OT - Any way to create a link to an FTP site ?

[Wonderman]

Sorry, this is OT but since everyone here is so sharp maybe you can point me
in the right direciton.

I have an ftp site and I have a short term need for a number of not so
computer literate people to download items from it. I'd like to be able to
send a link in email and have them all just click and go to the site - or -
just have a download start. The extent of my http knowledge stops with
setting up the site and paying he bill. Much appreciate any help.

 

[Dusko Savatovic]

Just type address (or URL) in a mail message or a Word document:
ftp://ftp.hp.com/

That's all

 

[Dusko Savatovic]

Just type address (or URL) in a mail message or a Word document:
ftp://ftp.hp.com/

That's all

And to automatically start a downoald, type the address of the full path to
the file, like this:
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp45001-45500/sp45004.exe

Hint:
You may browse to the correct place with your browser, right click the file,
and choose "copy shortcut". Then simply paste the shortcut into the mail
message.

 

[Wonderman]

Thanks. Tried it and I get a message that the file cant be found. Also no
" copy shortcut " option in right click menu. This is a secure ftp site
with username and password required. I'm running vista 64 if that helps.

 

[VanguardLH]

Thanks. Tried it and I get a message that the file cant be found. Also no
" copy shortcut " option in right click menu. This is a secure ftp site
with username and password required. I'm running vista 64 if that helps.

What does the URL look like that you tried to use as an FTP link?

Do the users that are in the username list for login also have
permission to each [sub]folder so they have access to any file under
that [sub]folder? Either you need to put the Everyone group with read
permissions on those folders and files or you have to allow the
authorized users on your login list to access those same folders and
files.

 

[Wonderman]

Thanks. Tried it and I get a message that the file cant be found. Also
no
" copy shortcut " option in right click menu. This is a secure ftp site
with username and password required. I'm running vista 64 if that helps.

What does the URL look like that you tried to use as an FTP link?

Do the users that are in the username list for login also have
permission to each [sub]folder so they have access to any file under
that [sub]folder? Either you need to put the Everyone group with read
permissions on those folders and files or you have to allow the
authorized users on your login list to access those same folders and
files.

Similar to text in prior answers -

ftp://ftp.hp.com/ or ftp://hp.com or ftp://hp.com/foldername


At the moment I only want to have one username and one password for all
parties. No subfolders and I'm allowing read only permissions.

 

[Dusko Savatovic]

Who is setting up ftp site?


Is the ftp site in the Intranet or on the Internet?


On which platform is ftp site running?


Is ftp site currently working for anonymous users?

Thanks. Tried it and I get a message that the file cant be found. Also
no
" copy shortcut " option in right click menu. This is a secure ftp site
with username and password required. I'm running vista 64 if that
helps.

What does the URL look like that you tried to use as an FTP link?

Do the users that are in the username list for login also have
permission to each [sub]folder so they have access to any file under
that [sub]folder? Either you need to put the Everyone group with read
permissions on those folders and files or you have to allow the
authorized users on your login list to access those same folders and
files.

Similar to text in prior answers -

ftp://ftp.hp.com/ or ftp://hp.com or ftp://hp.com/foldername


At the moment I only want to have one username and one password for all
parties. No subfolders and I'm allowing read only permissions.

 

[Wonderman]

Who is setting up ftp site? I am. It is an existing site. I can also
add another.


Is the ftp site in the Intranet or on the Internet? Internet


On which platform is ftp site running? I think they run linux. I am
Vista64


Is ftp site currently working for anonymous users? Not anonymous. Need
username and password.

Wonderman wrote:

Thanks. Tried it and I get a message that the file cant be found.
Also no
" copy shortcut " option in right click menu. This is a secure ftp
site
with username and password required. I'm running vista 64 if that
helps.

What does the URL look like that you tried to use as an FTP link?

Do the users that are in the username list for login also have
permission to each [sub]folder so they have access to any file under
that [sub]folder? Either you need to put the Everyone group with read
permissions on those folders and files or you have to allow the
authorized users on your login list to access those same folders and
files.

Similar to text in prior answers -

ftp://ftp.hp.com/ or ftp://hp.com or ftp://hp.com/foldername


At the moment I only want to have one username and one password for all
parties. No subfolders and I'm allowing read only permissions.

