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NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
NNAAMMEE
NcFTP -- Internet file transfer program
SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
nnccffttpp [_p_r_o_g_r_a_m _o_p_t_i_o_n_s] [[_o_p_e_n _o_p_t_i_o_n_s] _h_o_s_t_
_n_a_m_e[::_p_a_t_h_n_a_m_e]]
DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
_N_c_F_T_P is a user interface to the Internet standard _F_i_l_e
_T_r_a_n_s_f_e_r _P_r_o_t_o_c_o_l. This program allows a user to transfer
files to and from a remote network site, and offers addi
tional features that are not found in the standard inter
face, _f_t_p.
FFEEAATTUURREESS
Program options will be explained later in this document.
Let's get down to business and go over the features that
make this program worthwhile.
Here is the list of section headers; I have my $MANPAGER
environment variable set to use ``lleessss --ii'' so that I can
skip to the section I want (otherwise, //_r_e_g_e_x commands to
the pager won't match the section headers because of the
formatting codes; the ``--ii'' can search through the for
matting codes)
Establishing the remote connection
Format of the RC file
The Recent-sites file
Redialing a busy remote site
Supplying a sitename from your shell's command line
Using Colon-mode
Using FTP-cat and FTP-more mode
Supplying a port number with the open command
Displaying and changing program variables
Program variables
Listing a remote directory
Viewing a remote directory with your pager
Redisplaying the last directory listing
Fetching files from the remote host
Viewing a remote file with your pager
Creating a message file on the remote host
Looking up site names and addresses
Checking the configuration of the program
Using the command shell
Customizing the prompt
Keeping a log of your file transfers
Program options
A sample RC file
EEssttaabblliisshhiinngg tthhee rreemmoottee ccoonnnneeccttiioonn
Just opening a connection to a remote server was inconve
nient enough in the stock _f_t_p program to justify writing
this program. Here at _N_C_E_M_R_S_o_f_t, we want to do our
NCEMRSoft 1
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
business as quickly and painlessly as possible. We'd
rather save time and wear and tear on our metacarpals than
bother typing entire site names, usernames, and email
addresses masquerading as passwords, and setting binary
mode.
We made all connections anonymous by default, and we auto
matically send our email address for the password on those
connections. We allowed for site names to be abbreviated.
For each commonly accessed site, you can put an entry in
your program preferences file (let's call it the ``ncftprc
file'' or ``RC file'' for short). To open the site, from
the command shell all you do is type:
open wuarchive.wustl.edu
or
o wuarchive.wustl.edu
As promised, you can abbreviate that further. Just use
any abbreviation that would match only the site you had in
mind. For the previous example, you could try:
o wuarc
o wustl
o stl
o wu
Any of those abbreviations would open wuarchive.wustl.edu
anonymously, sending your anon-password (usually set to
your email address) as the password. Keep in mind that
the program tries opening the first site that matches the
abbreviation you supplied. So:
o w
might match a site named bowser.nintendo.co.jp if that
site appeared before your entry for wuarchive.wustl.edu.
Most of the time we open remote sites anonymously, but
there are times where you need to specifically open a site
with an actual username and password. Let's say my part
ner, Phil Dietz, wants to FTP something out of my account.
Perhaps he wants to fetch the latest version of the source
code to _N_c_F_T_P so he can optimize something or add a new
feature behind my back. Since the program opens remote
sites anonymously by default (actually, you can change
this behavior; more on that later), he would have to spec
ify a flag to the _o_p_e_n command so he can supply my user
name and password. He would try:
o -u sphygmomanometer.unl.edu
NCEMRSoft 2
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
or, more likely:
o -u sph
Then the program would prompt him for a username (login,
whatever) and a password:
Login Name (pdietz): mgleason
Password: ********
If he got it right, he could raid my stuff. If not, he'd
probably drop me an email asking me to quit changing my
password so often.
There are even times where you want to FTP from your own
account, like if you are debugging an FTP client you
wrote. At this prompt:
Login Name (mgleason):
I could just hit return to tell the program that I want
``mgleason'' as my username, then I would enter my pass
word.
