OS/2 Shareware BBS: 35 Internet/35-Internet.zip/sftp127.zip/help.txt

Text File | 1996-06-25 | 21KB | 394 lines

Welcome to S-FTP version 1.27 (or simple FTP)!
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The author of this software is Keith Cotroneo. I call S-FTP Week-End-Ware
....because I really only have time to work on it during the week ends.
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I am a Dean at a college in Oregon. Computers are a hobby of mine and lately
I have spent some time on the Internet. The FTP utilities that I have tried
have not suited my needs very well and Web browser don't work well for batch
downloads. So I wrote this program for my own use.
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What I wanted was something that would allow me to:
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        *logon the popular ftp sites without hassle
        *read .txt information about files in the directories easily
        *perform batch downloads
        *do an occasional upload
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S-FTP does those things for me.
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If it works for you, you are welcome to use it with the following provisions:
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        1) There is absolutely no warranty with this software. You use it
        completely at your own risk. This means that you agree that if you
        use the software and it somehow screws up your system or you lose files,
        that is your problem, not mine.
        2) You understand that this software was developed using the RXFTP
        package and agree to the additional license arrangements listed in the
        license.txt file. You also agree to follow the licensing for Go listed
        in the go_15.zip. Also, thanks to Jeff Glatt for Filerexx!
        3) You MUST register after 15 days of use of this product. To do so,
        send me email or snail mail telling me your name, address, email
        address, and then please provide comments on how I should improve the
        product. I *do* use suggestions to make changes. I can be reached below:
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                        [e-mail]
                              or
                        Keith Cotroneo
                        661 SW 5th St.
                        Ontario, OR 97914
        4) If you distribute the package to others, you must give them the whole
        Zip file.
        5) You may not sell this software product to anyone.
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Changes in S-FTP since version 1.00:
        1) Text files in the Directory List are now loaded to the viewer by
        single clicking on the file to highlight it and then clicking the view
        push button.
        2) The Download List may now be populated from a viewed text file. This
        works for files such as the Hobbes 00index.txt files. For this function
        to work, the filename must be in the first position in the line of the
        text file.
        3) While files are downloading, you can now continue to populate the
        download list box. You can download files while you are viewing the
        directory list or 00index.txt files in the viewer and continue to
        transfer file names to the Download List. Files will be downloaded in
        the order of transfer to the download list.
        4) Lengthy processes, such as logon and downloading are now placed
        in separate threads. This makes the application much more responsive
        and doesn't lock the application while processes are completed.
        5) Added download path setting and config menu option.
        6) Added Delete Host and Add Host buttons to allow configuring the
        host list.
        7) Added several progress indicators to tell the user what is happening.
        8) S-FTP will now download files from outside the current remote
        directory. You can build the download list from various directories
        or 00index.txt files. The download list will remember paths to those
        files and retrieve them when you download.
        9) Added capability to configure host user name, password, default
        directory.
        10) Improved the logon process. It is more streamlined and provides
        better progress reporting.
v1.05
        11) Added upload capability.
v1.06
        12) Added capability to resize the main SFTP window.
        13) Added audible beep to signify completion of download list.
        14) Added date/time sort button for directory list.
        15) Added auto date/time sorting check box for auto sorting
        whenever the directory list is updated.
        16) Added double click .txt files to viewer check box option.
        17) Changed the directory list default font to system monospace.
        *NOTE: all of the 1.06 changes were made at the request of users.
               I have more and I am working on them.
v1.07
        18) Fixed the date sorting routine. It didn't work right. Now if
        the Date Sort box is checked, the directory list will be downloaded
        in descending date order.
v1.08
        19) Added back up directory button <<.
        20) Increased directory text box character capacity.
v1.09   21) Added capability to save window size and position.
v1.09a  22) Fixed a compatibility problem with earlier versions and the
        path.txt file. Users of previous versions can now keep their old
        path.txt file, whereas v1.09 required replacing it.
v1.10   23) Fixed a problem with the progress indicator not functioning on
        FAT partitions. Thank you to Jeff Glatt for his wonderful FILEREXX
        utilities. The FILEREXX.DLL is now required for SFTP.
v1.20   24) Improved download progress indicator to provide percent
        statistic.
