FTP Software allows you to upload files to a server. Why would you want to do this? This is used mainly for publishing a web page or uploading a large file which is too big to send by e-mail and allowing someone else to download the file.

For example, say I want to send a whole load of digital camera images to my friend and they are too big to send by e-mail. I first Winzip them up, upload them onto my webspace using FTP software and then send the address to my friend to download my winzip file to unpack and view.

There are many assortments of FTP software - some free and some commercial. Most of them do exactly the same job and have similar interfaces.

Here's what you need to do to either publish a webpage or upload a file:

• Download an FTP program - You can use anyone you like.
• You will need some webspace. If you have bought a domain name and webspace you'll need the following:
  The host address - looks something like:
  ftp.yourdomain.com
  Username: yourusername - supplied by whoever you bought your website/space from.
  Password: yourpassword - same as above.
• Enter all of those details into the required areas of the software - wording may be slightly different in various packages.
• Click on Connect or similar.
• In another window inside the software you should be able to see the 'live' side of your connection to your webspace. You may or may not be on the root level of your site - check to see if there is an index.html or index.asp or home.html file sitting there. This is the current default page if you actually typed www.yourdomain.com into your browser and visited your site. You may have to search inside the live window to find the correct file, if in doubt - check with your host.
• Find a file to upload from your local drive (your computer), from the FTP software - basically, you're navigating to the file through the software. Right-click on it and select upload. If this menu is not available then see if an icon within the software does the same function. You may need to look at the help screen to find out how you upload a file.
• When you have uploaded the file check to see if it is available to see or download. So, by opening your browser - type in the complete url (Universal Resource Locator) or web address of the complete file. e.g. If I uploaded a file onto www.canmoremedia.com in the root directory called andyfiles.zip then the complete url I would type into my browser would be www.canmoremedia.com/andyfiles.zip