This document contains late breaking news of the latest features added to the VICOM FTP Client which do not appear in the manual. At the end of the document, the version history of the product is also listed.
For the latest news about updaters, shows that Vicom Technology are attending, new versions of our software, new products, press news and lots more, take a regular look at our news page at:
http://www.vicomtech.com/newsflash.html
Contents:
• Previous Users of the VICOM FTP Client
• PowerPC Native and Optimised FTP Engine
• Threaded Transfers
• Auto Detect Facility
• Easy Connect Facility
• Support for 'GetURL' AppleEvent
• Suffix Mapping Table Redesigned
• Additional Support for Host Specifics
• Passive File Transfer Support
• Revised "Keep Connection Alive" Facility
• Vicom Technology's Technical Support Area on the Web
• Version History
Previous Users of the VICOM FTP Client
The format of the Service Book and Preferences files used by version 2.7.x are different to earlier versions of the VICOM FTP Client. The FTP Client will therefore create new Preferences and Service Book files and your details will need to be re-entered.
Users of versions earlier than 2.7.0 who have bought or registered a Shareware copy of the software since 1st June 1997 can obtain a free upgrade by contacting Vicom Technology. Users of versions earlier than 2.7.0 who have bought or registered a Shareware copy of the software before 1st June 1997 can upgrade to version 2.7.1 for a small charge.
Please see the following web page for further details: http://www.vicomtech.com/ftp.order.html
PowerPC Native and Optimised FTP Engine
The VICOM FTP Client is now a fat binary application, running natively on both 68K Macs and PowerPCs. The FTP engine has also been highly optimised to give blindingly fast file transfers and intelligent list updates.
Threaded Transfers
By default, all transfers now open a new connection to the server in a separate progress window which allows for multiple simultaneous file transfers to the same server and also frees up the main list view connection window. Additionally, sub directories of a list view can be opened in a separate window by holding down the Command key when the required sub directory icon is double clicked. Threaded uploads and/or downloads can be turned off in the "General" section of the "Preferences" if required. Threaded uploads and/or downloads can also be temporarily enabled or disabled by holding down the Command key whilst instigating the transfer.
Auto Detect Facility
By default, all new connections automatically detect the server type that is being connected to, and adjust the available facilities when a server type has been establised. This can be overridden, if necessary, and the server type can then be chosen manually.
Easy Connect Facility
To use the Easy Connect facility, select "Open" in the "File" menu and enter an IP address or URL. The item entered can point to a file which has been hidden from browsing in a particular directory. The Easy Connect facility also supports the use of a username and password within the URL.
Support for 'GetURL' AppleEvent
You can also tell your favorite web browser and e-mail applications to download files and access FTP directories with the VICOM FTP Client if they support the "GetURL" AppleEvent. An AppleScript is supplied with the FTP client which will instruct Netscape Communicator (or Navigator) to use the VICOM FTP Client for file transfers. To do this, run the "Tell Netscape to use VICOMFTP" AppleScript. The "Tell Netscape dont use VICOMFTP" AppleScript can be used to instruct Netscape Communicator not to use the VICOM FTP Client for file transfers.
Suffix Mapping Table Redesigned
File name suffixes are now mapped to Macintosh file types and applications using the new Suffix Mapping table, which is completely configurable. This allows files to be automatically created with the correct icon ready to be opened with the application they were intended for. Also, these files can be automatically opened when downloaded if the Suffix Mapping table has been configured to do so, the most obvious examples being self extracting archives.
Additionally, file icons in the "Host View" reflect the Suffix Mapping table so you know what the type of a file is. Further, the table also provides for reverse suffix mapping when uploading. When a file is uploaded which has no file name suffix or one which doesn't match any of the entries in the Suffix Mapping table, the table is rescanned to find a match for the Macintosh file type and creator. If a match is found then the transfer type can be determined and the correct suffix can be optionally added. Each entry in the Suffix Mapping table can be configured to be considered in a reverse suffix map scan as can the option to automatically add the missing suffix.
