iFTP "Intelligent FTP" version 3.0 (c) copyright 1997-2002 Santronics Software Inc contact: http://www.santronics.com What is iFTP? ------------- iFTP is an enhanced 32 bit console/text based FTP client specifically designed to run scripts using a rich FTP scripting command language. Why iFTP? --------- One of the basic needs for FTP was conditional file transfers. This is not possible with standard FTP clients. For example, if you were picking up mail and/or files from a FTP hub or server site, you could easily do this using your standard FTP client: mput *.* mdel *.* If the file transfer aborted, then a restart would be required. This will duplicate the complete transfer of files again. There is no intelligent means with transferring only those files which did not make it the first time. Now with the enhanced scripted language in iFTP, you can simply type: if exist /*.* then Get /*.* /kill better yet, how about similar DOS commands, like COPY or MOVE? if exist ftp:/*.* then move ftp:/*.* With iFTP, you can use a special drive letter "ftp:" to distinquish which directory, remote or local is being referred to. The above enhanced command performs a condition check for files at the remote site, and if any exist, move the files from remote to the current local directory. For each file downloaded, the file is deleted. Hence, if a session is aborted, no duplicate file transfers are done. Another example of the enhanced script language is: open ftp.sstar.com userid password if not success then abort Now you can define your login parameters as part of the open command, and you can use a condition check on the success of the open operation to see if you need to abort. These are just a few examples of the rich and enhanced commands in the iFTP scripting language. iFTP offer a strong capability to write power FTP scripted operations with over 65 commands available. Design powerful and reliable scripts for FTP operational needs! Why would I need iFTP? ---------------------- Who says you need anything in life? iFTP is an internet utility. If you have a need for powerful FTP scripting, then iFTP is for you. There was nothing in the internet that I found equivalent to it. If there was, I could of saved myself the programming work. But what was originally a in-house utility to increase the reliablity of our ftp file transfer needs, iFTP was put into market and it became one of the hottest selling utilities in the internet with a surprising attraction to large businesses who told us they needed something like iFTP for the exact reasons we needed it: Reliability and scripting control of FTP file transfers. We have corporate customers buying bulk copies of iFTP 100s at a time! There are other market segments who are using iFTP. One immediate need is with the FTP/HUBS. If you are familar with FTP/HUB sites, then you would understand the complexity of writing a good, reliable FTP script. In order to make it work right, you had to write some complex batch files which created FTP scripts. Now you can avoid the batch file. iFTP comes packaged with a ready to use FTP/HUB script that will handle the reliable file transfer of files with your FTP/HUB site. How much does iFTP cost? ------------------------ iFTP is distributed as a single user usage per site license. The cost of iftp is: Retail Purchase iFTP single user/site $49.00 iFTP multiple sites contact santronics for quotes/discounts Note: Registration for one single user and using it at multiple sites is illegal and a violation of international copyright laws. We offer great discounts for multi-site licenses. Contact Santronics for details. How do I register IFTP? ----------------------- Once you purchase IFTP, you will be provided with an official version of IFTP which requires a registration code to run. You will be provided with official registration information via Internet Email. See the order.txt file for an Purchase Order form. You can send this via: email: sales@santronics.com fax: 305-248-3638 or you can call our toll free sales line at: 800-845-6944 or you can order on online at our web site, http://www.santronics.com When you register, you will be provided with a registration key. Who do we contact if there are any problems? -------------------------------------------- Support for iFTP is done via internet email only and our Pay Voice Technical Support service lines. Our basic pay-support plan is $24.95 per 20 minutes. You can purchase tech support blocks or join pur Platinum Priority Support Plan at $495 per year which gives you 5 hours or 1 year whichever comes first. Or you can send all questions and comments to: support@santronics.com Email responses can be fast, depending on the complexity of the question. But you should allow atleast 3-5 days for responses. Our pay tech support hot line is 305-248-3204 9am-5pm Monday thru Friday, Eastern Standard Time. Since we have multiple products to support, it helps if you indicate you are using iFTP and to give us as much detail as possible. You may check our web site at http://www.santronics.com for any new developments or updates. How do I install iFTP? ---------------------- Simple! Just unzip the archive into any directory you want and then edit the iFTP.INI file using any text file editor like notepad, and define the setup section. However, you might need to also unzip WININET.ZIP? iFTP is based on Microsoft Internet DLL called WININET.DLL. We included a very old copy of it which was needed back in 1997. However, Microsoft has then made this file a permanent part of their internet solutions, thus its part of your operating system. If you have IE 3.0 or greater or any of their office products installed, then this file is already installed in your Windows system. Check the directory \WINDOWS\SYSTEM under Windows 95/98/ME or \WINNT\SYSTEM32 for Windows NT/2000. If you already have it, you don't need to unzip WININET.ZIP which came with IFTP. Are there any command line parameters? -------------------------------------- Yup, Just type iFTP and you will see the command line options. To run a script, you can type: iFTP /RUN scriptfilename If you want to quickly send files without a script, you can type: iFTP /PUT filename(s) If you want to quickly pick up files without a script, you can type: iFTP /GET filename(s) How do I write a iFTP script? ----------------------------- With a TEXT editor, such as NOTEPAD.EXE. You should print out the iftpcode.txt file. This is the iFTP script language reference document. Unzip examples.zip and see the exam*.ftp files for iFTP examples on how to use a script and many of the iFTP commands. Can I use iFTP in console mode (interactively)? ----------------------------------------------- Yes, you can use iFTP in console mode by using the iFTP command line switch /CON. Example: iftp /con this will put you in a iFTP prompt mode where you can use any of the iftp script commands. You can even call scripts from the console mode. I have a work station without RAS installed. Do I need RAS? ------------------------------------------------------------ Starting with iFTP update version 2.1c (beta) and official release 2.1d, iFTP no longer required RAS to be installed on your Windows PC. This will basically disable dialing features which you may not need because your computer is already connected to the internet. How do I setup IFTP with proxies? --------------------------------- iFTP versions prior to 2.1d used the Microsoft Registry to get "default" proxy information, if any. In other words, it followed the proxy setup as defined by Microsoft's Internet Explorer. With the latest version, this is still the default behavior. However, iFTP now allows you to bypass "Microsoft's proxy List" and to define your own in the IFTP.INI file. You can also now bypass proxies entirely with IFTP and go directly to FTP host sites. I am a Fidonet Member using FTP hub distribution. Can I use iFTP? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Sure! FTP Fido hubs was the #1 incentive in writing iFTP. We needed a "reliable" way to deal with transfers hundreds of files per day from FTP Fido hub sites. In the iFTP package, you will find an example zip file (FTPHUB.ZIP) that contain both batch files and iFTP scripts which were especially tailored for John Souvestre's FTP hub site. Minor tweaking may be required to make it fit your FTP hub distribution. What else do I need to know? ---------------------------- That's it when it comes to iFTP! You see, straight forward and simple! Enjoy iFTP, we sure do! Hector Santos, president Santronics Software Inc.