gsrfy@levels.sait.edu.au (11/14/90)
DownLoading Software using FTP ------------------------------ In gratitude to the many who have given me their assistance, I will summarize what I have learned about this subject. Anonymous FTP ------------- If your computer system has FTP facilities, all you need do to start is to type "FTP" at the system prompt. If you have a particular network address in mind when you start, you can type "FTP <network address>". Addresses for various FTP sites, and lists of FTP sites, are often posted to this NEWSGROUP. Once the site responds with its prompt, you type "USER ANONYMOUS". If that site allows anonymous ftp, and if it is not particularly busy, then anonymous access will not be denied, you will be asked to type your network address, as a password. After logging onto the FTP site, you find your way using the "ls" and "cd" commands. The former command gives you a list of the files in the current directory. You go into a directory using "cd", by typing "cd <directory name>". To go back up into the parent directory, type "cd .." . Files are of two main types, "text" and "binary". If you find a "README" or "ANNOUNCEMENT" or similar file, which is probably of "text" type, you can download it to your computer system using the "get" command. Type "get <filename>". Make sure you pay attention to the case of various letters in the filename. If you wish to download a file which is "binary", make sure that you type "BINARY" before you use "get". Downloading from a VAX VMS system onto an AMIGA Computer -------------------------------------------------------- I access the network via a VAX VMS system. I have found that there are further traps to avoid, before you can successfully download software using FTP. After you see the problems, you may begin to patronize your local PD software dealer more. The two major means of downloading from a main-frame to a personal computer, like the AMIGA, are through the uses of two protocols, which allow error- checking. These are XMODEM and KERMIT. Each protocol has its adherents. For example, at my VAX site, only KERMIT is supported on the system. However, in browsing through PD catalogs for the IBM-PC computer, I found the source for XMODEM, in VAX FORTRAN. XMODEM is meant for transfer of binary files and provides the simplest way of transferring such files. If you use KERMIT, make certain that you tell the KERMIT server program that you wish to transfer binary files ( if that's what you want to do ). I have to type "SET FILE TYPE BINARY" for the version of KERMIT on the VAX that I use. Finally, make sure that you have selected "binary" format on your communications programme, as KERMIT usually expects to be doing "text" file transfers. Assuming that you are using a good communications program, I use the PD program called "handshake", you still have other potential traps to avoid. For some reason, unknown to me, binary files transferred correctly on a VAX system have extra bytes added to them. As a result, these binary files will not load correctly on an AMIGA computer. Apart from using some sort of "CHOP" program, there is a simple way around this problem: only download archived software and un-archive your downloaded binary files onto your prepared disks. Un-archiving files ------------------ At present, the two most common archiving/un-archiving programs are called "lharc" and "zoo". These can be downloaded from many FTP sites. "zoo" is now the most commonly used archiving system. If you are just starting, but are relying on a VAX main-frame, then you should buy Fred Fish Disk #164 to get hold of "zoo". Fred Fish Disk #312 contains "lharc". "lharc" is quite easy to use. Files archived with this program usually have a ".lzh" attached to the filename. Type in "lharc" without any parameters and you will get a listing of the way you type in various parameters. "zoo" is not easy to use, for a beginner. I have printed out a manual of many pages for "zoo", unfortunately, it is of no use to me whatsoever. Say you want to "un-zoo" your downloaded file into another disk called "diskname", your "zoo" archive is called, for example, "Disk:Foo.zoo:, the typing the following will do the trick : cd diskname: zoo x// "Disk:Foo.zoo Of course, I am assuming that you dont have a hard disk, in which case, you also have to type the path-name for your "zoo" file, when you load "zoo". After-note ---------- Going through this rather tortuous procedure, I can download PD software, which runs O.K. However, I find that the icon files that are unpacked on my disks remain invisible, when I double-click on the icons for the disks that result. Nevertheless, the programs work. Regards, Rick Yuan Adelaide, AUSTRALIA ( One thing you learn from computing is a high tolerance for frustration. )