FTP Voyager --
Rhino Software's FTP Voyager is a relatively new 32-bit FTP client that patterns itself after the Windows 95/NT Explorer interface. The latest releases of FTP Voyager display the remote site's files as well as a local view of your desktop's files, an appealing feature that goes beyond similar FTP clients like FTP Explorer and FTP Icon Connection which also pattern themselves after Explorer.
The interface is instead more like WS-FTP and CuteFTP which use a side-by-side display for showing both the local site and the remote site at the same time. The major difference and one of its key distinctive competencies over WS-FTP and CuteFTP is that FTP Voyager's interface sports an Explorer-like feel. As a result, anyone who has used Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 before will feel right at home with FTP Voyager.
Many of Explorer's best features have found their way into the FTP Voyager interface, including multiple file display listings (icon, list, and details views), quick sorting on multiple keys (including name, size, type, and date of last modification), right-mouse context menus, quick drag and drop capabilities (including between FTP Voyager and Explorer), and property details for files.
The client also offers many critical file transfer features of its own. These include Folder Short Cuts, inclusive/exclusive file filtering capabilities, automatic conversion of file names on transfer, auto-resume capabilities, an Instant Stop feature, a Quick Connect tool, and quick searching capabilities. The Folder Short Cuts is one of FTP Voyager's most distinctive features. It allows you to create special folders that are easily accessible from the root directory even though the link may actually be a directory that is much deeper than the root directory itself.
FTP Voyager has benefited from massive improvements made over earlier releases and the results show in its meteoric rise up the FTP charts. The speed of the client has been greatly improved and is now more in line with the likes of CuteFTP, FTP Explorer, and WS-FTP. The client also now offers quick buttons that can connect to specific FTP sites automatically, launch the Windows Explorer for quick file transfers between the two clients, or automatically send a group of files upon connection.
FTP Voyager has benefited from massive improvements made over earlier releases and the results show in its meteoric rise up the FTP charts. The speed of the client has been greatly improved and is now more in line with the likes of CuteFTP, FTP Explorer, and WS-FTP. The client also now offers quick buttons that can connect to specific FTP sites automatically, launch the Windows Explorer for quick file transfers between the two clients, or automatically send a group of files upon connection. As of v6.0 FTP Voyager is available in German and Spanish versions as well as the standard English release.
The latest releases have also added a status/progress bar, special keyboard commands (including scrolling via the Page Up and Page Down keys), folder synchronization tools (great for maintaining web sites), dial-on-demand support, import capabilities (for CuteFTP, WS_FTP, Internet Neighborhood, Bullet Proof FTP, and Crystal FTP), remote file editing capabilities, firewall/proxy support, an online help documentation system, retry support (automatically reconnects after a file transfer timeout), Keep Alive technology, auto rename capabilities, extensive configuration options (including configurable toolbars), an impressive new site manager, and an improved list of common anonymous FTP sites.
Registration for FTP Voyager costs $37.95 which entitles you to technical support via e-mail as well as an entire year of free upgrades. In an extremely short period of time FTP Voyager has transformed itself from a mediocre client into one of the best -- if not the best -- FTP clients on the market. Thanks to its recent improvements, FTP Voyager has quickly climbed its way to the top of the category and now shares elite ground with the likes of CuteFTP and WS-FTP. With a rather inexpensive price tag and an ever-improving set of features, FTP Voyager is a solid FTP client that will likely appeal to beginning users, experts, and everyone in between.
Pros: Excellent feature-set, Windows Explorer-like interface, folder short cuts, synchronization tools, easy to use
Cons: Synchronization tools are rivaled by standalone sync clients like Internet Neighborhood and FTP OutBox
New: SOCKS4/5 proxy support, improved site list, Dial On Demand (DOD), navigation improvements, IBM MVS server support, new command-line options, enhanced synchronization tools; German & Spanish releases; Complete Release Notes
New in v6.0.0.4: Support for "Extended" directory listings when connecting to a FTP Serv-U server, support for SOCKS4A proxy servers, drag and drop remote files and folders, bug fixes; Release Notes
Upgrade Meter: 4
FTP Control --
FTP Control is the second major Internet offering from the Icelandic software developer TransSoft. Following in the steps of TransSoft Mail Control, FTP Control is first and foremost designed to be both easy to learn and use for novice users as well as efficient and powerful for more advanced users. Like its companion mail client, FTP Control succeeds and exceeds expectations on both levels.
