Intelligent FTP Client Application -- IF Version 1.05 Copyright (C) 1996-97 by Xiao Quan. All rights reserved. Introduction: This software ,"I.F.", is designed to help visitors of Internet to transfer their favorite files. Sometimes when the network is busy or the file is quite lengthy, it is normal for us to wait minutes or even hours before files transfer completed. With "I.F." you can let this tedious work to computer. You can pick up your favorite files on the 'I.F' transfer operation panel, which itself a versatile FTP Client interface, and set the time at which you want to transfer (e.g. The "half-rate" time of your ISP), then simply press "Start". The computer will wait till that time, then connect to remote host, fetch files in the file list, then close this connection and connect to another ftp site appointed by you , and so on. Finally, when all the files are transferred, the connection will be shut down and, if you use modem to connect to Internet, "IF" can also "hang-up" the telephone by sending commands to your dialer if you wish. "IF" can also handle common transfer errors, and retry connection or commands , if necessary, The whole process can be performed automatically, so you can go to do other things or even go to sleep while "IF" is transferring. Shareware Declarations: This software is a shareware. You are encouraged to evaluate it and distribute it. However, after a 21-day trial period, if you like this software and use it, you should send US$15 to : Xiao Quan, 26#315, BUAA P.O.Box085, Beijing 100083 P. R. China The money can be in forms of check (payable to Bank of China) or international money order. You will become registered and obtain an upgraded, more powerful version of this software. (Since the upgrade version is distribute by e-mail, you must also indicate an e-mail address we can send the software to you.) *For people in China, the special price is RMB79.00 . If you met some problems using "IF", you can report to : jamesxiao@iuol.cn.net . Because of the complexity of the Internet and computer system, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE WRITER of THIS SOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF THE WRITER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Installation & Setup: Please refer to the "Setup.txt". Notes To use the automation "recorder" Please refer to the "Setup.txt". How to use: 0. This software is a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client application for Windows Sockets. You should config you system and connection parameters properly before "I.F." can work. It needs winsock.dll to perform network operation. 1. You should setup connection automation. This will enable 'I.F.' to connect to your desired FTP server automatically. Click "automation setup" and select "setup auto-connect". Follow the instructions step by step. 2. You should also setup automatic-shutdown function if you use modem to connect to Internet, This will enables 'I.F.' to automatically close connection and hang-up tele- phone (through your dialer program). 3. You can connect to an FTP site by click "GO!" from the "File/FTP" menu. Then the "Internet File transfer machine" dialog will appear. This is the main interface for your FTP operation. Click "connect" button at the top left of the dialog to connect to an ftp site. (Please refer to "Main Interface and its usage" section below.) 4. If you want to perform an automated timer download of files , you should generate a list of files, so that "IF" can do it in a batch. Use "Internet File Transfer Machine" Dialog, double click your desired files in left-hand file list box (after you have connected to a ftp site) will copy its name to the right-hand edit box. Then click the "Insert" button, the file name (include path) will be added to the right-hand file list box (download list). Detailed operation please refer to the "Generate download file list" section below. The file list file is IFTDL.LST under windows dir. 5. After setting time (by click the "setting button") and pressed "Start", "IF" begin timing. You should not perform ftp operations manually on this interface. If you want to quit, simply press "Exit". 6. After downloading, check for downloaded files and IFTDL.LOG for file's temporary name (if strange file name was met while downloading) and IF_ERR.LOG to see if there ware errors in downloading. Interfaces: Host Name Dialog Interface: Server: Enter ftp server name (ftp site to go). (e.g. ftp.microsoft.com) User Name: Enter your login name.( e.g. anonymous) Password: Enter your login password. If you use "anonymous ftp", This should be your e-mail address. You must check the "Timer Download" check before you can add files on this server to "Download file list". Click on "Hot list" will display some hot ftp sites you can go. Main Interface and its usage: In the main menu, select item File/FTP and click "Go!", a dialog will appear.This "Internet File transfer machine" Dialog box is our main operation panel. It looks like a fax machine and the oper- ation is similar. There are two main things that you can do with this panel. First you can directly enter any FTP Site by pressing "Connect" button. A "Host name" dialog box prompt you for address and account(username) and password. You can check "Timer Download" check in this dialog. This allows you to generate a list of files which 'I.F.' may download automatically. After pressing the "OK" button, 'I.F' will try to connect to the site. Just like you are making an instant call. After connected, the contents of the site (file and directories) are showed on list box on the left-hand. Double click the directory names changes the directory. Select a file name and press "Get now" will get the file from the ftp site current directory. Before you change to another ftp site, you should press "close" button on the upper left of the panel. If the connection is problematic, such as you have wait for a long time for changing directory or listing, you may press "Abort" button on the bottom left of the panel, this will cancel the last command sent. Some times while 'I.F' is busy, some buttons and the list box are disabled. Press the 'abort' button also re- activate these buttons and the list box. Generate download file list: (For Timer download) In the Main interface, after you have connected to a ftp site. double-click a file name which you want to down load in the file list box (on the left), The full path name will appears on the "file name" edit