        25) Added download progress indicator for the viewer.
        26) Added aliases, now you can have multiple aliases with different
        download directories, user and password for each  host.
        27) Changed behavior in the host listbox so that a double click
        on the host alias automatically logs on the the remote host.
        28) Added quick list type function to quickly add the current host
        and directory to the alias list. Clicking on a Add Host now
        automatically sets up the current directory with an alias in the
        add host option window.
        29) Added direct host logging. Typing a host with a directory, ie.
        hobbes.nmsu.edu/incoming in the host edit box and then clicking on
        logon will automatically logon to the host without having to set
        up a specific host alias.
        30) Changed the directory listbox behavior so that you can press
        enter or  double click to select an entry.
        31) Added the capability to press the escape key in the viewer to
        close the viewer window.
        32) Fixed the download routine so that it adjusts filenames to
        conform to the 8.3 requirement when downloading to a FAT drive.
        33) Made adjustments to the multi-threading components to
        improve responsiveness.
v1.21   34) Changed the behavior of sftp so that it no longer pops to the
        foreground after download completion.
        35) Added automatic logging. Now all downloads are logged to a file
        called sftplog that is located in the sftp directory. This log is
        useful if you want to check to see from which host and directory
        you received a particular file. You can also logon to a host from the
        log file by selecting log and view log from the menu and then double
        clicking on an entry in the viewer.
        36) Added Host Edit button.
        37) Changed alias list action so that a single click on the host list
        will display the host name and logon directory.
        38) Changed the host add/edit window so that a single click instead
        of a double click in the alias list will display its settings.
v1.22   39) Added support for the lr style directory entries.
        40) Fixed problem with the alias/host editor.
        41) Added abort function (it is slow, but works for long downloads).
        42) Cleaned up a few problems with the text messages on the interface.
        43) Fixed a problem with the logoff/logon routines.
v1.23   44) Fixed another problem with the edit/add function.
        45) Fixed an unbalanced do/end coding problem
        46) Added multiple view capability. By holding ctrl and clicking on
        text file names in the directory list, the user can multiple select
        files. Then, clicking View will load all selected files to viewers.
        Use ESC to peel off the viewers.
v1.23a  47) Fixed problem with transfer to download list from .txt files.
v1.24   48) Changed messages for logon process.
        49) Added capability to view a file after highlighting by right
        clicking the mouse.
        50) Single clicking on a host alias no longer displays the default
        directory in the directory window.
        51) Fixed a problem with sftp not handling files with spaces
        properly.
        52) Added Cruise Mode which places downloads into a separate process.
        Navigation of the host and viewing of txt files is now possible
        without disturbing the download. The sftp2.exe file must be in the
        sftp directory and the Cruise Mode box must be checked. I decided
        to set Cruise Mode up as an option with a check box because, regular
        mode (box unchecked) is faster in making the initial connection to
        begin the download. If you want fast file retrieval instead of the
        ability to traverse directories and halt downloads, leave the Cruise
        Mode box unchecked.
        53) Added the kill function. Clicking kill will stop the download.
        The go.exe utility must be in the sftp directory and the Cruise Mode
        box must be checked.
        54) Changed the sftp icon. Thanks to Bill Clark for the new design.
        55) Added support for Win-NT Servers.
        56) Eliminated the DeSelect and View buttons. Use mouse right click
        to view. Clicking on any dir list item without holding ctrl will
        deselect.
        57) Added saveguard code to disallow attempts to change directory
        or view while downloading when not in cruise mode.
v1.24a  58) Corrected problem with save size and position not allowing
        sftp to be shown on the monitor.
v1.25   59) Fixed a problem with the viewer that could cause files to go to
        the viewer instead of the transfer list.
        60) Fixed the date sort (off) option for symbolic directories.
