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Application Review
FTPBrowser
Review
by: Craig Miller – 04/20/11
OS Reviewed on: eComStation
2.0
Audio: Uniaud16 V1.9.5 & Uniaud32 V2.1.1
Video Card
Driver: SNAP, version 3 (eCS 2.0 package)
Year:
1997
Version: 1.71
Application Type: File Transfer
Developed by: Jason Rushton
Published by: Jason Rushton
Homepage
Link: None
Wikipedia
Link: Learn
more about FTP
Download
FTP Browser now!
This
version is the full version (Y2K fix patch, and txt file with SN
included in the zip file). It's all one program. File Size: 954K
(1)
Introduction:
The File Transfer Protocol, more popular among Internet users as FTP, is one of the fundamental network protocols enabling the migration of files between distant machines. It supports the simultaneous transfer of huge data volumes from a PC to a server and vice versa, giving users strong reasons why the Internet has become so flexible today.
How does FTP work?
FTP requires two computers, one running an FTP server, the other running an FTP client. The exchange is initiated by the client which logs in under an accepted user name and password. Once this occurs, a session is opened and stays open until closed by either the client or the server, or until it times out. While the session is open, the client may execute numerous FTP commands on the server. These include commands to change directories, list files, get files and put files.
Is FTP better than HTTP for downloading files?
Yes, as a matter of fact it is. HTTP is designed to fetch web pages. It is optimized for numerous repeated fetches of small items. FTP is designed for transferring files, and offers faster overall throughput and better error checking. It is not uncommon for a user to fail repeatedly to download a large file via HTTP using their browser, only to succeed on their first try using a dedicated FTP client. If you download large files frequently, and experience difficulties, get a dedicated FTP client software program.
Enter FTPBrowser 1.71 for OS/2
FTP Browser is a powerful and intuitive FTP solution for OS/2 Warp that features drag and drop, server to server and directory tree transfers across a variety of hosts.
The following features are just some that will surely enhance your FTP experience:
FTP site manager that stores sites in folders
References to site objects on the desktop
Drag and drop enabled for transfers, queueing, site manipulation and more
Unlimited number of simultaneous connections to the same site
Multiple and simultaneous transfers to the same site
Graphical file transfer display
Drag and drop color and font configurability
These things are all well and good, but if your like me, there are only a few things that a user really wants from an FTP client: a reliable and rapid connection that connects easily and stays connected, easy to use, looks good, and can grow in complexity as I get better at using it.
(2) Installation:
After downloading the FTP_Browser_1.71_eCS.zip, you need to unzip the file (I always suggest doing so to the desktop. You will see the install.exe icon, double click on it.
No surprise here, the install file is not a WarpIn or IBM Installer, but a custom built one:
It's actually nice and simple, enter the directory (I suggest C:\programs\ftpbrows), then click Install. In around two seconds FTPBrowser is installed, you just have to love installs like this.
Is that it? Wow, I guess so...hit OK and then Exit. A shinny new folder is on your desktop.
Even though were done it, were not 100% done. There is a patch that came out for FTPBrowser years after (25 Feb 2009 to be exact), by Steven H. Levine, but there is no real installer and the instructions might as well be in Spanish (for some of you this is not a problem).
I have connected with Steven about this but I still have had no luck with the install. I have added the patch to the zip file so you do not have to go searching for it. So if anyone, after reading this review, knows how to do it, email me how to (dumb it down as best you can). I will put the information in section 6 of this review, if I figure it out or someone sends me the how-to.
(3) Startup:
There are five main icons in the FTPBrowser folder, for now, just double click on FTPBrowser. Since this is the first time we have started the application you are welcomed to a screen like this:
Let's get the Registration out of the way, click on the Register Now button.
If you look in your FTPBrowser folder that you unzipped on your desktop, you will find a text document that has the Registration code, go ahead and put your name in the Registered to:
Click on Save and it should thank you, then hit close. You will be returned to the first window with the big FTPBrowser graphic. That is actually a button, click it and you are done with that forever.