FFoorrmmaatt ooff tthhee RRCC ffiillee
This release of the program is somewhat compatible with
the stock _f_t_p program's ..nneettrrcc file. However, I can
promise you that in the near future the program will use a
new format, so don't invest too much time in it.
The RC file can be named ``nnccffttpprrcc'', ``nneettrrcc'', or
``..nnccffttpprrcc'', but it is usually named ``..nneettrrcc'' so it can
be used with the stock _f_t_p program. _N_c_F_T_P looks in the
current working directory for any of those files, and then
in your home directory, and after that it gives up (which
is OK, because RC files aren't mandatory).
The file usually starts with _#_s_e_t and _#_u_n_s_e_t commands that
do things to the programs variables. The reason for the
``#'' is so the stock _f_t_p program will think they are com
ments. You might have this appearing as the first few
lines in your RC file (I'll explain later):
#set debug 1
#set pager "less -EMi"
#unset startup-msg
After those, you put in machine entries for each of your
favorite sites. Let's put in an entry for
wuarchive.wustl.edu. First you would put:
machine wuarchive.wustl.edu
Then you could put in your username, password, and account
NCEMRSoft 3
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
if you like:
user anonymous
password -mgleason@cse.unl.edu
account wuarc.does.not.use.accounts
Following that, you would add the startup macro that is
run each time you connect to wuarchive. You must start it
with this line:
macdef init
Then put in the commands you want to do:
cd /graphics/gif
ls -lt
After that, you end the macro with a blank line (impor
tant!). The finished machine entry would look like the
following. To make the transition to the impending new
format less painful, I recommend you adhere to this for
mat:
machine wuarchive.wustl.edu
user anonymous
password -mgleason@cse.unl.edu
account wuarc.does.not.use.accounts
macdef init
cd /graphics/gif
ls -lt
(_m_a_n_d_a_t_o_r_y _b_l_a_n_k _l_i_n_e _t_o _e_n_d _t_h_e _m_a_c_r_o)
Of course, if all you want to do is open wuarchive anony
mously, you needn't bother with the ``user'', ``pass
word'', and ``account'' lines. You may want to put them
in if you plan on using the stock _f_t_p program, though.
Try something like this:
machine wuarchive.wustl.edu
macdef init
cd /graphics/gif
ls -lt
(_m_a_n_d_a_t_o_r_y _b_l_a_n_k _l_i_n_e _t_o _e_n_d _t_h_e _m_a_c_r_o)
You can tell the program to not run the startup macro if
you supply --ii to the _o_p_e_n command.
Really, you should only bother adding entries for sites
that you want to run startup macros upon connection. The
next section explains why.
TThhee RReecceenntt--ssiitteess ffiillee
Each time you open a site, the program saves the name of
the site and the last directory you were in to the _r_e_c_e_n_t_-
NCEMRSoft 4
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
_s_i_t_e_s _f_i_l_e which is named ..nnccrreecceenntt and placed in your
home directory. The program saves a predetermined number
of these sites in the file, and when it reaches the limit,
it discards the oldest entry so it can add a new one.
You can just go ahead and use the name of the site you
want with the _o_p_e_n command if you know it is in the
_r_e_c_e_n_t_-_f_i_l_e (and you can abbreviate the name, just like
those in the RC file). But if you cannot remember what
the name of the site you want, all you do is run the _o_p_e_n
command with no site parameter:
open
This will pop up a list of the sites in the _r_e_c_e_n_t_-_f_i_l_e,
and sites in your RC file. At the open prompt, just type
the name (or an abbreviation of that name) or the number
preceding the site name to open that site. After opening
the site you wanted, the program sets the remote working
directory to the same one you left in the last time you
called.
If you don't like the idea of having the sites you called
stored on disk, you can turn this feature off using an
_u_n_s_e_t command, explained later.
