While all FTP software looks a little different, they all have the same goal. The goal of a FTP application is to move files from a local host (in this case, your computer) to a remote host (in this case, your web host's computer) and vice versa.

To "upload a file" is to send ('copy') a file from your computer (the local host) to your host's computer (the remote host). To "download a file" is to retrieve ('copy') a file from your host's computer to your computer.

(The terms of uploading and downloading apply to other forms of Internet communications, not just FTP. You download a file someone sends you via e-mail, and you upload a file when you attach one to an e-mail you send out, although we usually don't call it uploading, instead we call it "attaching.")

Oh, and in case you were wondering, FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol.

Before you can start FTP'ing, you need FTP software.

FileZilla is a great choice because it's available for Windows, Mac, and Unix/Linux. FileZilla is FREE to download.

I will be using FileZilla in the screenshots to explain FTP, however, most FTP programs follow the two-pane design:

One side is your (LOCAL) files, the other side is your host's (REMOTE) files.

For more choices in FTP applications (and if you are using an operating system other than Windows) I suggest searching for "FTP client" at download.com.

As noted above, the example below explains FileZilla procedures, although it will be very similar regardless of what FTP software you choose to use.

You'll need to gather a few pieces of information from your host before you can upload your HTML files and graphics to your web site.

You will need:

1. username and password (usually the same as you would use to log on to the Internet if you are using an ISP for your web space, but it's a good idea to double-check-sometimes it is slightly different for FTP'ing. On domain hosts, you will create a username and password at sign-up.)
2. remote host address [server name] (If your domain name is reallycreativename.com, it'd probably be ftp.reallycreativename.com or just reallycreativename.com, but it can vary.)
3. the name of the folder where your files are going to be placed (Many times this folder is the main folder that opens on the host, but sometimes it may be labeled as 'www' or 'web'. If your host does not specify, it is probably just the main folder. If no folder is specified, don't worry about this piece of information.)

On our sample host, Globat, the host address is your domain name. For example, when I log into reallycreativename.com (a site I own) I type reallycreativename.com in the host field of FileZilla.

Globat has an entire section of their site dedicated to FTP.

First, click here to open the Globat Hosting site. Then Select Support, then Knowledgebase.

Then scroll down to Web Site Management, and choose "FTP."

If you don't have a host yet, Learn how to get one, and read about my experiences with great hosts like Globat and GreenGeeks.

In addition to knowing the three pieces of information already mentioned, you will need to know the location and name of the folder on your computer where you have placed your HTML files.

Once you have installed your FTP software, and you start it, you may be prompted with a server profile screen. In FileZilla, click FILE -> Site Manager from the Menu to bring up this window. This window has areas ('fields') to type your remote host address/name, your username and password, and there is an area to enter your remote folder or directory.

Type in your host's name and your username. You can include your password now, or leave it blank. Leaving it blank will require you to type it every time you connect with FTP, and will prevent someone else with access to the computer you use from changing your web site.

If your host's documentation specifies a remote folder or directory (also called a 'path') enter the name in the box on the "ADVANCED" tab. Otherwise, leave that area blank.

Now, you can choose connect to log on. (If you are unable to connect after following these directions, I suggest that you read the FTP FAQ/help section of your host's web site, which may help you figure out the problem.)

If all your setting are correct, the left-side panel (in FileZilla, in other programs it probably says local host somewhere) shows files on your own computer.

The files in the right-side panel (in FileZilla, in other programs it probably says remote host somewhere) are the files that are on your server (there may be no files in this folder, or a single temporary index.html, if you've never logged on before with FTP).

You may need to navigate in the local host window to get to the folder where you've placed your HTML files on your computer. You may see two periods ('..'). If you click that, it will take you one level back in your directory tree. (Example: If you are in /Docs and you've placed your HTML files in /WebPage, one click on '..' will take you from /Docs to /, and then you will see a folder called /WebPage [you may have to scroll down]. You can then click WebPage, and you'll be in the right folder.)

Once you have the correct folder loaded on the local host side, and the correct folder loaded on the remote host side, you can begin to upload (and download) files.

To upload a file from your computer to your host, select your file in the left side panel and right-click on it, choosing UPLOAD. This will copy that file from your computer to your host. (It will also replace an old file with the same name if you have one on your host. Example: You are uploading index.html. You have an index.html on the remote host side of your FTP program.)

You can also drag a file from the left panel to the right panel to upload. (In some FTP applications, to may see an arrow pointing to the right, which will also upload a file.)

Once you upload the file to the remote host, you will lose the old file on your server. I only warn you about this because if you set up multiple folders, you may at one time or another accidentally overwrite a file because you were in the wrong folder. Happens to all of us when we are just starting out!)

If you want to download a copy of a file from your web host to your computer, select the file you want in the remote host side of the FTP program and right-click, choosing DOWNLOAD. This will copy a file from your remote host and add it your own (local) computer. If the file exists, it will overwrite it.

You can also drag a file from the right panel to the left panel to download. (In some FTP applications, you may see an arrow pointing to the left, which will also download a file.)

Note: You may see a selection in your FTP software for ASCII mode, binary mode, and auto mode. If auto is available, check it. Otherwise, select ASCII mode when you transfer HTML files, and binary mode when you transfer graphics and music files.

You should be on your way to FTP'ing successfully now. Most hosts will have instructions or a FAQ in their help section if you have further questions or are running into difficulties.

Again, I encourage you to learn about web hosting before taking your site live on the Internet.