Monitoring File Transfers with Core FTP

Keeping you informed about the status of your file transfers is a critical requirement of an FTP client. Core FTP has three components to keep you apprised of the status of your transfers:

• The Session Log
• The Transfers window
• The Status Bar

The Session Log

In the default configuration, the Session Log appears at the top of the Core FTP window.

Inside the Session Log, you will see a list of the FTP commands that are used when you communicate with your FTP server. When you have a problem connecting, the Session Log is probably the first place you want to look. The Core FTP developers have done a great job at writing error messages in plain English. Here are some actual examples of error messages:

The Transfers Window

The Transfers window is what gives you a view of the status of your transfers. One of the neat things about the Transfers window is that failed transfers remain in the window even after an error has occurred, which means you can easily see if there was a problem during a multi-file transfer.

Resuming Failed Transfers

If you have a transfer that doesn't complete, all that you need to do is right-click on the file in the Transfers window and select 'Start'. Core FTP will reconnect and resume the transfer right where it left off.

Saving a Session

Core FTP also has a feature called Sessions. With a session, you can actually save a transfer – either an upload or a download. So why would you want to do that?

Suppose you are at a cafe using their wireless. You attempt to download a large movie file from your FTP server. However, the WiFi at the cafe just isn't up to the task – you find that you need to sit in the cafe for a couple of hours to finish your download.

With a session, all that you need to do is right-click on the file in the Transfers window and save a session. Then, when you get home, you can resume the download.

The Status Bar

The Status Bar is the third component that keeps you informed about your file transfers. The Status Bar is located at the bottom of the Core FTP window. You can turn on and off the Status bar by clicking on the Status bar option in the View menu.

The status bar will show you a few things:

• The status of a file being that is currently being transferred
• How many items are be transferred and the size of the files
• Your security status (whether or not you are using an encrypted connection)

Core FTP Pro Features

The Pro version of Core FTP has a few additional tools that relate to monitoring transfers that you may be interested in. For a very low cost, you can get everything you've seen here – plus:

• File encryption: Encrypt personally identifiable data before you upload to your FTP server.
• Zip compression: Zipped files not only result in faster transfers, they use less space.
• File synchronization: You can keep a file on your computer and on your FTP server – and always be assured that it is current.
• Transfer scheduling: You can schedule a transfers without having to be around.
• Email notification of transfer status: When you schedule transfers in the middle of the night, Core FTP will email you with the status of the transfer.

For more, see the Core FTP Pro feature list.