box (on the right). Click the "Insert" button and this name will be added to the download file list. Please Notice this operation will take effect only when you had checked "Timer Download" check in the "Host name" dialog. If you know the full path name of a file at this ftp site, you can also directly input on the edit box without changing to its directory. and press "Insert" to add to list. After all the desired file names are added to the list, click the "save list" button and the file list will be saved as "IFTDL.LST". (Previous list file will change to "IFTDL.BAK"). Buttons Connect - connects to a ftp site. Close - close the connection Start : start the timer-download timer. (You must first setting the timer). Setting: sets the start and stop time of timer-download. Option: set application options. (Left-hand) - up / + Expand - resize the window. GetNow - Get the selected file immediately. PutNow - Put the selected file immediately. Save Dir- By pressing this button, you can save the current remote directory to disk (displayed in unix format).You can reference the directory later. Dir -- manually transfer list. Abort- Quit prev. commands. *Double-click left-hand file listbox: for directory, chang to it. for file , copy its full pathname to right-hand editbox. (Right-hand): Insert: Insert file names in the "File Name" List box to download list. Get Left: Get left-hand file (copy its full pathname to right-hand editbox.) Equal to Double-click left-hand file listbox: Remove:Remove a file or connection(and all files belong to it) Save List:saves timer download filename to disk. Options: Press the "Option" button on the upper right of the panel, an "Options" dialog will appear. check or uncheck desired selections will affect program's behaviors. *Beep if Error/Finished During timer download, if there are unrecoverable error occurs beep to notify user. *Retry when Err(1 retry) During timer download, if there are unrecoverable error occurs beep to notify user. *Confirm "Get Now" A dialog will pop up when you press "Get Now". You can change the file name to get any valid file on the ftp server without changing directory. *Confirm Changing Dir A dialog will pop up when you double click directory. You can change the directory name to get any valid directory on the ftp server, and needn't changing directory step-by-step. *Try close any dialog(Not recorded) while timer downloading : This is a "secure" function, it is designed to deal with unexpected error dialogs. Such dialog may affects the continuation of the process and waste link time. If such error dialog appears, this function will try to close the dialog after 90 second (By sending "OK", "YES" or "Cancel" to the dialog). Use Timer Down load Tips: 1. Remember to check the "Timer download" check if you want to generate timer-download file list. (Or the interface won't response when you double click left-hand file list) Also remember to press "Start" after you set the timer. (Or nothing will happened) 2. Place most reliable site first. Since the download time is limited, and errors which cause re-dial or re-connection may occur during the download process, it is favorable to put the most reliable site you are going on the front part of your download list. Thus you can save time and reduce the risk of a single mistake cause the whole process of download stop. 3. Pick the time which the "traffic" on the network is low. Since the retry time is 1, a more "smooth" transfer increase the chance of successful transfer considerably. 4. You can use this software at night while you are sleeping, but you'd better set your alarm clock to the time which the transfer should have stopped. This prevents further lost in event the program failed to hang up telephone, although this rarely happens. 5. Had better turn off your screen saver while timer downloading. Extra window might affects the playback of marco.(you can turn off your display) Important Limitations: This version of "IF" is a shareware version. Some restrictions are added to the software. 1. The number of connections in timer download is restricted to 3, The time you can set (start time and stop time) must within 24 hours from current time. The max time span from start to stop is restricted to 6 hours. 2. Simplified retry logic: Now Only 1 sequenced retry ( retry immediately after error occurs) is provided. Although this method is effective in handling many errors, it is better to let user to decide the times and method (retry immediately or some time later) of retrying. The upgraded version (see upper "shareware declarations" to know where to get) have included the above function. 3. No command-line parameters. If you register to the author, you can obtain an upgraded and more powerful version of "I.F", some features are: 1. Up to 32 connections are permitted. No time limits (start, span) are added. 2. customized retry logic: User can decide the retry times and method (retry immediately or some time later) of retrying. 3. Improved byte-rate control and monitor. Made transfer more efficient.(Fast connections processed early) 4. Have an down-load file list editer. 5. command-line parameter support. User can specify site, time, file list etc. through command line. 6. connection recovery function. By "restart" file transfer to certain position (supported by many ftp server), you can save many time to get a file when transfer interrupted. This is particularly important when transferring big files on not very reliable lines. Knowing Problems: 1. The session window display is "inversed", that is the 1st line is CURRENT LINE. This problem will be correct in next version. 2. Some times the remote "shortcut" or directory access denied, you have to press "Abort" to let the buttons enabled. 3. If you find "Command Timer" retry too frequently, turn off it in "Options". 4. Some of the FTP site's "LIST" function are not standerd, thus left-hand file list display is incorrect.in this case press "save Dir" button on the down-left of dialog,save list (text mode) to an .TXT file, and use notepad or other editer to see its contents. Press "Options" button and check "confirm changing Dir" and "confirm 'Get Now'". Then click or double-click the items, fill desired file or directory name in the editbox, then press OK. Caution: Because there are many kinds of winsock, we have not test "I.F" on every environment. If you have a winsock-compatible problem, you may try using SPRY winsock (16bit winsock.dll) with "I.F".