Well I have 3 years of experience in FTP using just Windows Explorer but lately I've just heard of these FTP softwares like smartFTP, cuteFTP and fileZilla. I haven't used any of these but to me I think Windows Explorer is fine with me because it's just like managing files in local folders. So I would like to know what the advantages are if I was to use any of these FTP softwares.

Well it depends on your usage really. I am the opposite where after my first try I never used explorer again, you don't get much in the way of logging or reporting in general as far as I can remember, as well (correct me if I'm wrong) advanced settings would be difficult(?).

'If it ain't broke don't fix it' I don't see why you would *need* to switch. But if you have the time to experiment you might find the software is more functional. If during the install of an FTP program you would pick "Basic Install" I'd say you would be just as happy with explorer.

Features I'm unsure explorer supports but FTP software would:
-File resume
-Folder sync
-Multiple connections (I guess just multiple windows?)

Ive used all three before I made the final switch to Linux only at the time cuteFTP was my favorite.

-Jordan

The best parallel that I can draw between using Internet Explorer as a FTP client is trying to type a term paper in Microsoft Notepad. For the absolutely basic tasks Internet Explorer is ok but you are missing an entire world of possibilities. I will take updating my webpage as an example.

1. Internet Explorer 7 no longer allows using usernames and passwords to FTP so there is no way of accessing your HTML directory.
2. Internet Explorer does not show a split view of both the local and remote file system. This is handy when you are navigating the remote site. Internet Explorer also acts like Windows Explorer. This may not exactly be a downfall but I prefer the split view much better.
3. When a stand alone FTP client crashes, the whole operating system does not go down the drain. This applies for those system timeouts that happens frequently with Internet Explorer.
4. Most FTP clients have a queue option. This way you can get different files from many remote folders without having to baby sit Internet Explorer.
5. FTP client allow for auto resume. Nothing destroys your day like downloading a 3 Gb Linux DVD and having it crash 12 hours later and having to start all over again.
6. You can change the file permissions with a FTP client. I have had to do this many times with my website. This is usually a lot faster than firing up my SSH client.

These are just a few of the reasons to not use Internet Explorer. Even if I had a very simple task I would never use Internet Explorer again unless I absolutely had to. A very functional and free client is Filezilla. You can download it at http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/. I think once you try it you will not go back.

First FTP is seriously a bad protocol. why ?
1) its susceptible to many kinds of network attacks (look here)
2) The protocol uses plain text username/pasword so any simple sniffer is capable of revealing your username and password.

we should use SFTP which is tunneled within a SSL communication or SCP (which is a pure SSL oriented File transfer Protocol)

Do any of these programs feature an easy way of changing file permissions? I'm talking like bulk file permission changes because that's the main reason I want to move. If they don't then I'll stay with Explorer.

yes.. changing permissions on a directory should give you the result.
however, you really need to use the FTP client s/w to make you sure its helpful. Its way much better than from IE.

Well, I was never dependant on Microsoft software for my Internet needs, I use FreshFTP for my FTP needs. Actually, if you're too used to using the Windows Explorer and its folder-pane interface, then maybe its fine to use it for minor FTP transactions. But if you really want to use FTP to synchronize between your server and PC, then I'd surely recommend using an FTP client meant to do that! Basically, windows just ports the ability to perform FTP transactions, its not really meant to be used solely for it. An FTP client gives you:

• Advanced preferences, like using passive (PASV) or active mode.
• Multiple connections to speed up transfers. It basically optimizes the process, which Windows doesn't.
• A console to see what exactly are the commands sent to the server (You can pretty much learn from it!)
• Synchronization of offline and online folders.

In fact, no matter how much you praise the Windows GUI (I agree its good ) - its not exactly a Pro UI for TP browsing, and you'd need one if you use it pretty often!

Hey,

I would reccommend BulletProof FTP. Dont use the standerd software on windows xp! its not good. most of the time you cant connect to youre host. ive seen it a lot, and i have expierenced it a lot with expirimenting on diffrent hosts!

Good Luck!

Aron

I mostly upload my files through HTML-Kit's built-in Workspace feature, It also allows for server-side file editing, so that is a major advantage.
When uploading stuff other than pages of PHP, HTML, XML, etc, I use the FireFTP extension for Firefox (and also in Flock). It has local and remote filesystem view and some more advanced features that I like.

I used to use AceFTP 3 but I found that it crashed too often for anything useful and CuteFTP just wasn't for me. I found SmartFTP unsuitable because it was bloated with features that I didn't use. I've never tried FileZilla, but my software works fine for me.

Windows Explorer is good for downloading small files or checking the size of certain file(s). It isn't recommended to upload a large amount of files through Windows Explorer because it can crash too easily and you have to site there and watch it. I have the Astahost on a "My Network Places" but I don't go to it very often.

I have to say that I absolutely love the windows ftp client.

As for Internet explorer 7 not supporting it...yes that is true...however..to fix this, you go to my computer...and in the address bar you type in your ftp address....this makes it work like before.

As for permissions, I love being able to simply select my files, right click and then change the permissions by checking boxes.

To me, the ftp client is so easy to use because of the fact that it is just like using windows...and doing files that way..almost as if you are not communicating with a remote computer.

So I am waiting/searching for an ftp client that does this (particularly in linux) but until then, i'll continue to use the ftp capabilities microsoft provides.