RReeddiiaalliinngg aa bbuussyy rreemmoottee ssiittee
Some remote sites limit the number of leeches, er, anony
mous connections at a time to reduce the load on the host
computer. You can use the _o_p_e_n command's redial feature
to keep attempting connections until you get on, although
that is not a very polite thing to do. The simplest way
to do this would be to just supply the --rr option:
open -r wuarc
There are also options you can use to tweak redial. The
--dd flag sets the delay between dials, and the --gg flag sets
a limit on how many dials should be attempting before giv
ing up. If you don't supply --gg the program will dial a
day and forever (which my Number Theory professor, Dr.
Mientka, says is longer than forever and a day) until it
connects successfully, or until you get sick of waiting
and hit the interrupt key (usually ^C).
This example dials wuarchive every ten minutes, giving up
after twenty attempts. Note that the redial delay is
specified in seconds:
open -r -d 600 -g 20 wuarc
Please be considerate when you use redialing, so you won't
tax the network. Site administrators can and do get angry
when they get flooded with connections.
NCEMRSoft 5
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
SSuuppppllyyiinngg aa ssiitteennaammee ffrroomm yyoouurr sshheellll''ss ccoommmmaanndd lliinnee
When you run the program:
ncftp
by itself does nothing and waits for you to type commands
to the program's own shell. Just like the stock _f_t_p pro
gram, you can supply a site name on the command line:
ncftp wuarchive.wustl.edu
You can also use abbreviations as usual:
ncftp wuarc
This is equivalent to running the program, then issuing an
_o_p_e_n command to open wuarchive.
UUssiinngg CCoolloonn--mmooddee
The _o_p_e_n command is not a one-trick pony. Another option
is what I call _c_o_l_o_n_-_m_o_d_e. This feature is used (most of
the time) from your shell's command line.
In ancient times, way back during the Disco era, you could
use a program called _t_f_t_p to fetch a file using the Inter
net standard _T_r_i_v_i_a_l _F_i_l_e _T_r_a_n_s_f_e_r _P_r_o_t_o_c_o_l_. You could
use that program to do something like this from within its
shell:
get wuarchive.wustl.edu:/graphics/gif/README
and that would call wuarchive and fetch the RREEAADDMMEE file.
You can use this program to do the same thing from your
shell's command line:
csh> ncftp wuarchive.wustl.edu:/graphics/gif/README
csh> head README
This tells your shell, in this case the ``c-shell'' to run
_N_c_F_T_P, which would open wuarchive, fetch //ggrraapphh
iiccss//ggiiff//RREEAADDMMEE and write the file ..//RREEAADDMMEE in the current
working directory, and then exits. This is nice if you
don't want to browse around the remote site, and you know
exactly want you want. It would also come in handy in
shell scripts, where you don't want to enter the command
shell, and might not want the program to spew output.
You can use _c_o_l_o_n_-_m_o_d_e to set the starting remote working
directory also:
csh> ncftp wuarchive.wustl.edu:/graphics/gif
This would run the program, open wuarchive, and _c_d to the
NCEMRSoft 6
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
gif directory, then run the program's command shell so you
can browse.
_C_o_l_o_n_-_m_o_d_e is also available from within the program's
command shell. At a prompt you can do stuff like this:
ncftp> open wuarchive.wustl.edu:/graphics/gif/README
ncftp> o wuarc:/graphics/gif
UUssiinngg FFTTPP--ccaatt aanndd FFTTPP--mmoorree mmooddee
There are times where you might not want the program to
write a _c_o_l_o_n_-_m_o_d_e file in the current working directory,
or perhaps you want to pipe the output of a remote file
into something else. _C_o_l_o_n_-_m_o_d_e has options to do this.