Additional Support for Host Specifics
• On UNIX based servers, permissions for files and folders can be set.
• On AppleShare IP and VICOM FTP servers, MacBinary transfers can be switched on or off.
• On FTPd/NetPresenz servers, MacBinary transfers and remote encoding/decoding of hqx files can be switched on or off.
These host specific options are available by pressing the "Set Host Specific Settings" button in the lower right of the main connection widow when you have connected to the host FTP server.
Passive File Transfer Support
For those that require it, VICOM FTP Client can be configured to use the 'PASV' (passive FTP) FTP command rather than the FTP 'PORT' command (active FTP). Passive FTP is normally a requirement when accessing sites via a firewall. The differences between the two are:
• When VICOM FTP Client uses the 'PORT' command it waits for the server to open a connection to transfer files or get file listings.
• When the VICOM FTP Client issues a 'PASV' command the server waits for VICOM FTP Client to open a connection to transfer files or get file listings.
To enable passive FTP on a "per Service Book entry", edit the particular Service Book entry and enable "Use passive file transfers" in the "Optional Settings" area. To make the default for all connections use passive FTP, select the "Use passive file transfers" option in the "Default Server Settings" section of the "Preferences".
Revised "Keep Connection Alive" Facility
The ability of VICOM FTP Client to prevent idle connections from being disconnected can now be turned off if required by unselecting the option within the "General" section of the "Preferences". When this facility is in progress it is transparent to the user.
Vicom Technology's Technical Support Area on the Web
Vicom Technology's Technical Support team have an area on the Vicom web site which contains:
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Tutorials
• Vicom Software Updaters
• Application Notes and Version Histories
• Contacting Technical Support
This area is constantly updated to address common questions and problems our users experience.
The main page for the Support area can be found at:
Please report any problems you may encounter to our Technical Support team at:
http://www.vicomtech.com/support/support.form.html OR
support@vicomtech.com
Version History
Version 2.7.1
1. A problem was fixed where some users found that the FTP Client would crash when an actiavtion code was entered.
2. Incorrect date mapping fixed. Some files were being displayed with dates that were in the future.
3. A problem has been fixed where the default Mac download / upload folder could have accidentally reverted to the FTP Client's folder.
4. Fixed a problem with resuming downloads from servers that do not support them led to the progress bar and the amount downloaded being displayed incorrectly.
5. Fixed a problem with file name translation where character sequences such as "%3E" were not getting translated. The example sequence should have been translated to ">".
6. Some AppleScripts would report an "AppleEvent timed out" error message. This problem has been fixed in this version.
7. A problem was fixed where an AppleScript which selects a file within a folder on the desktop to be uploaded, never actually uploads the file, but reports that it has done so.
8. Attempting to delete a host directory which the user does not have privileges to do so no longer changes the current directory to one level further up than it should be.
9. In the rare circumstances where a connection cannot be closed for a very long time, the FTP Client will no longer hog the computer. Time will be relinquished to other applications and the watch cursor will be displayed until the connection has closed.
10. When editing the Suffix Mapping table, pressing a letter key to scroll to the first entry in the list with that letter will no longer look for the second character of the suffix, but will now correctly look for the first character.
11. When an item in the host list gets updated due to an upload and the current view is "FTP Command Line" the item will no longer be drawn over the top of the connection transcript.
12. Added the ability to import VICOM FTP Client ServiceBooks in addition to the Fetch and Anarchie import facility.
13. Added a checkbox in the Suffix Mapping window which allows the 'Automatically add file name suffix' feature to be globally turned on or off.
14. When connected to NetPresenz, AppleShareIP or VICOM FTP servers the name translation now correctly translates file names with /, \ or : characters.
Previous Versions
For the history of previous versions of the VICOM FTP Client, please see the complete VICOM FTP Client Version History document on our web site at:
