Thanks to watcher13 #41. Beautiful work, and it filled in a few gaps.

Going by the small number of comments today it understandably suggests that this software has a limited market, but, as with the telephone when it was invented, I react against the nay-sayers. I always like to see seeds that might stimulate the imagination and lead to great things.

That's why I discourage the question to a newcomer to computing "What do you want to do with your machine?" I believe the only valid answer to that is "Everything!". :)

I hope your piece has led some doubters towards the great beyond..

Oops, here's the link to ftpplanets review page:
http://www.ftpplanet.com/_listreview/listreview.htm

(SFTP option would have made this product much better.)

FTPGetter with SFTP support will be released at April, 2009

(I dragged and dropped but program still not registering
Have window vista.)

Just restart FTPGetter :)

Thanks, installed and activated fine on my Vista 32 Home Premium.

I dragged and dropped but program still not registering
Have window vista.

The last post I see here is #32 at 11:01 EST so I'll try and answer your question Phaedron, and if somebody already has done it better, sorry! This is one of those softwares that if you don't know how to use it, you probably don't need it. I'm assuming from your post that you need an explanation that starts pretty much from scratch, if not, I apologize.

FTP - File Transfer Protocol - is a very, very old way to download files. You can do it from a DOS command prompt, for example. It drastically - the first protocol was developed in 1971 - predates the modern internet, the World Wide Web. Back before the standard web protocol http - hyper text transfer protocol (which originally started out as the source for clickable links, as you likely know) - ftp was probably the main way to download files. Since a lot of people still feel that you don't need protocol dedicated to clickable links and pretty pictures just to distribute files - especially from internal file servers in a lot of circumstances - ftp sites still exist. It's kind of like the great great grandaddy of torrents, though it doesn't really have the unfortunate connection with pirated files that torrents occassionally have.

You can do some ftp stuff in a web browser, but ftps mainly still exist for people who don't want to be tied to the extra memory, etc. needed by a web browser just to download files. Though you might not realize it, sometimes when you click a link to download a file, you're browser actually switches to the ftp protocol to download it, because it's stored on an ftp site. It's not unusual for software sites and mp3 sites to actually store their downloads using ftp. Some people even use the protocol as a simpler way to upload web pages. Software like today's giveaway basically contains advanced functions for people who download a lot of these files or who want to automate the process for off hours or both.

Here's a simple, short explanation of ftp and the standard client software from a site called ftp planet:
http://www.ftpplanet.com/ftpresources/basics.htm
And here's their review page of sites, including various ftps.
If, after looking at that, you still can't find any sites that have a lot of files you want to download simply and quickly, then you don't need software of this type.

Note: I know there may be a lot of technical holes in this explanation, but I think I've captured the functional gist of it, so I hope the more sophisticated here won't pick it apart in too much detail. Phaedron seemed to be asking what it was for, not how it works down to the last detail.

I have already (for free):
- filezilla
- wget
- orbit downloader

why would I have this?

SFTP option would have made this product much better.

FireFTP plug-in for Firefox is the way to go. Not interested in any other FTP program.

appears activating and registering will take longer than downloading filezilla. Guess i'll skip this just because of that. Do a lot of ftp but hate irritations.

"Um, thanks FTPGetter Team #12, but I am asking (@#11) WHERE I might use this program, not how. Under what circumstances? What would I use this program for?"

Basically, if you have to ask this question, it's not for you.

Hmmmm. I dragged and my Internet connection dropped. Whaaa...?

Is there a free FTP software that automatically downloads and also decrpyts downloaded PGP encrypted file? Does anyone know? please let me know. thanks.

I'm asking as did #12 -
when will this ever be usable?; if something is ready to be up-loaded, fine; but wouldn't this up-load on some schedule even if the file(s) were not ready to be uploaded ;-)

The install-activate process for this program was different from the usual install-activate processes for Giveaways, because the license key is to be extracted to the Application Data file instead of the program's regular program file, and the instructions do not specificallly state that. However, by following the instructions in point 2, the application data folder is opened (I figured out to extract the license to that folder by noticing the path at the top of the windows explorer window was to application data folder instead of regular program folder.

After realizing that the application data folder for the program is where the license goes, instead of the regular folder under "Program Files", I closed and reopened the program after extracting the license to the correct destination and the program showed registered just fine.

FLING FTP SOFTWARE:
http://www.download.com/Fling-FTP-Software/3000-2160_4-10580139.html

Kaspersky Antivirus 8 detect FLING FTP as Trojan.generic :)

How can anything be worth that much money when a free add on to Firefox, FireFTP, does the job perfectly?

Nice program. Although I use Filezilla, I will give it a try.

Hi all!!

Looks good at first glance (in particular I appreciated the ability to setup multiple automated tasks for each FTP account) even though I still didn't try all its built-in features, but according to my friend ASHRAF (NUMBER ONE here) it appears that if you need a FTP tool FileZilla is still the best option.