The client is rich in features, especially those designed with power users in mind. Site synchronization capabilities (especially useful for maintaining web sites), automation and scheduling capabilities, automatic resuming of broken file transfers, powerful scripting capabilities (with an integrated Script Wizard for helping you design advanced scripts), the ability to create .exe files for scripts (with added support for Explorer 'Send-to' menus), a favorites menu (for bookmarking locations so that you can switch to them with one button), the ability to execute remote commands and attribute changes, inline editing and/or renaming of remote files, background file transfers while surfing other FTP sites, and multiple concurrent download capabilities represent some of the more advanced power features in FTP Control.
Additional features include Keep Alive technology, a configurable 2 or 4-pane browsing interface, multiple file display listings (icon, list, and details views), quick sorting on multiple keys (including name, size, type, date, and attributes), right-mouse context menus, support for a wide variety of FTP servers (including TransSoft's own Broker FTP Server), quick drag and drop capabilities, automatic file renaming upon transfer, support for firewalls/proxies, automatic dial-up support, advanced file searching capabilities, and property details for files.
The downloadable evaluation release of FTP Control will operate with the same features as the commercial version for 30 days. Thereafter, it will revert to a 'Lite' version unless you register it. The Lite version offers many of the same features as the regular release, but it does lack a few of the more powerful ones like automation and scheduling capabilities, the favorites menu, proxy support, automatic resuming of broken file transfers, scripting, remote commands, and attribute settings.
FTP Control is at its most powerful when connected to a FTP site running TransSoft's new Broker FTP Server. When this is the case, a number of additional features become available in the pop-up menu of the remote file listing. These include internal Zipping/Unzipping of remote files, making password changes on the fly, remote program execution, and remote directory copying. Broker has only recently been released as version 1.0, so in addition to the above features you can expect to see a variety of new ones added as the server develops.
FTP Control lacks only a few features found in competing releases. Customizable toolbar capabilities, a pre-installed collection of FTP sites, status/progress bars for directory listings, and advanced file filtering are the most glaring omissions. Overall, though, FTP Control holds its own against the best FTP clients currently available. And with a $29 price tag, FTP Control is less expensive than similar clients like FTP Voyager, CuteFTP, and WS-FTP Pro.
Pros: Outstanding feature-set, inexpensive, advanced scripting, excellent integration with Broker FTP server
Cons: Interface is a bit cluttered and could be more attractive, lacks some features found in the competition
New: Site synchronization capabilities, improved caching, new scripting commands, Broker FTP server support
New in v2.9: Network Neighborhood support (so you no longer need to map network drives in order to access them), support for proxies/firewalls with authentication parameters, calculation capabilities in scripting, numerous scripting commands added, appen to file option, various bug fixes; Release Notes
Upgrade Meter: 4
CuteFTP --
Like John Junod's WS-FTP, CuteFTP is a stand-alone File Transfer Protocol client with a multitude of configurable options and features exceeding those of FTP clients found in web browsers and gopher clients. CuteFTP even capitalizes on many features missing in WS-FTP and similar FTP apps. Since its introduction, two of CuteFTP's most unique features have been its robust stop and keep alive commands. The stop command is similar in nature to the stop button found on many web browsers and allows a user to stop any operation in progress while still maintaining the connection. The keep alive command helps to ensure the accurate transfer of data without interruptions.
Beyond these two commands, CuteFTP also integrates the file listing process with file descriptions obtained from the index files found at many anonymous FTP sites (extremely helpful for deciphering the cryptic file names typically encountered on FTP sites). Caching of recently visited directories is another distinctive feature found in CuteFTP. CuteFTP also features WS-FTP's File Manageresque approach to listing both remote and local directories side-by-side, comprehensive login listings, selectable file viewers and selectable colors, the ability to download/upload complete directories (trees), and the ability to easily send multiple files at one time.
With the newer releases CuteFTP has once again made some very significant and extremely useful changes. The most significant of these is the fact that CuteFTP is now once again shareware ($34.95). Right mouse button functionality has been implemented extremely well in the latest releases, as have improved drag 'n' drop functionality (for both the Site Manager and for receiving/sending files), auto-resume for interrupted file transfers, directory comparison capabilities, a file transfer queue, macro record/playback scripting, remote file editing, a Microsoft Explorer-style toolbar, custom commands, auto-renaming on file uploads (for example, *.htm to *.html), a quick-save command for remote and local default directories, and a sleek new interface.
The collection of FTP sites that comes pre-installed on CuteFTP has been revamped and greatly improved in the latest release as well -- the collection is now second to none relative to other FTP clients. Taking all of the changes and improvements into account, CuteFTP remains an excellent app that, while lacking some of the more advanced features found in newer FTP clients like FTP Voyager and FTP Control, continues to offer one of the most extensive feature-sets currently available as well as an interface that is second to none in terms of ease of use.
Pros: Excellent array of features, including caching and the stop command; cool interface; inexpensive
Cons: Lacks advanced tools found in some competing releases, like web site synchronization capabilities
New: Keep Alive command, remote file editing, directory upload/download capabilities, revised toolbar, more
New in v2.5: Queued file transfers, improved site manager (requires importing v2.0 and earlier site databases), automatic resume for interrupted file uploads, progress rate on task bar icon, improved performance (optimized code), complete directory overwrite and directory delete, better host support, bug fixes; Release Notes
Upgrade Meter: 5
Internet Neighborhood --
Combining the best aspects of clients like CuteFTP, FTP Outbox, and FTP Explorer, Internet Neighborhood takes the file transfer protocol to the next level by actually bringing it into the Windows Explorer. Unlike FTP Explorer and FTP Voyager, which utilize Explorer's capabilities and features but do so using their own interfaces, Internet Neighborhood actually allows you to browse and manage remote FTP sites from within the Explorer interface. Using Internet Neighborhood, the contents of remote sites appear as folders and files on your local computer.
Working within the Explorer interface allows you to make use of all of Explorer's powerful file management features, including full drag 'n' drop capabilities, various display layouts (large and small icon, display, and list views), quick sorting on multiple keys (including name, date, size, type, and file attributes), right-mouse button functionality, transfer of entire directory structures, and property details for files.
Internet Neighborhood rounds out the feature-set with a few FTP-specific capabilities like automatic filename conversion, symbolic link resolution, firewall support, an integrated debugger client, default transfer directory option, and file transfer status/progress bars. Using the 'net Neighborhood, you can set up multiple FTP sites for browsing and transferring files; in fact, with the registered version you can set up as many FTP sites as you would like.
Both anonymous and private login sites are accessible using Internet Neighborhood, and you can directly transfer files to a FTP site simply by dropping them onto the FTP site's icon. This capability is shared only by FTP Outbox, which also allows you to drop files onto an icon and have those files automatically sent to an FTP site without having to first manually log in. At just $24.95, the 'net Neighborhood offers an inexpensive way to add significant power and flexibility to the Windows Explorer client as well as a greatly appreciated solution for bypassing the need to use external FTP clients.
Internet Neighborhood isn't without its faults of course, but most of its shortcomings are quite minor in importance. Internet Neighborhood works only on 32-bit platforms (Windows 95/NT) and its icon must reside on the desktop in order for the client to work properly (this is because the 'net Neighborhood operates as a Windows shell extension). The shareware release is also quite crippled in that many features become available only after you have registered the product.
Features absent in the shareware release include the ability to create an unlimited number of FTP sites, rename or delete remote files and folders, create remote folders, and transfer multiple files using drag 'n' drop or the Windows clipboard. The shareware release will give you an idea of the power behind Internet Neighborhood, but to really enjoy its full slate of capabilities, you'll have to fork over the $24.95 asking price. I'm willing to bet my $24.95 that you'll be glad that you did.
Pros: Seamless integration with Windows Explorer, solid array of features, drag 'n' drop file transfer capabilities
Cons: Crippled shareware release, desktop icon can't be removed, no 16-bit version available
New: IE 4.0 support, remote directory listing caching, improved multithreading, bug fixes, more
New in v2.1: Support for 'Regional Settings', four bug fixes (including fixes for problems with downloading multiple files via drag and drop and with attempting to cancel file transfers); Release Notes
Upgrade Meter: 2
Bullet Proof FTP --
Bullet Proof FTP (BPFTP) is a new FTP client that delivers a wide range of traditional FTP features as well as several unique ones that help the client distance itself from the competition. One of BPFTP's best distinctive features is its automatic reconnect and resume capabilities for terminated file transfers. Anytime your connection is broken during a file transfer, Bullet Proof FTP will automatically reconnect to the server and resume the transfer from the point that it left off, eliminating the hassle of having to download the entire file again. This feature works for file uploads as well as for downloads, making it especially useful for webmasters that typically launch a batch of updated files at night and need assurance that all the files will be transferred over.