It was inspired by the guy who wrote the _f_t_p_c_a_t perl
script. The --cc option tells the program to write on the
standard output stream. The --mm option pipes the file into
your pager (like _m_o_r_e) Of course this won't work if the
thing you give _c_o_l_o_n_-_m_o_d_e is a directory! This example
just dumps a remote file to stdout:
csh> ncftp -c wuarc:/graphics/gif/README
...
csh>
This example redirects a remote file into a different
location:
csh> ncftp -c wu:/README > ~pdietz/thesis.tex
This one shows how to use a pipeline:
csh> ncftp -c wuarc:/README | tail | wc -l
10
csh>
This shows how to page a remote file:
csh> ncftp -m wuarc:/graphics/gif/README
...
csh>
SSuuppppllyyiinngg aa ppoorrtt nnuummbbeerr wwiitthh tthhee ooppeenn ccoommmmaanndd
This option just didn't fit anywhere else, so to finish
out the open command, --pp lets you supply a port number if
you have to _f_t_p to a site using an nonstandard port num
ber. Personally, I have yet to use this feature, but it
is there for compatibility with the stock _f_t_p program.
DDiissppllaayyiinngg aanndd cchhaannggiinngg pprrooggrraamm vvaarriiaabblleess
Now I'll explain the commands unique to _N_c_F_T_P. The others
should perform the same as they would in the stock _f_t_p
program; consult the man page for it if you want those
explained, or use the _h_e_l_p command for a brief blurb.
NCEMRSoft 7
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
The _s_h_o_w command is used to display program variables and
their values.
show all
or
show
would display all the variables with their values.
show _v_a_r_1 _v_a_r_2 _._._. _v_a_r_N
would display each specified variable and its value.
The _s_e_t command changes the value of a program variable.
Its syntax is:
set _v_a_r_n_a_m_e _v_a_l_u_e
For Boolean or Integer variables,
set _v_a_r_n_a_m_e
would set the value of the variable _v_a_r_n_a_m_e to 11 (ttrruuee).
The _u_n_s_e_t command can be used to set the variable to its
default value, or for Boolean and Integer variables, set
the value of the variable to 00 (ffaallssee). For String vari
ables, you can use this to set the value to an empty
string.
You can use any of those three commands in both the com
mand shell, or in the RC file with a ``#'' prepended.
PPrrooggrraamm vvaarriiaabblleess
Each variable can be one of the following types:
Boolean:
Can be ``oonn'' or ``ooffff'' (you can also use ``11'' or
``00'').
Integer:
Can be any positive or negative number, or 00.
String:
Is a string of characters. If the string needs to
have a space in it, make sure you surround the
whole string with double quotes in a _s_e_t command.
Variables follow. Some variables are explained later in
the relevant sections.
NCEMRSoft 8
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
_a_n_o_n_-_o_p_e_n (Boolean)
Tells whether the default login mode is anonymous
if on, or if off, will prompt for a user
name/password. You can always override this by
using either --aa or --uu with the _o_p_e_n command.
_a_n_o_n_-_p_a_s_s_w_o_r_d (String)
Sends this as the password when you login anony
mously. By default this is your email address.
_a_n_s_i_-_e_s_c_a_p_e_s (Boolean)
If on, the program can use boldface, underline, and
inverse text.
_a_u_t_o_-_b_i_n_a_r_y (Boolean)
If on, sets the transfer type to binary mode imme
diately after connection.
_d_e_b_u_g (Integer)
Sets the debugging level.
_g_a_t_e_w_a_y_-_l_o_g_i_n (String)
Tells which username to use when logging in to your
firewall gateway host.
_g_a_t_e_w_a_y_-_h_o_s_t (String)
The site which is acting as your firewall gateway,
or empty if you aren't using one.
_l_o_c_a_l_-_d_i_r (String)
The current local working directory. I like to set
this from my RC file, so all my files go into my
download directory.
_l_o_g_f_i_l_e (String)
The name of your personal transfer log, or empty if
you aren't using a transfer log.
_l_o_g_s_i_z_e (Integer)
The maximum ceiling of your log file, before the
program removes old entries.
_m_p_r_o_m_p_t (Boolean)
If on, prompts for each remote file expanded from a
wildcard globbing expression.
_n_e_t_r_c (String, Read-only)
Tells you the name of the RC file in use.
_p_a_g_e_r (String)
The pathname and flags of the program used to dis
play output one screenful at a time. The default
is the value of your $PAGER environment variable.