OTHER FREEWARE ALTERNATIVES, besides FileZilla, worth having a look at, are the following ones:


- ANYCLIENT 1.6:

- CORE FTP LE

- COFFECUP FREE FTP 3.0:

- FLING FTP SOFTWARE:
http://www.download.com/Fling-FTP-Software/3000-2160_4-10580139.html

Fling is free ftp software to help you automate uploading or transferring files. It is typically used to maintain a web site on a remote hosted server or to automate backup of folders.The software supports both file transfer protocol (ftp) and network file transfer.
Fling runs behind the scenes and allows you to automatically upload or transfer files from anywhere on your PC using the Windows right click menu. Simply right click on the file you want to upload and select Fling upload. It’s as easy as that. But best of all, Fling is completely free. Version 2.02 adds help to the wizard.

KEY FEATURES:

* Automatically update websites as you complete a change:in fact in automatic mode it will automatically detect when a file is changed and upload it.
* Edit and create documents that are stored on a network folder while still retaining the original as a backup on your own computer.
* Manage multiple file transfer destinations.
* Backup important files by setting them to be saved in a Fling Folder which transfers at a set interval.To manually upload a file just right click on the file and select Fling.
* Individual folders can be set to upload to their own destination.
* Can be set to upload at preset intervals.
* Supports secure FTP via SSL (FTPS) and runs as a service so the software can run when logged off on a server to automate transfer.
* Can be integrated or linked to from other programs using command line arguments to create automation upload systems.
New features include being able to choose Upload Only, Download Only or Synchronize for both “Scan at preset interval” and “Scan Folder on Demand” options. Previously it only used Upload Only. The scanned download is done by checking the modified times of the files in the remote folder/FTP site. BEST OF ALL IT’S FREE…LOL!!



But if you regularly upload or download files and directories between your computer and a "FTP SERVER WHIZ FTP 1" is definetely one of the best solutions I’ve ever seen:

http://www.download.com/Whiz-FTP/3000-2160_4-10614288.html

It’s very easy to use because all you need to UPLOAD files and directories to an FTP SERVER is to DRAG these files and directories from Windows Explorer onto the Whiz FTP window, whereas to DOWNLOAD files and directories from a FTP SERVER it’s enough to just drag them from the Whiz FTP onto Windows Explorer. It’s also possible to perform recursive downloads, uploads and deletes.

Here a couple of screenshots of the program:

http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Whiz-FTP-Screenshot-59427.html



Cheers

Giovanni

Um, thanks FTPGetter Team #12, but I am asking (@#11) WHERE I might use this program, not how. Under what circumstances? What would I use this program for?

I downloaded this program and was about to instal when I read this from #11.

Now I'm not to sure I want to instal.

Is this program any good?
.
Or is the company just after a free try-out?
.
If they can't read/answer simple questions from a customer, and charge SO much for a simple product, it make me wonder about any integrity they have or might not have about their software.

Think I'll leave this one, thanks but no thanks GAOTD.



.

(Um, thanks FTPGetter Team #12, but I am asking (@#11) WHERE I might use this program, not how. Under what circumstances? What would I use this program for?)

For example, to upload files by mask like *.html, abc*.??? [0-9]???.txt

And must FTP program users always be administrators?

No. Admin's privileges required only to install FTPGetter. Also see FTPGetter Team #21

I hate being a party pooper but to those of you who need an easy, reliable FTP uploader, and who happen to use the Mozilla Browser, go download FireFTP - it's an add-on, completely free:

http://fireftp.mozdev.org/

I've been using it for years and would never switch.

Nice program with some nice features, however lacking a few as well. The sync feature is nice and intergration to Windows Explorer is fast and works well.

One feature I noticed instantly, is that you cannot change permissions recursively to directories (Only individual files). I have to still try this on one of my Win 2003 servers, but on my two Debian Web servers (LAMPP) I could only change perms on files and not directories recursively.

I have tried many other commercial FTP software and still have a hard time finding one easier to use than FileZilla. Also it is FREE! as in BEER and SPEACH (cliche' I know... but TRUE)

I will test this program some more on my Windows servers to see if it handles it differently, but most likely will stick with FileZilla for my FTP proggie of choice. GoodSync is another free alternative for a nice syncing/backup utility.

Thanks GAOTD for a nice program but I must say there a better free alternatives.

Mozilla FTW

I have done two ways and I still get the buy now you have fifteen days left move this file and I move it to the folder in programs in C drive am I missing something here? I also tried drag and drop in the program files FTP getter and it still has the register window that says I fifteen days left so what do we do now ? I used the ctrl +k and still have the some window fifteen days left

downloaded and installed on win xp sp3. went by the readme file and was easy to install. think I like cuteftp better

(Sync part of the program does not work if you installed it as a service)

Fixed. Please download latest FTPGetter build from our site.

The activation instructions are as follows:

1. Run FTPGetter.
2. Press Ctrl+K when in the main window (or in the nag-screen). Pressing this keyboard shortcut will open a folder for the program in Windows Explorer.
3. Put the file ftpgetter3.lic which is included in the package into the FTPGetter application folder (see point 2).
4. Restart the program. If you use FTPGetter as a Windows service, then just restart the FTPGetter launcher service.
5. To view the license information, open the 'About...' dialog. To do this, select Help on the main menu and choose About.

