Upload files without using any FTP client

[xfile]

Hi,

Is it true that it is possible to upload files (such as images and texts) to
a web site's folder without using any FTP client software?

I was told by our hosting company that it is possible to do so with some
aspupload code, but they did not elaborate in further details.

What I wish to accomplish is to use a method to transfer large files from
our suppliers to us.

Currently, we are using e-mails which is not a good approach, but our
suppliers do not wish to install and use any FTP client software, so we're
looking for an alternative way.

If it's possible, appreciate if you could also point me to where can I find
more detailed instructions for doing so.

Many thanks.

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Files can be uploaded to a web site using HTTP, that is, through an HTML
document with a form in a browser. The form has to have an <input
type="file"> form element in it, which renders a textbox and a browse button
in the page (in a form). But there's a little more to it than that.

In addition, the form must have an "enctype" attribute, set to
"multipart/form-data." By default, forms upload data to the server as text.
The enctype property causes the form to upload to the server using a binary
transfer, or rather encoding a binary file as text, creating a multipart
HTTP message, and putting the encoded binary file (as text) into a separate
part from the rest of the HTTP message. This informs the server that the
form is to be handled as having a binary file "attachment" in it.

Now for the real tricky part. All forms must be "handled" on the server, as
they contain data that the server must process, unlike a typical HTTP
Request for a document or other file resource. A "form handler" is a program
on the server that processes the form data in some way. FrontPage comes with
FrontPage server extensions, which, when installed on a web server, have a
number of such programs to perform a number of common form-handling tasks.
If you have ever used a FrontPage form, you are probably familiar with how
to use one in a FrontPage web. Now you know a bit about what they actually
do. The form in the HTML document has information in it which tells the
server which program to use to process the form data.

Now, FrontPage 2003 includes a file upload form handler. If you have
FrontPage 2003, and the server extensions are configured correctly on the
server, and the file permissions are correct on the server (allowing
uploaded files to be written to a certain directory), that's pretty much all
you need. Just use FrontPage to create a file upload form. But if any of
this is not the case, you have to go "the manual route." This means using
ASP, PHP, or some other server-side programming technology to create a
custom form handler on the server for handling file upload forms.
"ASPUpload" is a COM object that you can buy and install on a web server for
such things. Google it. There are others as well. But remember that the file
permissions on the server have to be set correctly, and you may need help
from your hosting service to do this. And remember that you will have to do
some server-side scripting/programming as well.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
If you push something hard enough,
it will fall over.
- Fudd's First Law of Opposition

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Win XP has FTP client built in, they wouldn't need to install anything.


| Hi,
|
| Is it true that it is possible to upload files (such as images and texts)
to
| a web site's folder without using any FTP client software?
|
| I was told by our hosting company that it is possible to do so with some
| aspupload code, but they did not elaborate in further details.
|
| What I wish to accomplish is to use a method to transfer large files from
| our suppliers to us.
|
| Currently, we are using e-mails which is not a good approach, but our
| suppliers do not wish to install and use any FTP client software, so we're
| looking for an alternative way.
|
| If it's possible, appreciate if you could also point me to where can I
find
| more detailed instructions for doing so.
|
| Many thanks.
|
|

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

Yes, but your host will need to install the aspupload application on their server. To learn more
about aspupload, go to http://www.aspupload.com


--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
==============================================
If you feel your current issue is a results of installing
a Service Pack or security update, please contact
Microsoft Product Support Services:
http://support.microsoft.com
If the problem can be shown to have been caused by a
security update, then there is usually no charge for the call.
==============================================

 

[P@tty Ayers]

Win XP has FTP client built in, they wouldn't need to install anything.

I suggest this too. If you need instructions, let us know.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Thanks for the detailed instructions.

Now I understand why the technical support said and I quoted: You can do
with frontpage as well but we generally dont recommend that.

And I also checked with the hosting company and they said Aspupload
component is installed.

In addition, our server does come with FrontPage server extension, and we
are using FP 2003 for all editing and publishing works.

The only question is that we don't know if the server extension is being
configured correctly or not.

I also went to aspupload site to test and download their demo, but I have no
idea for how they determine which folder has been set for the upload files.
This is the part that I am confused.

In any case, I will first try if I can search any articles from MS or the
net for using FP 2003 to upload files, and exploring ASPUPLOAD and XP OP as
other suggested.

Since I have no ideas about the OS used by our suppliers and plus they are
not very computer literate, and we have communication problems (they are
French), so I'd guess using a web page using HTTP is a safe way for them to
use it without "learning" additional computer things.

Appreciated for your kind explanations and will post back for any
developments.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Thanks and great to know that. Could you point me how to search using Win
XP for the task?

Many thanks.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Yes, could you kindly point me where to find the instructions so we could
also use it as an alternate method?