NCEMRSoft 9
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
_p_r_o_m_p_t (String)
The prompt specification that expands into the
prompt.
_p_r_o_g_r_e_s_s_-_r_e_p_o_r_t_s (Integer)
Which progress meter to use, or 00 if you don't want
progress reports during file transfers. Set it to
11 for a simple percentage meter; 22 for a fancy bar
graph indicator; 33 to print just the number of
kilobytes transferred; or 44 to print one dot for
each 10% transferred, if you want to avoid the use
of backspaces. Note that the program may use a
different meter depending on how cooperative the
remote host is, and what you have the _a_n_s_i_-_e_s_c_a_p_e_s
variable set to.
_r_e_c_e_n_t_-_l_i_s_t (Boolean)
If on, uses and updates the _r_e_c_e_n_t_-_f_i_l_e_.
_r_e_m_o_t_e_-_i_s_-_u_n_i_x (Boolean)
Set automatically by the program upon connection,
you may need to use this in a startup macro if the
program guessed that a remote site was UNIX when it
really is not.
_s_t_a_r_t_u_p_-_m_s_g (Boolean)
If on, prints the opening message and tip.
_t_i_p_s (Boolean)
If on, prints a tip on how to use the program bet
ter each time you run the program.
_t_y_p_e (String)
The name of the file transfer mode in use, such as
``bbiinnaarryy'' or ``aasscciiii''.
_v_e_r_b_o_s_e (String/Integer)
Controls the amount of output spewed by the pro
gram. You can supply either the first character of
the name of the verbosity level, or its number:
_Quiet (-1)
Won't print any output at all, even if an
error occurs.
_Errors Only (0)
No output, except when errors occur.
_Terse (1)
Prints errors, and useful output from the
remote host.
_Verbose (2)
Prints everything, even junk output from the
NCEMRSoft 10
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
remote end.
LLiissttiinngg aa rreemmoottee ddiirreeccttoorryy
The _l_s and _d_i_r commands perform in a similar manner to
those of the stock _f_t_p program.
The _l_s command sends the FTP command ``NLST'' for you.
This command has been set so that it defaults to always
listing files in columns (this is the --CC option given to
the UNIX _l_s command) and appending metacharacters to each
item name (this is the --FF option), so you can see which
items are directories, files, links, etcetera. If you
don't want your items columnized, you can try using the --11
option with _l_s to print one item per line.
The _d_i_r command sends the FTP command ``LIST'' for you,
which instead of printing just item names, it prints item
sizes, owners, dates, and permissions as well. This com
mand is equivalent to ``llss --ll'' on most remote systems.
The usage for both commands is the same. Here is the one
for _l_s:
llss [_-_f_l_a_g_s] [_d_i_r_e_c_t_o_r_y _a_n_d _f_i_l_e _n_a_m_e_s] [_r_e_d_i_r_e_c_
_t_i_o_n]
Note that in this program, you can supply both flags and
items to list in the same command. The stock version of
_f_t_p doesn't let you do this:
ls -lrt /info-mac/help
Another thing that the program does which the others
should have done is let you supply more than one item:
ls -lrt /info-mac/help /pub /info-mac/README
You can also redirect the output into a file, or pipe it
into something. This example shows how to list the con
tents of the current remote directory, and save the output
into a file in the current local directory:
ls -t >ls.out
Note that for this to work, there must be no whitespace
between the ``>'' and the filename, unlike your shell com
mand line which allows for extra whitespace. This will be
(actually, is) fixed in a future version of the program.
These examples show how to use a pipe:
ls -t |tail
dir -t "|less -CM"
ls -t "|tail | wc"
NCEMRSoft 11
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
Like the redirection example, there must be no whitespace
between the first pipe character and the rest of the
stuff. The trick is that it has to appear as one argument
to the commands. The second and third examples illustrate
the use of double quotes to squeeze extra parameters in.
The second example can be done without all that typing.
See the descriptions of the _p_d_i_r and _p_l_s commands below.
