AbsoluteFTP -- Clients that pattern themselves after the Windows Explorer interface have inundated the FTP scene as of late, yet a new entrant like AbsoluteFTP can still make quite an impact despite following the trend. Unlike most of the competition, AbsoluteFTP presents an Explorer-like view of both the remote and the local directories. This allows you to easily drag and drop files between the sites after either tiling or cascading the sites' windows. You can even launch multiple sessions simultaneously and carry out file operations on different sites concurrently.

Like CuteFTP, AbsoluteFTP gives you an option of either quickly connecting to a site (via the QuickConnect icon) or selecting from one of the many sites listed in the Connection Manager. The Connection Manager comes pre-configured with more than 200 useful and cool FTP sites, and you can also add your own sites using the intuitive Session Wizard. Another cool feature in AbsoluteFTP is that it imports your file types from Explorer, so when you want to view a file on a remote site AbsoluteFTP will automatically run the application that is associated with the file.

Additional features in AbsoluteFTP include caching of remote host directory listings, auto-resume for interrupted file transfers, keep-alive functionality, remote server to server transfer capabilities, drag and drop for column headers, command line options, Network Neighborhood support, an abort option, auto hide of dot files, firewall/proxy support (SOCKS v4 and v5), PASV support, and many of the same features found in the Explorer client (like multiple layout views, quick sorting options, and property tags for files).

While AbsoluteFTP does sport several features that you won't find in the competition, there are a number of important features found in other FTP clients that are noticeably absent in AbsoluteFTP. The most glaring omissions are file find capabilities, site synchronization tools, a configurable toolbar, remote file editing capabilities, support for macros and custom keyboard commands, site bookmarks, session memory settings, and advanced configuration options.

Pros: Allows you to browse multiple sites simultaneously, attractive interface, inexpensive price tag
Cons: Lacks many critical features that are found in competitive FTP clients
New: Automatic local window update, MSDOS FTP server support, firewall support (SOCKS v4/5), more

New in v1.5 Beta 1: Resume interrupted file transfers on demand, remote server to server transfers, drag and drop for column headers, command line options, keep-alive functionality, numerous bug fixes; Release Notes
Upgrade Meter: 5

New in v1.5 Beta 2: Numerous bug fixes and minor changes; Release Notes
Upgrade Meter: 2

Version Reviewed: 1.5 Beta 2 Date of Review: 8/14/98

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