocol

Learning

Transferring files from your local site (hard drive) to a sever (Polaris) can be accomplished in a number of ways. One option is to use a third party FTP client such as WS_FTP, Cute FTP or CoreFTP Another option is to use HTML editors such as Dreamweaver or FrontPage. Both have built-in FTP clients. If none of these are available to you, you can use Internet Explorer's (IE) built-in FTP client. The advantage to using IE instead some of the other FTP clients is that it's free. The disadvantage to using IE is that connecting to the server can be, at times, slow.

PART ONE - Connecting to Polaris using Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer (IE). Make sure you are connected to the Internet via your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In the IE address window, type ftp://polaris.umuc.edu 

Image: FTP to Polaris

2. Using the Login As dialog screen, type your polaris login/password information. (Do not check the Save Password box unless this is your own machine). Click on the Login button and wait until connected to the sever.

Enter Login

If you are able to establish a connection with polaris, go to Part 2.

If you have received an error, see Part I, Step 3 & Step 4 for some possible solutions.

3. If you receive the following error, try typing in the login name and password again. If the Login As dialog disappears, select File-->Login As. If you continue to encounter login problems, your password may have expired. See note below.

Login Error Message

If your Polaris password has expired (twice a year), you will not be able to connect to Polaris via CoreFTP, you will need to change the password via telnet first. See the instructions on how to change your Polairs password if you need help.

NOTE: If you are using Windows Vista or the Telnet function does not work with your operating system, you will need to use PuTTy or other secure SSH protocol program.

4.If you received an error stating that you may need to verify your browser settings, or Page Can Not Be displayed, you may need to change your browser settings.

From the IE tool bar, select Tools--Internet Options

Internet Options
  • Select the Advanced tab.
  • Under Browsing, place a checkmark next to Use Web Based FTP or Enable Folder View for FTP sites. Click OK to confirm settings.
Internet Options - Advanced tab

PART TWO - Publishing to the WWW Directory

1. In order for others to see files/web pages via the Internet, you will need to upload them to the www directory. If there is not a www directory listed as shown in the image below, you will need to create one (see note below).

Create Directory
From the IE tool bar select File-->New-->Folder and call it 'www'. You will also need to set the appropriate directory permissions by selecting the www folder (do not double-click as this will only open the folder). Right-click on the already selected www folder and choose Properties from the mini-menu. Set the following permissions:
  • Owner - Read, Write, Execute
  • Group - Read, Execute
  • All users - Read, Execute

Click OKonce done.

Set FTP Properties

2. Double-click the www folder to open. Adjust the size of the browser window and move it to the right-hand side of the screen.

Position a Browser Window to Right Side

3. Navigate to the local directory (hard drive) that contains the files to be published to Polaris. Adjust the size of this window and move it to the left-hand side of the screen. This way, both windows, remote and local, will be visible at the same time.

Position Another Browser Window to Left Side

4. To move files between the local (hard drive) and remote (Polaris) sites, simply click and drag the file/folder that is to be transfered.

Drag and Drop a File

Once the files/folders have been transfered to Polaris, double-click on the appropriate directory name to ensure all files were published.

Check Files

Sometimes the files that were transfered may not be visible when you open the folder.  In this case, click on View-->Refresh to update the directory view. 

Update Directory View
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