Many thanks.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Thanks and I am learning to understand their demo codes.

Many thanks.

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

you just type ftp://www.yourweb.com in the browser address window...if you
have ftp setup on your server you're all set..you may want to set it up with
username password though you probably do not want anon access. Not sure how
you'd handle one client from seeing another clients files either. I use this
to send files to my accountant pretty simple but they need to empty out the
folder after every transfer or I could see other people's stuff...there's
probbably a better way to handle that though.






| Hi,
|
| Thanks and great to know that. Could you point me how to search using Win
| XP for the task?
|
| Many thanks.
|
|
| | > Win XP has FTP client built in, they wouldn't need to install anything.
| >
| >
| > | > | Hi,
| > |
| > | Is it true that it is possible to upload files (such as images and
| > texts)
| > to
| > | a web site's folder without using any FTP client software?
| > |
| > | I was told by our hosting company that it is possible to do so with
some
| > | aspupload code, but they did not elaborate in further details.
| > |
| > | What I wish to accomplish is to use a method to transfer large files
| > from
| > | our suppliers to us.
| > |
| > | Currently, we are using e-mails which is not a good approach, but our
| > | suppliers do not wish to install and use any FTP client software, so
| > we're
| > | looking for an alternative way.
| > |
| > | If it's possible, appreciate if you could also point me to where can I
| > find
| > | more detailed instructions for doing so.
| > |
| > | Many thanks.
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

You would have to create a folder for the script and the upload and then tell your web host to set
the required permissions on both folders. Your web host should be able to help you get this up an
working.

The FP Upload component is limited to a 1 MB upload by default. The ASPUpload component is limited
to a maximum upload file size of 4 GB.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
==============================================
If you feel your current issue is a results of installing
a Service Pack or security update, please contact
Microsoft Product Support Services:
http://support.microsoft.com
If the problem can be shown to have been caused by a
security update, then there is usually no charge for the call.
==============================================

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Many thanks for the additional tips.

Due to the file size limitation, I guess that I'd have to use ASPUpload
since the size is usually larger than 1MB.

Appreciate.

 

[xfile]

Hi,

Thanks and it seems easier than I thought.

I guess if I am using this method, I'd ask our hosting company to set
additional user account for sub-folders - if possible.

Thanks for the sharing, and I am thinking if possible to create sub-folders
under the main folder for each supplier with their own permissions, so it
would be more like: ftp://www.sitename.com/yourownfolder

Many thanks for the sharing.

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

Yer welcome.


| Hi,
|
| Thanks and it seems easier than I thought.
|
| I guess if I am using this method, I'd ask our hosting company to set
| additional user account for sub-folders - if possible.
|
| Thanks for the sharing, and I am thinking if possible to create
sub-folders
| under the main folder for each supplier with their own permissions, so it
| would be more like: ftp://www.sitename.com/yourownfolder
|
| Many thanks for the sharing.
|
|
| | > you just type ftp://www.yourweb.com in the browser address window...if
you
| > have ftp setup on your server you're all set..you may want to set it up
| > with
| > username password though you probably do not want anon access. Not sure
| > how
| > you'd handle one client from seeing another clients files either. I use
| > this
| > to send files to my accountant pretty simple but they need to empty out
| > the
| > folder after every transfer or I could see other people's
stuff...there's
| > probbably a better way to handle that though.
| >
| >
| >
| >
| >
| >
| > | > | Hi,
| > |
| > | Thanks and great to know that. Could you point me how to search using
| > Win
| > | XP for the task?
| > |
| > | Many thanks.
| > |
| > |
| > message
| > | | > | > Win XP has FTP client built in, they wouldn't need to install
| > anything.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > | > | > | Hi,
| > | > |
| > | > | Is it true that it is possible to upload files (such as images and
| > | > texts)
| > | > to
| > | > | a web site's folder without using any FTP client software?
| > | > |
| > | > | I was told by our hosting company that it is possible to do so
with
| > some
| > | > | aspupload code, but they did not elaborate in further details.
| > | > |
| > | > | What I wish to accomplish is to use a method to transfer large
files
| > | > from
| > | > | our suppliers to us.
| > | > |
| > | > | Currently, we are using e-mails which is not a good approach, but
| > our
| > | > | suppliers do not wish to install and use any FTP client software,
so
| > | > we're
| > | > | looking for an alternative way.
| > | > |
| > | > | If it's possible, appreciate if you could also point me to where
can
| > I
| > | > find
| > | > | more detailed instructions for doing so.
| > | > |
| > | > | Many thanks.
| > | > |
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

 

[P@tty Ayers]

Hi,

Yes, could you kindly point me where to find the instructions so we could
also use it as an alternate method?

To add to what Rob posted:

Just open an IE window, and type the following into the address bar. (Fill
in your actual user name, password, and domain name, of course.)

ftp://username[email protected]