VViieewwiinngg aa rreemmoottee ddiirreeccttoorryy wwiitthh yyoouurr ppaaggeerr
Didn't you hate it when you listed a remote directory,
only to have most of the stuff scrolled off your terminal
before you could read it? The _p_l_s and _p_d_i_r commands take
care of this for you. As you might have guessed, they
perform exactly like their regular counterparts, only you
view them with your pager. The pager to use is controlled
by the _p_a_g_e_r program variable.
RReeddiissppllaayyiinngg tthhee llaasstt ddiirreeccttoorryy lliissttiinngg
The program saves the listing into a local buffer, so if
you need to see it again (probably forgot about _p_d_i_r) you
can use the _r_e_d_i_r and _p_r_e_d_i_r commands for this.
FFeettcchhiinngg ffiilleess ffrroomm tthhee rreemmoottee hhoosstt
The _g_e_t and _m_g_e_t retrieve remote files for you. The usage
for _g_e_t is:
get remote-file [local-file or redirection]
To fetch //ppuubb//RREEAADDMMEE and write it as a file named
..//jjuunnkk//rreeaaddmmee, try:
get /pub/README ./junk/readme
To fetch //ppuubb//RREEAADDMMEE and write it as ..//RREEAADDMMEE, just do:
get /pub/README
This lets you fetch a file using its whole pathname, and
write a copy of it in the current directory, without hav
ing to bother with typing a local filename. In the
unlikely event that you have write permission to a direc
tory called //ppuubb on your local machine, it would write
``RREEAADDMMEE'' in that directory.
Most of the time the file you want will be in the current
remote directory, so you can just do these:
get README
get README ./junk/readme
You can also use a redirection for _g_e_t, just like you can
with the _l_s, _d_i_r, and _r_e_d_i_r commands. As described ear
lier, you have to conform to the format below for this
release of the program:
NCEMRSoft 12
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
get README >/dev/null
get README |head
get README "|head -8"
get README "|less -EMi"
The last example is facilitated by the _p_a_g_e command
described later.
The _g_e_t command can also use a wildcard expression in an
attempt to match exactly one remote file. I call it
``Poor Man's File Completion.'' If you've done a remote
listing, and you decide you want to download a file by the
name of ``oobbnnooxxiioouussllyylloonnggppaacckkaaggeennaammee..ttaarr..ZZ'', you can use
``PMFC'' to save some keystrokes. Choose an expression
that will only match that one file, then use it with _g_e_t:
get obn*.Z a.tar.Z
If your pattern was unique, _g_e_t will fetch that file only.
If the pattern matched more than one file, the program
will bitch and moan.
The _m_g_e_t command is used to fetch many files at a time.
The difference between _g_e_t and _m_g_e_t is that _g_e_t lets you
write only one file, but you can put it in a different
directory, while _m_g_e_t fetches many files, always writing
them in the current local directory. This example fetches
several remote files at once:
mget a.file.Z b.file.Z c.tar d.tar.Z
The _m_g_e_t command, and its ugly sisters, _m_p_u_t and _m_d_e_l_e_t_e
let you use wildcard expressions. I could have done the
previous example as:
mget *.Z c.tar
instead. The ``m'' commands will verify each file, if you
have the program variable _m_p_r_o_m_p_t set.
VViieewwiinngg aa rreemmoottee ffiillee wwiitthh yyoouurr ppaaggeerr
If you would like to read a file on the remote host with
out saving a copy of it on your machine, you can use the
_p_a_g_e (or _m_o_r_e if you wish) command:
page README
page obn*README
page README.Z
The second example show that you can use ``PMFC'' like you
can for _g_e_t_. The third example will work also, because if
the program knows how to decompress the file, it will do
so before feeding it to your pager. As stated earlier,
you can change the program to use to page by setting the
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NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
program variable _p_a_g_e_r_.
CCrreeaattiinngg aa mmeessssaaggee ffiillee oonn tthhee rreemmoottee hhoosstt
Use the _c_r_e_a_t_e an empty file on the remote site. Some
times it is necessary to leave a note if you can't get in
touch with the remote site's administrator. For example
if a file is corrupted, you could try:
create Foo.tar_is_corrupt
in hopes that the original uploader will replace it.