Another useful feature in BPFTP that you won't find in most of the competition is the Leech mode option. On FTP servers that restrict the number of downloads you can perform in one session (AOL for example), Bullet Proof FTP will automatically disconnect, reconnect, and resume downloading when you reach the maximum number of downloads. Haven't had enough of the sui generis features yet? BPFTP monitors the Windows clipboard in the background and will instantly connect to a site and begin transferring a given file when an FTP or HTTP URL is copied to the clipboard. No other FTP client currently offers clipboard monitoring.
Additional features in BPFTP include firewall/proxy support, remote mirroring capabilities (automatically downloads new files and resumes partially downloaded files), HTTP downloading with support for redirected URLs, 'anti idle' capabilities (periodically sends a random command to stop the server from disconnecting after an extended length of inactivity), recursive uploading/downloading (maintains full directory structure by transferring a directory, its files, and any subdirectories when clicking on a directory), import capabilities for CuteFTP and FTP Explorer (imports the site listings and the passwords) as well as for WS-FTP (imports the site listings only), remote caching, quick search options, system traybar icon support, basic scheduling capabilities, and the ability to queue multiple files on the same site or files on more than one site for downloading.
In its default mode, BPFTP works a bit differently than most FTP clients. After selecting a file operation -- upload, download, delete, etc. -- BPFTP first enters the command into a queue and then allows you to add additional operations. When you are ready to begin transferring, you simply click on an icon and BPFTP steps through each of the tasks in the queue. This method has the advantage of allowing you to carry out batch transfer jobs on files in different directories and even on different sites, but it also has the disadvantage of slowing you down when you want to make quick transfers or changes. There is an option to switch from the client's default mode to one that forces BPFTP to transfer files immediately.
BPFTP's impressive feature set and unique selling points are somewhat offset by the features currently missing in the client relative to the competition. Multiple concurrent download capabilities, customizable toolbars, site to site transfer options, macro record/playback scripting capabilities, advanced synchronization tools, remote file editing, a pre-installed collection of FTP sites, FTP Voyager's Folder Short Cuts feature, and advanced file filtering capabilities represent the most glaring omissions.
Overall, while Bullet Proof FTP may not be perfect (yet), it more than makes up for its shortcomings. BPFTP's extensive set of features and relatively inexpensive price tag ($29.95) have helped the client gain a foothold in the extremely crowded FTP category, and its selection of distinctive capabilities have served to elevate the client above most of the competition. With a few more features and better attention to detail in terms of usability, Bullet Proof FTP will be able to attain even greater heights.
Pros: Impressive set of features, several unique features like clipboard monitoring and leech mode, easy to use
Cons: Lacks a number of features found in competing clients, interface lacks extensive configurability options
New: Color-coded log entries, new options for system tray and clipboard monitor; Features; Release Notes
New in v1.07b: Several bug fixes for v1.07a; execute file on transfer completion option and other minor changes (v1.07a)
Upgrade Meter: 2
WS-FTP --
While Gopher clients and World Wide Web browsers often incorporate File Transfer Protocol capabilities, none of these clients matches the number of features and configurability options of John Junod's WS-FTP. FTP remains one of the most widely used internet applications, and WS-FTP makes this oft-used tool quick and painless. Available in both restricted freeware and commercialware versions, WS-FTP offers a price and feature combination that will appeal to most users.
Configurability options in both versions include several alternative screen layouts, the ability to associate remote files with local programs, automatic logging, extension conversion on transfer, delete all, force lower case on transfer, and quick screen sizing. WS-FTP also comes pre-configured with an extensive array of ftp sites to check out. Multiple copies of the program can be launched to download multiple files at the same time. The program itself comes in two varieties -- a 16-bit release for Windows 3.x and a 32-bit release for Windows 95/NT.
The restricted freeware version of WS-FTP (known as WS-FTP Limited Edition) is free to all educational users as well as non-profit and non-commercial end-users. However, the Limited Edition release does lack several features found in the commercial 'Pro' package ($37.50). Perhaps the most important of these are the Windows Explorer FTP shell extension and full drag 'n' drop functionality. The shell extension allows you to connect to FTP sites and upload/download files using the Windows Explorer, and the drag 'n' drop functionality makes the tedious process of uploading and downloading files much more efficient.