        61) Added code so that sftp doesn't spike the cpu when displaying
        the download list.
v1.26   62) Added command mode and fixed some download bugs. Command mode
        allows sftp to be used from and os/2 prompt or called from another
        program for automatic logon and retrieval. To use command mode, you
        must specify the path for sftp plus a fully qualified host url.
        The host url must end with a /. Anything beyond the / will be
        interpreted by sftp as a request for a file. For example:
        F:\sftp\sftp hobbes.nmsu.edu/incoming/ will automatically load
        sftp from a directory entitled sftp and then logon to the hobbes
        incoming directory.
        F:\sftp\sftp hobbes.nmsu.edu/incoming/example.zip will automatically
        load sftp from a directory entitled sftp, logon to the hobbes incoming
        directory and then download the file example.zip if it exists in
        that directory. After the download, sftp will close itself.
        Please note that a url like hobbes.nmsu.edu/incoming will end up
        finding the root directory instead of the incoming directory because
        the url is not ended with a /. sftp will think that incoming is
        a file and try to download it.
        Please note that a url like hobbes.nmsu.edu/incoming will end up
        finding the root directory instead of the incoming directory because
        the url is not ended with a /. sftp will think that incoming is
        a file and try to download it.
        Also, please note that, due to a bug in OS/2 REXX, a url preceded by
        ftp:// will not load properly from the command line. This is a problem
        with how OS/2 REXX interprets (actually reserves) the / characters.
        Sorry, but I can't do anything about this one.
v1.27   63) Fixed an elusive problem with the logon button where it would
        force a default to anonymous logon.
        64) Added capability to change the font size in the directory list
        window.
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To use S-FTP:
        1) Unzip the S-FTP.ZIP file to the directory in which you want the
        product to reside.
        2) Copy the files rxftp.dll and filerexx.dll to a directory in your
        DLL path.
        3) Create an object on the desktop if you want one.
        4) Start your tcp client or internet connection.
        5) Run S-Ftp by typing sftp at the command prompt or by clicking the object.
        6) Click on the Config menu, choose default settings, type in download
        path setting, and default user name and password in the textbox,
        click save settings, click done.
        7) Click Add to add hosts to the program. Complete the host information
        and click add for each host and alias.
        8) Double click on the host name you wish to visit.
        9) Review limitations section at end of this help file.
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To add new hosts and aliases:
        1) Click Add Host.
        2) A window pops up, complete the required information for the Host.
        3) Click the Add Button to save the information.
        4) Click Done to exit the window.
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To change a hosts settings:
        1) Single click on the alias in the alias list box.
        2) Click the Edit button.
        3) Modify the alias information in the host settings window.
        4) Click Change.
        5) Click Done to exit the window.
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To quick add new hosts:
        1) When you are in a directory of a remote host, click Add. The
        Host settings window will automatically append the directory to the old
        alias name to let you quickly set up the new host alias.
        2) Click Add.
        3) Click Done.
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To change other hosts settings while in the Host Settings window:
        1) Use the listbox to select the host alias in the host settings window.
        2) Change the information as needed.
        3) Click Change and then Done.
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To delete hosts:
        1) Highlight the host alias in the Host listbox that you want to delete
        by single clicking on it. Click the Delete Host button. The host is
        removed from the listbox.
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To logon to a remote host:
        1) Double click on the alias in the host listbox.
                        or
        2) Single click on the host alias and click logon.
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To change a directory:
        1) Double click on the directory in the directory listbox to which you
        want to change (english, can you believe it?), or enter the directory
        in the Directory textbox and click on the Dir Button.
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To back up to a parent directory:
        1) Click the << button.
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To date/time sort a directory listing:
        1) Click the Date Sort check box.
        2) Now, when directory lists are downloaded, they will be sorted in
        descending date order.
        * This function was requested by users to make it easy to check an
        /incoming directory and see the newest files first.
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To download files:
        1) Double click on the file(s) in the directory listbox that you
        want to download.
        2) Each file will be transfered to the transfer listbox.
        3) When you are done choosing files, click on the transfer button
        to begin receiving the files.They will be placed in the directory
        specified by your path configuration in the config menu.
        4) When the list is cleared, all your files have been transfered.