LLooookkiinngg uupp ssiittee nnaammeess aanndd aaddddrreesssseess
You can use the program's builtin mini-_n_s_l_o_o_k_u_p facility.
If you wanted to know the site's IP number, but only knew
the name you could do:
lookup cse.unl.edu
This would spit out IP number for that site, in this case
``129.93.1.12''. If you needed to know what a site's name
was, but only knew the IP number, try:
lookup 129.93.1.12
This would spit out the name for that site, in this case
``cse.unl.edu''.
CChheecckkiinngg tthhee ccoonnffiigguurraattiioonn ooff tthhee pprrooggrraamm
Use the _v_e_r_s_i_o_n command to print version and compilation
information about the program. This will also tell you
which optional features are compiled into the program,
such as logging to the system log and which command line
editor (if any) has been installed.
The author's email address is listed, and if you need to
report something, send the output of this command along
with your message.
UUssiinngg tthhee ccoommmmaanndd sshheellll
Just like the stock _f_t_p program, you type commands to it
until you get bored and hit either ^D or type the _q_u_i_t
command.
The program supports links to popular command line editing
libraries. If the person who compiled it went to the
effort, you will be able to edit the command line with
arrow keys and other editing commands, and also scroll up
and down in the command line history, usually with the up
and down arrows. You can check the _v_e_r_s_i_o_n command to see
if either ``GETLINE'' or ``READLINE'' are installed.
CCuussttoommiizziinngg tthhee pprroommpptt
You can set the shell's prompt string to whatever you
NCEMRSoft 14
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
like. You can use several metacharacters that expand into
something each prompt. The ``%%'' flags are passed to
_s_t_r_f_t_i_m_e(3), so you can put the date or time in the prompt
formatted as you like it:
set prompt "%I:%M ncftp>"
That would insert the current time in the prompt.
The ``@@'' flags are expanded by the program itself.
Here's the list of them.
If you have an ANSI-compatible terminal, or you have the
program variable _a_n_s_i_-_e_s_c_a_p_e_s set, you can use @@BB, @@II, and
@@UU to turn on boldface, inverse, and underline text
respectively (otherwise they won't insert anything). You
can also use @@RR to turn on inverse (reverse) text. @@PP
sets the text back to plain text.
@@DD Inserts the full path of the current remote directory.
The @@JJ flag is similar except it inserts only the direc
tory name.
@@HH Inserts the name of the remote host. @@CC inserts the
host and current directory path in _c_o_l_o_n_-_m_o_d_e format, such
as ``cse.unl.edu:/pub/mgleason'', or ``(not connected)''.
The @@cc flag is similar, only it will insert
``cse.unl.edu:/pub/mgleason'' and a newline if connected,
otherwise it prints nothing. The default prompt uses this
flag to print a two line prompt when connected and a one
line prompt when not connected.
@@EE or @@!! inserts the event number (how many commands
you've typed).
@@MM inserts ``(Mail) '' if mail has arrived since running
the program.
@@NN inserts a newline character.
KKeeeeppiinngg aa lloogg ooff yyoouurr ffiillee ttrraannssffeerrss
You can have the program keep a personal log file. I find
it is useful so I can see where I got a certain file, or
what the name of that site was I called two weeks ago.
To use a log, add:
#set logfile ~/.ftplog
(or whatever you want to name the log) to your RC file. I
don't want my log growing too large and using up all my
disk space, so I also have:
#set logsize 10240
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NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
in my RC file. If you set the limit on the maximum log
size, the program will keep the log file at or below that
size, discarding old entries.
Note that this is different from having SYSLOG appear in
the _v_e_r_s_i_o_n command's output. When this is on, your
actions are recorded to the system log, so your system
administrator can make sure you aren't doing anything
``bad.''
PPrrooggrraamm ooppttiioonnss
Remember that you can treat the command line like an _o_p_e_n
command, so all lowercase options are passed to the _o_p_e_n
command, and the uppercase options are handled by the main
program. The uppercase options are described below; refer
to the _o_p_e_n command for descriptions of its options.
