OS/2 Shareware BBS: 35 Internet/35-Internet.zip/dragen1.zip/README.1ST

Text File | 2000-04-16 | 13KB | 248 lines

Dragen FTP - copyright (c) 2000, Keith Cotroneo
version 1

Background Information

Dragen FTP is a Drag Enabled File Transfer Protocol client for the os/2 operating system. Dragen
FTP is actually two programs: the Dragen Drag-En drop visual interface, and get2.exe the core
FTP program. Dragen is different from most FTP clients in that it is not a continuous logon client.
By design, Dragen is a multiple process client. Traditional clients logon to a server, then maintain
a continuous connection, performing a set of commands, and then logging off when the user is
done. Dragen logs on and logs off with each command, using the powerful get2.exe core. The
advantage of this approach is that Dragen is a multiprocess application. One can log on to one
server, initiate a set of large file multiple downloads, then in a process independent manner, logon
to another server, initiate another set of large multiple process uploads, and so on.

The downside, is that Dragen is a bit slower initiating transactions, since it logs on each
time. In my tests, however, if found these differences to be small.

As you use the program, you will see when Dragen hands off to get2.exe. In most cases, get2 does
its work behind the scenes. In a few cases get2 will come to the forefront in a vio window.
When get2 is working in the background, you can monitor transactions through the log window.

The Dragen visual interface is designed for Drag-En drop FTPing and is integrated with the os/2
workplace shell. You can interact with Dragen in the traditional double click manner, or drag files
to do the work. Dragen will allow uploading to occur by dragging files from the Dragen local
window or an os/2 folder to the Dragen remote window. Downloads may be initiated by dragging to the
Dragen local window, by double clicking on a file, or by using download options in the
remote menu.

Dragen also features some advanced funtions such as site monitoring and mp3 streaming.



Getting Started - a quick tutorial

The best way to learn about Dragen's features is to try it out, so let's set Dragen up for use on
your system.

Unzip Dragen to a directory of your choice. Be sure that your unzip utiliy preserves directories as
it unzips. The Dragen archive comes packed with a directory structure which is required for
proper use of the program.

After unzipping Dragen to the directory of your choice, open an os/2 window and change to the
Dragen directory.

Type setup to run the Dragen setup utility. You must then answer four questions:

1) The Dragen default download directory: this is where Dragen will download files if you do not
explicitly tell it to put the files elsewhere.

2) The path and filename of your external editor. If you want to use the E editor, simply type E,
otherwise, be sure to include the path to the editor as well.

3) The path and filename of you mp3 player. If you do not have one, use one of the included mp3
players: use mplay1 for high quality, mplay2 for medium quality, or mplay3 for low quality. MP3
playback is cpu intensive. Choose a lower quality player if you need to conserve your cpu or if
you have an older machine, ie 486. Pentium machines should be able to handle mplay1 just fine.

4) The length of time you want Dragen to wait before terminating a logon attempt.

5) Proxy name and port if needed.

Once you finish answering the questions, setup will place two icons on you desktop. One labeled
Dragen DropZone, the other labeled Dragen FTP. Dragen FTP is the icon for the program itself.
Dragen DropZone is a start up object that allows you to drag a customized object onto it and
quickly logon to a site directly.

For now, double click on the Dragen FTP icon.

Logging On to a Server

Now, let's logon to he famous Hobbes incoming directory.

The Site Alias list presents current sites.
Click on the Hobbes Incoming alias to show logon information.
Double click to logon.

To navigate: double click on directories, use the back button (<)
to go back (or ctrl <-, that's ctrl grey back key), or refresh to reload a directory
by hitting the R key when the directory list has focus.

Note that setting the sort checkbox on many unix like servers will produce a reverse date/time
sorted listing.


Downloading

To quickly download a file to the default download directory, double click on a file. To download
using Dragen drop, click on the local button. The local window will open. Navigate
to the desired directory. Then, from the Dragen remote window, highlight the files you want to
download. To selectively highlight several non-contiguous files. Hold down the ctrl key as you
click on the files. Then use a right mouse button drag to the local window to download the
selected files. Once the download has completed, use cwd in the local window to update the
directory.

If you want to download with automatic reget, select that checkbox before dragging the files.

Other ways to download include:
ctrl S - download to a specified directory. You specify the directory before download. Highlight
the files you want then click ctrl S.
ctrl W - download files to the local window.
ctrl G - download files directly to the default download path for the site.


Uploading

Uploading is simply the reverse process of Drag En Drop downloading, except that the source
files may come from the local directory or any os/2 folder. Drag files from the local window
or os/2 folders to the Dragen remote directory list.

Viewing a File

To view a file in the remote directory window, select it, then press F3 or view in the
remote menu. F3 also works to view files in the local directory.

Dragen Drop Desktop Object (HPFS)

While we are here. Let's create a Dragen drop desktop object for the Hobbes
incoming directory (you must be using the High Performance File System to do this).
First, select the sort checkbox. Next, place the mouse cursor over the server
window where you see hobbes.mnsu.edu. Click and hold the right mouse button and drag to the
desktop. Release the mouse over a blank portion of the desktop. A new desktop object labeled
{pub/incoming} will be placed on the desktop. Now let's test it. Close down Dragen FTP.

After Dragen FTP has closed down, right click and hold on the {pub/incoming} desktop object
and drag it on top of the Dragen DropZone icon. Release the mouse button. Dragen will now
start up and automatically and produce a reverse directory sorting of the directory list. If you
logon to the same sites often. I recommend creating Dragen drop objects for each of these sites.
You can place these objects on the desktop or in any os/2 folder. Once Dragen is open, you can
Dragen drop any Dragen desktop object onto the host alias listbox to logon to remote servers.


Additional Features and Funtions

MP3 - Dragen will play mp3 files that reside on remote sites. Here is a demonstration: While
logged onto Hobbes, navigate to pub!multimedia!wave!mpeg.
There are three mp3 files in this directory. Single click to highlight the one the one
named warworld.mp3. Next, depending on your line speed, set the mp3 buffer (Buf=). If you
have a cable modem or network connection, 10 seconds is probably a sufficient buffer. For
modems, use 30 seconds or more. Next click on the MP3 - > play menu item to
listen to "war of the worlds."
You can multiple select mp3s in the same manner as with downloads. Dragen will stream and play
the files sequentially.

Monitoring a Remote Site - clicking the monitor -> start/stop menu item will fire up a second
window in which Dragen will continually retrieve directory listings at the interval specified
in the monitor edit box.
This is particularly useful if you are having trouble retrieving a directory listing from a site.
Dragen will continually retry for you and save the list from its last successful attempt. Deselecting
the monitor -> start/stop menu item will discontinue the monitor. Selecting the monitor -> pause
menu item will freeze monitor activity.

Selecting transfer on the monitor will transfer the site listing to the Dragen remote window.

Del, Rmd, Ren - Dragen provides buttons that allow you to delete files from remote directories,
rename them, or remove empty directories.

ASCII/BINARY - if you wish to retrieve directory listings or files in ASCII mode, select
the ASCII checkbox before initiating the desired action.

Adding/Editing the Site List - To edit a site, single click on it in the Site Alias
window. Then right click on the site window. The site edit box will pop up. You can directly
enter or edit site data. Click change or add when done.

History List - Dragen maintains a site history list for HPFS users. This is found under
the Sites menu. You can drag a directory in the history list to the Host Alias window to
change to a directory.

Managing Processes -  Dragen uses an automatic process to kill logon or directory list
retrieves that stall during logon. The wait time for auto kill is adjustable (in seconds)
at SETUP or by using the Process -> Set Kill Delay menu item.
Dragen allows you to kill download/upload processes manually. ctrl P opens a process
list that shows current upload or download processes. Double clicking on a process id
will kill the process. Ctrl P will toggle the process list open or closed. Zombie kill
in the process menu will kill all running threads.

Transaction Log - Ctrl L will toggle the transaction log list open or closed. The open/close
button will do the same thing.

Command Line Startup - Dragen can be started from the command line using the following
syntax:
From the Dragen directory - either dragen alias or dstart alias
i.e. dragen "hobbes incoming" or dstart "hobbes incoming"
Note that double quotes are required around the alias name if it has a space in it.
To start dragen from the command line from any directory other than the directory
in which dragen has its files, use: dstart alias instead of dragen alias.

Program Object: if you want to create a program object for a particular site, use
the following parameters:
Program Tab - path and filename - must point to dragen.exe, parameter - the alias
name with double quotes if there is a space, woring directory - must point to
the dragen directory.
Icon - set title to the alias name.

ESC - pressing the esc key when the directory/file listing has focus will close the program.


Dealing with Non-standard Servers, Columns or Filenames

Currently, Dragen recognizes, UNIX (or UNIX look alike) servers, os/2, MVS,
and VMS servers. Others may work as well. If you find a server that does
not work properly, please let me know.

For some servers, Dragen needs more information about the directory structure to
work. Dragen identifies files and directories using the directory window listing.
With a UNIX server, when you double click on a window entry, Dragen checks the
first character in the line to see if it is a "d." If it is, Dragen knows that
a double click on that line will be for a  directory operation. Otherwise, it assumes it
will be a file operation. Dragen gets the filename by parsing the last column
entry in the line. This approach works fine for most servers. One exception is if a
directory or filename has a space in it. If there is a space in
the directory or filename, Dragen will not find the proper location in the line to parse.

For UNIX servers, to correct this situation, you must tell Dragen which column
represents the beginning of the file or directory.
Do this by using column mode setup:
1) Start by logging onto a site. Use a double click on a host in the site list.
2) Once you have retrieved a list, SINGLE click on a line in the remote window that
   contains a non-standard directory or filename (i.e. spaces in the name). You now
   have the line highlighted
3) Click on the Remote menu item, or right click on the remote window
4) Click on Column Mode Setup
5) Review the list of file or directory names and double click on the line that contains
   the proper name set alone by itself.
6) Column mode is now set for the remote window. If you want to make this setting the
   default, right click on the host site list and make the changes to the presets for
   that host.

Other Non-Standard Situations:
Some strange servers require that LIST commands send *.* (i.e. the windows Bison FTP server),
otherwise they do not return full directory listings. If this is the case on a particular
server, check the *.* checkbox. The *.* checkbox is only valid for column mode, so you
must have column mode set as well.

Note - for MVS users:
To change to a different HLQ, type the name of the hlq in the directory edit window
followed by a colon ":". Press enter of click the change button. You will then
remain in that HLQ until you edit out the HLQ name from the directory window.

Questions or feedback to:

Keith Cotroneo
716 Monterey Drive
Endwell, NY 13760
email: [e-mail]