        *Note: effective in version 1.02, you may continue to build the
        transfer list while downloading is in progress. New files added to
        the transfer list while downloading will be transfered in the
        order appended to the list.
                                or
        If you are downloading from a site, such as Hobbes, that maintains
        file listing descriptions in text files (ie. 00index.txt), you can
        add files to the Transfer List from a viewed text file. To do so:
        1) Highlight the text file (ie. 00index.txt) in the Directory List
        by single clicking on it.
        2) Click the View button to load the text file into the viewer.
        3) Double click on the files in the viewer that you wish to apply
        to the transfer list.
        *Note: effective in version 1.02, you may continue to build the
        transfer list while downloading is in progress.
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To delete files from the transfer list:
        1) Double click on the files in the Transfer Listbox that you want to
        remove.
                        or
        3) Click on the Clear List button to remove all files.
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To view text files on a remote site:
        1) Single click on a text file in the directory listbox to highlight the
        file that you want to view.
        2) Right click the mouse.
                        or
        3) Click the .txt Dblclick check box.
        4) With the .txt Dblclick check box selected, a double click on a file
        in the directory list with a .txt extension will automatically load
        the file to the viewer. This feature was requested by a user.
                        or
        5) Hold the ctrl key and click on several text files. Then right
        click the mouse. Each text file will be loaded to a viewer. Use ESC
        to peel off or close the viewers.
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To upload a file:
        1) Logon to the site you wish to which you wish to transfer a file.
        OR single click on the Alias for the site and complete the directory
        information in the directory edit box. If you do not log on to the
        site and use the single click method, you must ensure that the
        directory box includes the remote host directory in the form
        "/directory/subdirectory".
        2) Single click on the Upload menu.
        3) Single click on either Ascii (if text file) or Binary (executable).
        4) Choose the file from the file dialog. Click OK or double click on
        the file.
        5) An entry for the file will be made in the tranfer list.
        6) Click on the transfer button.
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To conduct simultaneous uploads, downloads, etc.:
        1) Ensure the the Cruise Mode button is checked.
        2) Begin your first upload or download with SFTP.
        3) Change directories or logon to other hosts as needed and continue
        to build the tranfer list if desired.
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To save window size and position:
        1) Click Config on the menu.
        2) Click Save Size and Position.
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To change the font size in the directory list window:
        1) Click font size on the menu.
        2) Click the size you want. The size in the directory list window
        will be changed and will become the new size upon start up.
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To view the transfer log:
        1) Click Log on the menu.
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To automatically logon to a file in the log:
        1) Click Log on the menu.
        3) Double click on the host entry to which you wish to logon.
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To abort a long download:
        1) Click the Kill button.
        (this function only works in Cruise Mode)
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To use command mode:
        From a command prompt, specify the path for sftp plus a fully qualified
        host url. The host url must end with a /. Anything beyond the / will be
        interpreted by sftp as a request for a file. For example:
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        F:\sftp\sftp hobbes.nmsu.edu/incoming/ will automatically load
        sftp from a directory entitled sftp and then logon to the hobbes
        incoming directory.
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        F:\sftp\sftp hobbes.nmsu.edu/incoming/example.zip will automatically
        load sftp from a directory entitled sftp, logon to the hobbes incoming
        directory and then download the file example.zip if it exists in
        that directory. After the download, sftp will close itself.
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        Please note that a url like hobbes.nmsu.edu/incoming will end up
        finding the root directory instead of the incoming directory because
        the url is not ended with a /. sftp will think that incoming is
        a file and try to download it.
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Limitations:
        1) One user reported difficulty downloading files from a direct network
        connection. If you use this software directly of a network, instead of
        through a modem, please let me know how it works for you off the
        network.
        2) Currently, SFTP is set up to handle Unix and Win-NT servers. Other
        server types are not supported. If anyone has a server type that they
        would like sftp to support. I will be happy to work on it, but access
        to the server must be provided for testing.
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Well, that is pretty much it. Let me know how things go.
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Keith Cotroneo
[e-mail]
Updated May 27, 1996