So welcome to FTPBrowser, this screen has three pre-made groups under the OS/2 sites folder. This seems like a great place to start but because of the programs age, most of the FTP Sites do not work.
Some do though, and one in particular is of interest (to me anyways). In Software venders, you will see the FTP for IBM Software. To try out your copy of FTPBrowser, click on the IBM Software name and a new window should come up:
IBM seems to have left the FTP server running because even though I am sure someone knows it's there, it sure feels like no one is home. So you know you can connect to one of the pre-made FTP servers, lets make a server, for things like...humm...doing a website or uploading/downloading data.
First, I am not going to waste anyone's time here. Adding a new FTP Server works but it will never save it. No matter what I tried, every time I added a server I would be able to log on and do whatever, but when I shut down FTPBrowser, and restarted it, it would not have the new server there, just the original pre-installed ones. It was very frustrating and honestly I was going to shelve this review because I was getting pissed off. I'm not sure why it will not save my data but no one would use this program if every time they started it up, you would have to put all your data in again.
I did look though the FTPBrowser folder and found that FTPBADDR.INI held all the server data. I tried to change it but I never could (it simply would not save the changes), I even moved the file to a Windows machine and tried, when I moved it back FTPBrowser, and opened the program again I noticed that all the pre-installed servers were gone. I tried adding my own FTP address and this time it saved! I'm not sure what the issue is, maybe FTPBrowser is having a hard time with JFS? I'm having a hard time believing that this is was a known issue (unfixed issue) at version 1.71, I can't be the first one to notice this?
OK, so for the sake of the install, all you have to do once you get done playing with the pre-installed servers, is go into the FTPBrowser directory and delete the FTPBADDR.INI file and start the program again. You will be shown a blank Site Manager Window that you now can add server information and it will stay saved. Let's do one so no one gets lost.
From the Site Manager window, click on Folder, then “New Root”, this will make a new folder to collect your sites in. If you have several sites, you can keep them in one file or make multiple folders.
After you name and add your folder, you will see your new folder on the left. Now right click on the right side of the Site Manager window and click “New”. A new window will come up:
You will need the above info to log into a site, once you have, click “OK”
Now we are ready for a review!
(4) The Program:
Before I used FTPBrowser, I was using Firefox's FireFTP (http://fireftp.mozdev.org/), it's a great plug-in for Firefox and I have been able to use it between eComStation and Windows with no issues (It works in any OS that has Firefox but since I cannot verify that, I will keep that out of the review). I use FTP almost every time I log into my eComStation computer so I will not play around with the application I use to move files around. Let me put up a comparison of FTPBrowser and FireFTP:
|
|
|
Not
much of a difference actually except one big one, and this might
be a personal preference, but I think most people will agree:
Firefox goes right to left for data, meaning the users data is on
the left, while the server data is on the right. FTPBrowser is the
other way, and to me it was very confusing for the first few
times.
One other difference, is that FTPBrowser is so much faster. The start up is basicly instant and when you log on, I swear it's three times faster. Uploading and downloading are also much faster. This might be a Firefox thing, but I have used Firefox 3.5.3 and 4.0 for eComStation, and I found no speed difference, but for this review, for speed, there is no comparison, FTPBrowser wins hands down.
The basic mechanics of FTP do not change. The whole “job” of FTP is to move files from one location to another and FTPBrowser does not fail on any level here. All the needed functions are in the program from simple things such as renaming, deleting, and refreshing files, to more advance functions as Synchronizing files.
Uploading files is as easy as highlighting a file on the right, then left clicking, then picking upload, you can also Drag and Drop any file over just as easy. If you need to resume an interrupted file transfer, simply start the transfer again and select append from the file transfer prompt.
If you want to view files on the server, these is a tab for defined associations, double click the file name in the FTP window. If the file's extension matches that of a defined association it will be viewed using the defined external application. For example, double clicking on a ZIP file will display the contents of the archive. Any file for which there is no association is assumed to be a text file and will be displayed in the built-in text viewer window. Associations can be defined in the configure options notebook.