Additional features in the Pro version include auto-reget, or automatic resume, for transferring a file after an abnormal termination, a network utilities package (including ping, traceroute, finger, whois, and NSLookup clients), versions for additional platforms (notably PowerPC and DEC Alpha), multifile transfers, and more. The Pro package also bundles a printed manual and technical support. Overall, both the Limited Edition and Pro versions of WS-FTP lack the ease of use and some of the powerful features found in CuteFTP (especially remote file listings), but the Pro version has narrowed the gap considerably and could pose a threat to CuteFTP's reign in the near future.
Pros: Easy to configure and use, feature rich, Windows Explorer FTP shell extension (Pro only), free LE version
Cons: Lacks some of the more advanced features found in its closest competitor, CuteFTP
New: Windows Explorer FTP shell extension, multiple file rename, full drag 'n' drop, new sort buttons, more
Version Reviewed: Pro - 5.0 Build 98.04.09.
LE - 4.6 Build 98.03.17
Date of Review: 4/13/98 |
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FTP OutBox --
FTP OutBox is definitely an app with potential. In fact, FTP Outbox already gives the closest competitor, Internet Neighborhood, a run for its money with respect to efficiently uploading files to remote FTP sites. FTP OutBox's forté is speed and ease of usability -- the client is designed to be the quickest and most efficient FTP uploading program available. Unlike typical FTP clients, you won't even need to first run FTP OutBox in order to use it. Simply drag 'n' drop the files that you want uploaded to the FTP OutBox icon and the client takes care of the rest for you by running the main program, logging on to the remote server, transferring the files, ensuring that the files get copied correctly, logging off, and then shutting itself down. In addition to drag 'n' drop uploading, you can also send files by first right-clicking on the file or files you want to upload from Explorer and then selecting the respective FTP OutBox from the Send To popup menu. The files are then automatically copied to the remote server. A final option for transferring files is to simply cut and paste files into the FTP OutBox icon. Another of FTP OutBox's great features is the ability to upload a group of files to multiple FTP sites -- just select the files you want sent and the FTP sites you want the files sent to and then sit back and watch as FTP OutBox quickly and quietly does its job.
Of the many FTP uploading clients available on the web, only Internet Neighborhood can match FTP OutBox's ease of use and the versatility of its file uploading capabilities.
While FTP OutBox is outstanding at uploading files, by no means is it a comprehensive FTP client. FTP OutBox does lack the ability to download files from remote file sites. It also won't allow you to carry out low-maintenance changes to remote file sites like creating new directories, changing file names, viewing text files, etc. Despite its shortcomings in these areas, FTP OutBox is an extremely useful client and can obviously make a webmaster's job a whole lot easier. Additional new features make the client even more useful. One of the best recent additions is automatic filename conversion upon transfer, a feature that allows you to specify changes like automatically renaming *.htm files to *.html (or vice versa) or changing mixed-case files to all lower-case (or all upper-case). Another cool feature gives users the ability to use the built-in Windows 95 scheduling agent for periodically taking files from a specific directory (your web files directory for example) and uploading these files to a remote server or servers. Finally, FTP OutBox will now auto-detect the transfer type for you, automatically switching between binary and ASCII depending on the contents of the file to be transferred. The only features missing at this point are an option for
selecting a default group of servers to send files to (allowing you to bypass the server selection screen and, as a result, transfer files even more efficiently) and the ability to use the sheduling agent to send only files that are newer than those already on the remote server or servers. Overall, this is one outstanding app that is bound to save you a lot of time and energy, especially if you're an overworked webmaster (and who isn't these days ;-).
Pros: Quick, efficient app for uploading files to remote FTP sites; extremely easy to use; time-saving features
Cons: Can't select a default group of servers to send files to, lacks the ability to download files
New: Auto-detect transfer type, automatic filename conversion, scheduling via the Windows 95 agent, more
FTP Explorer -- FTP Explorer is similar to FTP2000 in that it sports a Windows 95 Explorer-like interface. FTP Explorer offers more than just the interface, though; all the same great features found in the Windows Explorer can also be found in FTP Explorer. Efficient drag and drop for file transfers, multiple file displays (icon, list, and details views), quick sorting on multiple keys (including name, description, date, size, type, owner, group, and permissions), right-mouse button functionality, transfer of entire directory structures, and property details for files are just a few of the Windows Explorer features found in the FTP client. In addition, FTP Explorer adds a ton of its own features to complement those of the Explorer environment. Multiple file transfers and simultaneous background downloading (you can even launch multiple ftp processes concurrently), configurable connection auto-resume, Quick Connect and automatic display of file descriptions (two features made popular by CuteFTP), site manager import capabilities (import site directories from either WS-FTP or CuteFTP), a 'New Window' command for launching spawned processes, directory information caching, automatic logging, Quick View capabilities, and built-in support for fpArchie give FTP Explorer quite an impressive feature-set.