 

[Dusko Savatovic]

Sorry Wonderman, I can't help you for linux ftp server.
You'll have to ask in the appropriate linux place.
As far as client side is concerned, it works as described in previous posts.

I also tested and installed an ftp site on Win 2008 and required user name
and password. When user connects (clicks on the link), a box pops up asking
for username/password. After user supplies credentials, a download begins.

Good luck

Who is setting up ftp site? I am. It is an existing site. I can also
add another.


Is the ftp site in the Intranet or on the Internet? Internet


On which platform is ftp site running? I think they run linux. I am
Vista64


Is ftp site currently working for anonymous users? Not anonymous. Need
username and password.

Wonderman wrote:

Thanks. Tried it and I get a message that the file cant be found.
Also no
" copy shortcut " option in right click menu. This is a secure ftp
site
with username and password required. I'm running vista 64 if that
helps.

What does the URL look like that you tried to use as an FTP link?

Do the users that are in the username list for login also have
permission to each [sub]folder so they have access to any file under
that [sub]folder? Either you need to put the Everyone group with read
permissions on those folders and files or you have to allow the
authorized users on your login list to access those same folders and
files.

Similar to text in prior answers -

ftp://ftp.hp.com/ or ftp://hp.com or ftp://hp.com/foldername


At the moment I only want to have one username and one password for all
parties. No subfolders and I'm allowing read only permissions.

 

[VanguardLH]

Thanks. Tried it and I get a message that the file cant be found. Also
no
" copy shortcut " option in right click menu. This is a secure ftp site
with username and password required. I'm running vista 64 if that helps.

What does the URL look like that you tried to use as an FTP link?

Do the users that are in the username list for login also have
permission to each [sub]folder so they have access to any file under
that [sub]folder? Either you need to put the Everyone group with read
permissions on those folders and files or you have to allow the
authorized users on your login list to access those same folders and
files.

Similar to text in prior answers -

ftp://ftp.hp.com/ or ftp://hp.com or ftp://hp.com/foldername

Those are *not* FTP links to a *file*. I thought you wanted to provide
a URL that pointed to a file.

At the moment I only want to have one username and one password for all
parties. No subfolders and I'm allowing read only permissions.

So what are you using as an FTP client to test your setup? Web browsers
are *not* FTP clients despite their limited support. For the above FTP
links, and if you have an FTP client installed that was associated to
that URL scheme, you would see a folder got opened, not a file.

Are you going to require that you users install an FTP client (most have
one although probably wouldn't know the FTP commands needed after
running ftp.exe at a command line)? Are you expecting them to click on
a link in a web page or e-mail where both would use the FTP support in a
web browser to get at the file?

Did you enable both ports 20 and 21 in your firewall(s) (both in the
software firewall on your host and in the firewall inside your router)?
The FTP client makes an outbound connection to listening port 21 on the
FTP server to send commands to it. However, the data comes back on port
20 which would look like unsolicited traffic hitting your host.

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Understanding-FTP-Protocol.html
"FTP also is odd in the fact that it uses two ports to accomplish its
task. It typically uses port 20 for data transfer and port 21 to listen
to commands."

Are you running the host and FTP server or is this some hosted service
that you pay for? If it is a hosted service then why won't they help
you use their service that you are paying for? They should know the
proper syntax for FTP links to files in their customer's accounts.

 

[+Bob+]

Sorry Wonderman, I can't help you for linux ftp server.
You'll have to ask in the appropriate linux place.
As far as client side is concerned, it works as described in previous posts.

I also tested and installed an ftp site on Win 2008 and required user name
and password. When user connects (clicks on the link), a box pops up asking
for username/password. After user supplies credentials, a download begins.

Good luck

Wonderman:

This is a rat hole. The problem is that MS keeps futzing with the FTP
interface in MSIE. Users will get varying results with FTP links and
secure FTP links depending on the version of MSIE. Firefox is
different still.

How about just using an http:// link? You FTP the files to a web
hosting area on the server. Most hosting plans have a way to password
protect directories. Use that mechanism to protect the files. Send the
users a link like: http://www.example.com/fredphotos/

This works fine with the possible exception of when they are
retrieving files that the browser wants to display, such as jpg files.
If they want to save those, they would need to right click and choose
Save Picture or Save Image (easy and fairly standard in browsers).