Um, thanks FTPGetter Team #12, but I am asking (@#11) WHERE I might use this program, not how. Under what circumstances? What would I use this program for?

And must FTP program users always be administrators? (See Fubar#16) ..After all this time programmers still don't seem to have got their security model right. Oh dear.

@Stexe:

As a backup solution, FTPGetter would only provide the latest file version backed up. SVN is for versioned backups, wherein you can go back several generations of file versions if need be. These two programs are providing different functionality.

Conflicts with QQ2009 messenger service(QQ is a Chinese IM). Launching FTPGetter causes a fault in QQ such that FTPGetter fails to launch and QQ shuts down.

Ashraf, you have it some wrong so try again.

Vista users need to set FTPGetter's compatibility to Run as an Administrator. Minimal installation footprint. EULA was too long for me to spend the time reading it. I'm not going to evaluate this type of software; hopefully, it's improved from last time. See the last offering of this or similar software for alternatives.

Here are proper links to the free alternatives I listed above:
Titan Backup 1.5
SyncBack

FileZilla
CoreFTP LE
FTP Commander

The Good
* Has the features of a sync tool and an FTP program in one.
* You can setup multiple automated tasks for each FTP account.
* The 'sync tool' part of the program allows for the use of filters.
* You can receive email notifications concerning your transfers.
* You can schedule sync tasks to occur at a designated time.
* You can have multiple sync tasks running at one time.
* You can set the program to run a sync based on if the contents of a folder is modified (event based scheduler).

The Bad
* Sync part of the program does not work if you installed it as a service.
* The FTP part of the program (FTP explorer) is noticeably slow.
* You can't use third party editing tools like Notepad++ for the FTP explorer.
* Sync automatically occurs after you create the task.
* Drag + drop does not work.
* When you save a file after editing it, it is automatically is uploaded to your FTP server (if you loaded it from there).
* The demo video that comes with the program is of an older version.
* You can't highlight and select multiple different tasks - you have to start them individually.
* Scheduler is turned on by default.
* "Synchronize" is not very smart.
* Event based scheduler can only monitor a local folder.

Free Alternatives:
There are tons of FTP programs out there. Only to name a few:

FileZilla
CoreFTP LE
FTP Commander

Since one of FTPGetter's main abilities is the sync tool, here are two sync tools that can sync with FTP servers:

SyncBack
Titan Backup 1.5 (has a sync tool built in)

Verdict:
The idea behind FTPGetter is pretty good. However, as I mentioned earlier, I feel the sync tool is underdeveloped and the FTP tool is underdeveloped, leading to an undesirable program. Not to mention the bug of the sync tool not working if you install FTPGetter as a service. Thumbs down for FTPGetter. My recommendation for today is the following: for an FTP tool, I only say FileZilla because that is what I use. It is tested and it works. However other FTP tools like CoreFTP LE and FTP Commander are also good choices - it just comes out to personal preference. Then combine whatever FTP tool you chose with either SyncBack or Titan Backup (if you prefer simple sync, go Titan; advanced go SyncBack). The combination of two software will give you the most of the functionality of FTPGetter but with programs that run a lot better.

Full Review: Click here please.

(It looks good, but could someone please explain where I might use this? )

FTP server profile set-up process consists of the three basic steps:
1. Set up Connection parameters: server address, user name and password, used protocol (standard or secure SSL/TLS), connection type (direct or via proxy-server).
2. Create Automation Tasks: uploading files and folders from local discs to server or downloading files and folders from server to local discs. Each task has additional options - comparison of files before uploading and downloading, saving file modification time, synchronizing folder structure, deleting successfully processed files at the source side etc. One of significant features of FTPGetter is file batch processing by mask, so that you can perform operations with multiple files with names that match certain criteria - e.g. upload to server only files with html extension or download from server all files except images in bmp format.
3. Adjust the Scheduler - customize weekdays when profile tasks will be processed, processing start-up and finish time, frequency of performance.

(Not Vista YET ?!?!? After two years??)(Works as a Limited User?)

It looks good, but could someone please explain where I might use this? Even in circumstances of playing around.

Have you seen the price they're wanting for this on their site ?
For an FTP prog ??????

Not registering despite following instructions
Isn't it set for Vista ?
After 2 years ?

To activate FTPGetter 3.11

Click ftpgetter3.lic. Choose move this file ----> Local Disk (C:) ----> Documents and Settings ----> Application Data ----> FTPGetter and click move button. Close and restart the program. Voila, your FTPGetter 3.11 is now registered!

After you put ftpgetter3.lic file into properly folder (use Ctrl+K to open this folder) - restart FTPGetter. If you install FTPGetter as Windows service - restart FTPGetter Launcher service too.

Can get it to register - Windows Vista X64

Apologies! Program activating but not registering! am I missing something here?...

So, is this better than SVN? I've been using SVN Turtoise for file uploads and project management, but never heard of this before.

I dragged and dropped but program still not activating!

Nice... just what i was looking for! Not comparable to SmartFTP but the task scheduler its quite a feature.

Ricardo A.

Don't be scared off by the registration procedure.
Turns out it's a very easy and effective drag and drop.
Thanks GOTD + FTPG team.