Shareware Review - February 98

Product: WSFTP

Author: IPSWITCH

Contact: 1.800.793.4825

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is not new to the internet, in-fact, FTP'ing has been with the internet for as long as Archie and Gopher.  Now that the web has become so popular and a easier place to set up shop.  FTP programs with a friendly interface have been slowly making there way into the desktop.   Ipswitch has created two fast and effective file transfer protocol tools WS_FTP LE and WS_FTP Pro.    Designed for non-programmers but sophisticated enough for power users, WS_FTP is widely recognized as the fastest, most powerful Windows file transfer client application available.  WS_FTP takes full advantage of Windows' point-and-click capabilities.  No more looking at a Unix or NT remote host as if it were still in the dark VL or MS-DOS treed file structure.  Both WS_FTP applications have a highly intuitive graphical user interface with side-by-side directory windows for local and remote sites makes it easy for users to select and transfer files.  Using these applications are as simple as launching the Windows explorer and doing a simple cut and past on your local hard drive.

For the power user, there are advanced firewall features as well as variable start up directory choices for both remote and local systems.  WS_FTP LE and WS_FTP Pro have the ability to create several profiles types that will allow the power user to have a unique profile for as many different host.  You have several powerful options in your set up files.  WS_FTP Pro will allow drag and drop and overwrite options.  In the sessions set up you have a choice of ASCII, Binary, L8 and Auto detect for your start up file transfers.  The Pro version has the ability to set file transfer network buffer receive and transmission size packets as well as user specified application action when a file is double clicked.   As shown below, creating and moving around even the most complex directory structure is not a problem.

If you use the internets' world wide web to transfer drawings or documentation packages that are over 500k you need to think about setting up a FTP site with your ISP and using file transfer protocol over email.  Hopefully we are all getting closer to eliminating the need to reproduce hundreds of copies of hand tracings and plotted drawings by using electronic means to do business.

WS_FTP Limited Edition (LE) is free for non-commercial users and WS_FTP Pro cost $37.50 US dollars.  The installer includes both 16- and 32- bit versions of the programs. Both of these applications are easy to install and use.   Both are very clean and powerful FTP programs.  WS_FTP was written by John Junod and is distributed by Ipswitch, Inc.  Contact Ipswitch at 800.793.4825 to order.