--DD _x sets the debugging level to _x.
--HH runs the _v_e_r_s_i_o_n command and exits, so you can save
the output of it to use when you need to mail me
something.
--II toggles the mprompt variable; this is provided for
compatibility with ``ffttpp --ii''.
--NN disables reading of the RC file; this is provided
for compatibility with ``ffttpp --nn''.
--VV _x sets verbosity to level _x (--11, 00, 11, 22) or (qquuiieett,
eerrrrss, tteerrssee, vveerrbboossee). See the description of the
_v_e_r_b_o_s_e program variable for more information.
Here are some example command lines. Again, see the
description of the _o_p_e_n command (especially _c_o_l_o_n_-_m_o_d_e and
_F_T_P_-_c_a_t _m_o_d_e) and all its functions for more information.
This just enters the _N_c_F_T_P command shell:
csh> ncftp
This fetches CCOONNTTEENNTTSS and then quits:
csh> ncftp cse.unl.edu:/pub/mgleason/CONTENTS
Some others examples, with open options and main program
options mixed in:
csh> ncftp -V quiet -u ftp.unl.edu
csh> ncftp -c cse.unl.edu:/pub/mgleason/CONTENTS
csh> ncftp -D 2 -r -d 120 -g 10 -N ftp.unl.edu
AA ssaammppllee RRCC ffiillee
Here is a sample RC file:
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NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
#set logfile ~/.ftplog
#set progress-reports 2
#set local-dir /usr/tmp/zz
#set prompt "@B@E @UNcFTP@P @B@M@D@P ->"
machine sumex-aim.stanford.edu
macdef init
cd /info-mac
get ./help/recent-files.txt "|grep -v '.abs' > sumex"
!less sumex
pwd
# This site is in here just so I can use ``apple''
# as an abbreviation.
machine ftp.apple.com
# NcFTP will only ask for your password:
machine cse.unl.edu
login mgleason
# You can supply a login and a password:
machine fake.machine.unl.edu
login mgleason
password mypass
macdef init
cd ./foo/bar
# If an antiquated non-UNIX machine doesn't use
# the "SYST" command, you may need to unset
# remote-is-unix, if the remote host complains
# about ``ls -CF''.
machine some.vms.unl.edu
macdef init
unset remote-is-unix
AAUUTTHHOORRSS
_N_c_F_T_P was written by Mike Gleason, _N_C_E_M_R_S_o_f_t (mglea
son@cse.unl.edu), and based on code by the authors of the
_f_t_p from the BSD 4.3 distribution. _N_c_F_T_P is copyrighted
1992, 1993 by NCEMRSoft and 1985, 1989 by the Regents of
California.
Ideas and some code contributed by Phil Dietz, _N_C_E_M_R_S_o_f_t
(pdietz@cse.unl.edu). Testing and debugging done by Phil
and Kok Hon Yin (hkok@cse.unl.edu).
Extensive man page formatting work by DaviD W. Sanderson
(dws@ssec.wisc.edu).
BBUUGGSS
Correct execution of many commands depends upon proper
behavior by the remote server.
NCEMRSoft 17
NcFTP(1) NcFTP(1)
The remote server may drop the connection if you take a
long time to page remote files.
Termcap padding is not correctly displayed.
There are no such sites named _b_o_w_s_e_r_._n_i_n_t_e_n_d_o_._c_o_._j_p or
_s_p_h_y_g_m_o_m_a_n_o_m_e_t_e_r_._u_n_l_._e_d_u.
SSEEEE AALLSSOO
_s_t_r_f_t_i_m_e(3), _f_t_p_d(8), _f_t_p(1), _n_s_l_o_o_k_u_p(1), _c_o_m_p_r_e_s_s(1),
_g_z_i_p(1), _z_c_a_t(1), _f_s_p(1), _a_r_c_h_i_e(1), _t_f_t_p(1).
NCEMRSoft 18