With FTPBrowser you can also be logged on multiple sites at the same time, uploading, downloading, etc. You would easily run out of sites to work on before FTPBrowser would run out of resources.
I have been running FTPBrowser everyday for a month now, and I can say that it has never crashed on me. I like that it “just works” and is so dang fast. I personally like having each of my Internet programs separate and not in the browser, but I also see the value of that, especially if you us different Operating Systems but can use Firefox in each. I have both FTPBrowser and FireFTP on my eComStation, and probably always will.
Now-a-days though, FireFTP is just there as a backup, and FTPBrowser is the new king of FTP Clients on my eComStation computer.
(5) Final Thoughts:
There are a few FTP programs out there for eComStation but few match how nice FTPBrowser looks and feels. It just feels polished even though there are some blemishes here, all and all I enjoy using this application as it is fast and stable.
For a couple of months’ use now, I’ve found FTP Browser, easy and convenient to use, and reliable. FTP Browser also remains ready to go indefinitely after a connection is established. And fast, wow, I had this go side by side FireFox's FireFTP and FTPBrowser is noticeably faster.
That is not to say the program is perfect. Having to delete the FTPBADDR.INI file before you are able to save your own sites is just annoying and a show stopper for people that could not figure it out.
I personally think, and feel, it is more natural to have the users computer (files) on the left side and the server on the right. I am thinking this has to do with the English language and writing left to right. It just doesn't feel natural to go from right to left. This would not be a problem if I had the option to flip them but I could not find one.
I think some power users might miss automatic synching but I do not have a use for it. I'm sure that would be used more for business, so how many people would miss it? Probably not many.
FTPBrowser transfers files between your PC and remote computers. Whether you're publishing a Web page; downloading the latest digital images, music, and software; or transferring large files between your home and office, FTPBrowser will get the job done quickly and easily, especially if you're a beginner. I recommend downloading the full version today!
(6) Updates after the review:
04-20-11 – Bjorn Rietdijk just sent me an email telling me he has been using ftpbrowser for ages. Here is how he recommends us adding the patch:
1. Make backup copies of ftpbrows.exe and ftpbtran.exe
2. Copy ftpbrows.exe and ftpbtran.exe to a temporary directory.
3. Make sure ftpbrows.exe and ftpbtran.exe do not have the read-only attribute set...
4. Copy ftpbtran.pat and ftpbrows.pat to the same directory as *.exe files
5. Create a cmd file containing:
lxlite
-X+ -B- ftpbrows.exe
patch ftpbrowspatch.pat /a >
patchresultbrows.txt
lxlite -X- -B- ftpbrows.exe
lxlite -X+
-B- ftpbtran.exe
patch /a ftpbtranpatch.pat >
patchresulttran.txt
lxlite -X- -B- ftpbtran.exe
Execute the command file. Check if the two textfiles that have been created contain a message that the patch was successfully applied.
Copy ftpbrows.exe and ftpbtran.exe to the ftpbrowser directory and start the program.
04-20-11 – Peter Moylan emailed me about my issue with FTPBrowser not saving new sites to the current FTPBADDR.INI and FTPBASSO.INI files. I guess, somehow, the files were set to readme only in the file attributes of the file. I'm not sure how this happened but it happened from the file I downloaded (Hobbes, I think). I am going to leave that part in the review in case someone has the same issue, but I will also put this “fix” in section 6. I have also updated the FTP_Browser_1.71_eCS.zip and uploaded to the BlueNexus site so if you want, re-download it, or fix it on your own.
04-16-11 – Steven H. Levine emailed me today and gave me some very good news! He said if I could ever can track him down and convince him to make the source code available, he'd be willing to maintain the app!
So I need your help, because I have tried to contact him with no luck! Hell, his phone number doesn't even work. So if you know how to contact Jason Rushton or have the sourse code to FTPBrowser 1.71, we have someone that would work on it! Please email me if you know anything!
04-10-11 – For the record, I tried several times to reach Jason Rushton including via the phone with no luck, I also emailed Steven H. Levine, but he also never answered my messages. If anyone has a good contact for either of them, please email me it.
