How to Set Up a Smart FTP

SmartFTP is a program on your computer that allows you to connect to an ftp server. An ftp server is useful to exchange files (upload and download). It is typically used to upload files to a website that you manage.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A computer with an internet connection.

1. 
   The SmartFTP website

   First you will need to download SmartFTP. (http://www.smartftp.com/). Click the download link and find the file that is right for your computer. Save the installer to your computer.
   
   Note: SmartFTP is one of several "FTP Clients" you can download and use to connect to ftp servers. SmartFTP is free for personal or educational use, but for commercial use you must purchase a software license.
   
   Another good ftp client is Filezilla, which is free for all uses. To download Filezilla, go to http://filezilla-project.org/

2. 
   The first step in the installer

   Install SmartFTP by finding where you saved the smartFTP installer file and double clicking it. When the welcome screen pops up click Next. The End-User License Agreement window will pop up. Click the button to accept the terms of the License Agreement, and then click Next.

3. 

   You will then choose the setup type. Click the button next to the "Typical" label. Click "Install" on the next screen. It will install the program. Click "Finish".

4. 
   SmartFTP welcome screen.

   The program will automatically launch after you finish the installation. You will see the welcome screen. Click on "Open a Remote Browser".

5. 
   New Remote Browser dialog

   In the "New Remote Browser" dialog window, you will need to enter information to connect to the remote ftp server. This information should be provided to you by your website host or IT department.
   
   Typically, you will need to fill out the Host, the Username and Password. Click OK to connect.
   
   If login was successful, you will see the contents of the files on the remote server.

6. 
   Remote files on the left, local files on the right.

   The real useful part of an ftp client is to share files between your computer and the remote computer (the ftp server). Next open a local browser by choosing "File --> New Local Browser" from the menu bar. This should open a section on the right side of the screen where you can browse for a file location on your local computer. The left side will have the remote server files.

7. Now you can share files between the remote computer and your computer. You can do this by clicking a file or folder and dragging it from one side to the other, or by highlighting a file or folder and clicking left or right arrow buttons in the space between the sides.

Tips & Warnings

• Any remote connections you make will be saved in the Favorites connections in SmartFTP. To reconnect to a server you can find it in "Favorites --> Quick Connect" in the menu bar.
• Moving a file from your local computer to a remote computer is called "uploading"
• Moving a file from a remote server to your local computer is called "downloading"
• When moving a large amount of files with an ftp program, the files to be processed are put in a transfer queue, you can see the status of the queue in the bottom part of the screen labeled "Transfer Queue". If there are any errors for a file, you can see the errors here.

Resources

• Smart FTP website

[akchrist]

on 6/10/2008 Very detailed intructions, thank you!