Still, several areas that need improvement keep FTP Explorer from taking the crown; most notably, FTP Explorer only displays the remote site's files as opposed to WS-FTP and CuteFTP's side-by-side display of both the local site and the remote site. FTP Explorer also lacks file mask filtering, firewall/proxy support, an extensive list of default sites (although importing one from another FTP client is available), automatic renaming on transfer, quick searching, and a customizable toolbar -- all of which are features currently offered by the competition. Despite its current limitations, this freeware client is quite impressive, especially considering its recent emergence onto the 'net scene. If it beefs up its feature-set in the near future, FTP Explorer could give CuteFTP a serious run for its money.
Pros: Solid and extensive set of features, Windows Explorer-like interface, easy to use
Cons: Lacks some critical features, could benefit from a side-by-side remote/local site display
New: Setup utility and online help documentation now included, new commands, bug fixes, more
fpArchie -- Have you ever had trouble downloading a specific app? How about trying to grab the latest version of Netscape or Shockwave during the period following their release? As many long-time netizens can attest to, it can be nearly, but not quite, impossible to connect to and download apps at major sites following their immediate release to the public. That's when a program like fpArchie comes in handy. By contacting one of the many freely accessible archie servers, fpArchie (or any similar archie client) can search FTP sites world-wide for the file or files of your choice. fpArchie is the latest archie client to arrive on the 'net but the first to be offered as a Windows 95-specific app. The program functions and looks nearly identical to the Windows 95 built-in Find option. Menus are available for selecting the file or files to be searched for, for specifying the archie server to be used, for optionally entering a date criterion that will bypass outdated files, for offering similar criteria that specify the app size and path name characteristics, for sorting the results, and much more.
By utilizing a format familiar to most users, fpArchie makes finding apps on the 'net as easy as possible, but the overall utility of fpArchie doesn't end there. Once you find your desired app, you're likely to want to save it to your hard drive as well. Thankfully, fpArchie contains built-in FTP support -- making the process of downloading an app as simple as can possibly be expected on the 'net.
As for negative aspects to the client, they are few are far between. First, both Windows 3.x and NT users will have to search elsewhere for an archie client (try David Woakes' WS Archie), as fpArchie is currently limited to the Windows 95 platform. Also, like other archie clients, fpArchie is limited by the number of FTP sites monitored by each archie server. Needless to say, some of the best file archives on the 'net cannot be accessed via archie. Finally, fpArchie could also benefit from having the capability to manually or automatically enter additional archie servers for monitoring. While fpArchie is still in the early stages of development, its versatility and utility are two factors that combine to make even the current release an excellent download. As fpArchie continues to evolve, watch for this app to become even more impressive.
Pros: Built-in list of archie servers and support for FTP, quick and easy to use, utilizes multithreading
Cons: Many anonymous FTP sites are not included in the servers' indexes, Windows 95 specific
New: Archie server management capabilities, support for external FTP clients (CuteFTP, WS-FTP, etc.), more
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
FileFerret --
FileFerret is the automatic file transfer release of the NetFerret suite of search clients. This particular ferret will help you locate files anywhere on the 'net. All you need to do is input one or more keywords and then restrict the search to a specific country (or search the entire world if you prefer). FileFerret handles the rest by contacting various repositories of Internet files known as archie servers. A resulting list that matches your keywords will then be brought up with complete server, address, size, type, and date information for each file. One critical advantage that FileFerret offers over competitive clients like WS Archie is the ability to download a particular file by simply double-clicking on it, which means you will no longer need to run a separate FTP program to handle this task. Like the other NetFerret clients, FileFerret exploits HTTP/FTP proxy support, allowing users behind firewalls to make use of its capabilities. FileFerret is currently available for evaluation as part of the NetFerret suite (with a June 15th expiration date), or the entire suite can be purchased on the 'net for $29.95.
Limitations inherent in the archie system of file categorization and storage ultimately weaken FileFerret's overall usefulness. First, because both FileFerret and the archie system in general lack intelligent searching, the exact filename for a desired file must be entered, making it difficult for users, especially novices, to download the files they want. For example, entering the keyword 'Netscape' will get you nowhere; only by entering the exact filename, usually a string similar to 'n32e30p.exe', can you use FileFerret to find and download the correct file. A second limitation is that many archie servers lack comprehensive collections of Internet software; quite a few of the best clients featured on The CWSApps List can not be found using an archie server. Also, even when a server does carry an application, there is often a considerable timelag between when a new version is released and when an archie server actually puts the latest version on its server. Finally, when using an archie server there is no way to tell whether the file you are downloading is the most recent version or an outdated one. Granted, when you do know the exact filename and the latest version of the application you are looking for, FileFerret and similar archie clients are extremely useful. However, when this is not the case, an archie client's overall value diminishes drastically. Overall, FileFerret may not be the most useful release of the NetFerret collection of clients, but it can still come in quite handy when the need arises.
Pros: Quick, easy to use; app searches multiple archie servers to find Internet files
Cons: All archie servers and clients lack intelligent searching and other critical features
New: New trial evaluation release, proxy/firewall support, bug fixes and several minor new features
WS Archie --
Although many Gopher sites and some World Wide Web sites
now include Archie services, WS Archie remains the quickest and easiest
way to search for files located on anonymous FTP sites. This client comes
pre-configured with a large list of common archie servers located throughout
the world. Users can use these servers to search for any file available
in the archie servers' index. Successful results will list the file's
path, date, and size. Also, WS Archie can be configured with WS-FTP to
automatically retrieve located files on command. WS Archie is now available
in both 16- and 32-bit versions; however, the 32-bit version is still in alpha release.
Pros: Built-in list of archie servers; quick and easy; can work with WS-FTP to retrieve files
Cons: Many anonymous FTP sites are not included in most Archie servers' indexes
New for 3.x: Filter using path and matches and retrieve using web browser options added, more
New for 95: Results are now returned as they are received, add/remove new servers, more
FTP2000 --
FTP2000 has the humble goal of being the best native 32-bit FTP Client in history. It certainly patterns itself after one of the best -- many of the features and aspects of the interface mirror those of the reigning champ, CuteFTP, quite closely. While FTP2000 is still in early beta release, the client still has a lot of ground to cover before it can be considered in the same class as the likes of CuteFTP and WS-FTP. Like CuteFTP, it sports critical features like a smooth drag and drop interface, Keep-Alive connection pulsing for avoiding FTP timeouts, directory and multiple file transfers, auto-detect transfer mode, right-mouse button functionality, file mask filtering, firewall/proxy support, integration with the system registry for file association and pulling proxy information, a basic site manager (lacks an extensive collection of sites), quick sorting (on name, size, type, and dates of files), and more. FTP2000 also includes a built-in remote editor for allowing you
to edit and save files on a remote server without having to repeatedly go through the manual process of downloading, editing, saving, and finally uploading files. For a new release, FTP2000 offers quite a selection of features, but it does lack several important features found in the competition, including options for creating new directories as well as renaming and removing files and existing directories, an online help system, file searching, auto-renaming capabilities, a customizable toolbar, local and remote path saving, CuteFTP's integrated file listing process (with descriptions from the remote site's index file), WS-FTP's auto-reget (automatic resume), session spawning, and automatic logging.
Pros: Solid set of features, Explorer-like interface and tools, easy to use
Cons: Lacks critical features found in the competition, expensive relative to the competition
New: Internal local/remote site HTML editor, more
FTP Icon Connection --
The first thing you're going to notice about FTP Icon Connection (FTPic) is its attractive interface. With its appealing layout and graphical representations of FTP sites, FTPic
makes transferring files fun as well as a quick and painless process. FTPic's interface primarily takes its cues from Windows 95 and adds its own unique attributes, but look for most options to closely mirror those found in the Windows 95 Explorer. For instance, as with Explorer, you have four display options for viewing the contents of a remote site: large icon, small icon, list, and detail views. Unlike Explorer, FTPic lacks extensive right mouse button functionality and one-button sorting via clicking on column headers. In fact, FTPic's default alphabetical sort is the only sorting option available in the client. Your file management options are similarly limited -- the extent of FTPic's capabilities are renaming, deleting, viewing, and downloading files as well as creating new directories. However, the client does provide sufficient firewall support as well as an extensive list of common FTP sites. Still, FTPic is quite superficial when it comes to offering more than just good looks. As with people, it's what's inside that counts, and FTPic in this respect doesn't quite measure up to the competition. While power users will quickly start to wonder whether FTPic is all beauty and no brains, novice users are bound to take pleasure in an interface that is easy to learn and use on an ongoing basis, especially those whose FTP needs are limited to downloading files from remote FTP sites. FTPic can upload local files to remote sites but can do so only by dragging the files from Explorer into FTPic. So if you're looking for a client that will help you maintain a web site or FTP server, FTPic is probably not your best bet (try CuteFTP, WS-FTP, or FTP Outbox instead).
Pros: Great FTP client for novice 'netizens, attractive interface, firewall support, solid collection of FTP sites
Cons: Lacks many critical features found in the competition, especially inline support for uploading files
New: Bug fixes, no major new features in 2.5
WinTelnet & FTP Pro -- WinTelnet & FTP Pro is a new combination app sporting File Transfer Protocol and terminal emulation capabilities. The program is designed to make simple two processes which are often attempted through the use of arcane UNIX commands. While WinTelnet & FTP Pro is no match for Windows clients like CuteFTP, NetTerm, WS-FTP, CRT, and the like, it is far better than using any client remotely similar to UNIX. The program allows for automatic logins for both the FTP and telnet client; additionally,
multiple processes (or windows) can be opened for both types of clients. The telnet client provides a user-configurable toolbar for creating buttons out of the commands you use most often. The FTP client can also be launched directly from the telnet client in order to transfer files between the remote machine and your local one. The FTP client is a bare-bones implementation of the protocol and lacks many features found in similar standalone clients, including automatic renaming, right mouse button functionality, a quick-save command for remote and local default directories, selectable file viewers, selectable colors, drag 'n' drop, and more. The telnet client fares slightly better but still lacks many features that would make it more competitive. Overall, WinTelnet & FTP Pro, while light years beyond UNIX-based applications, ultimately suffers due to its lack of features.
Pros: Integrated telnet and ftp clients, user-configurable toolbar, inexpensive
Cons: Lacks many critical features found in the competition
New: Pre-configured FTP and telnet sites added, slightly revised interface, bug fixes
WSN-FTPC --
WSN-FTPC is a well-designed FTP client bundled in
Mark Clouden's WSN-Utils package. WSN-FTPC doesn't come pre-configured
with a large number of ftp sites like WS-FTP, but it does have a cool
layout and several configurable options. Also included in the package
are WSN-CONN, an echo client that allows you to test the reliability
of a site with the TCP, UDP, or ICMP protocols, and WSN-ECHO, an echo
server.
Pros: Nice FTP client, package also includes an echo client and server combo
Cons: Needs a pre-configured list of ftp sites
New: This is the initial review for WSN-FTPC
WS-Finger --
WS-Finger is offered in both 16-bit and 32-bit versions and includes both a Finger client and a Whois client. An addressbook allows users to save commonly called users
and their addresses for use in either Finger or Whois calls. Also included
is a listing of common Whois servers to use in searches. This is a
well-designed client that should definitely be downloaded if you
regularly do Finger or Whois searches. However, the same information
can be obtained from the Finger and Whois servers located on
many Web pages.
Pros: Integrated Finger client and Whois client, useful addressbook
Cons: Many Web sites will do the same thing without occupying drive space
New: Hostname lookup support, text search capabilities, automatic installation program, more
Finger --
This program is the perfect example of a no-frills,
no extra features included, just get the job done application. Its
layout is plain and simple -- enter a username and the domain address
where they can be located, and Finger returns their personal information.
Of course, you can obtain the same information from many web sites without
having to download yet another application.
Pros: Plain and simple; does exactly what it's supposed to do
Cons: Many Web sites will do the same thing without occupying drive space
New: This is the initial review for Finger
WinWhois --
WinWhois is another example of the no-frills, no additional
features, just do the job asked for application, like Finger. Again, the
layout is plain and simple -- just enter any name and WinWhois returns all the
information available. One useful option is the ability to quickly call a
list of Whois servers. As in the case of the two previous Finger clients,
you can obtain the same information from many Web sites without
having to download this app. Of course, WinWhois packs into a tight
24 KB, so it definitely makes for a quick download.
Pros: Plain and simple; does exactly what it's supposed to do, small footprint
Cons: Many Web sites will do the same thing without occupying drive space
New: This is the initial review for WinWhois
