Uniform Resource Locators are global names for items on the Internet: they specify what kind of resource the item is, what server it can be found at, and its name on that server. In the case of files and directories on FTP servers, a URL is a string in the following format:
If the userid and password are omitted it╒s assumed to be an anonymous FTP server. The port value is also optional. So the URL for a copy of Fetch on Dartmouth╒s FTP server would look like this:
ftp://ftp.dartmouth.edu/pub/mac/Fetch_3.0.hqx
URLs were originally designed for use in the World Wide Web (WWW). Fetch uses URLs as part of bookmark files, and can also use URLs in the New Connection, Edit Bookmark, Change Directory, View File, Delete Directory or File, Get File, and Get Directories and Files dialogs. The Copy command in the Edit menu puts a URL for the current directory or selected items on the clipboard. Dragging the open-folder icon to a text editor inserts a URL for the current directory. Similarly, you can create bookmarks in a bookmark list by pasting or dragging a URL into the window.
Most Macintosh Internet programs can be used as URL ╥helper╙ applications. Programs can pass URLs to the appropriate helper application, which can retrieve the desired data or perform the desired action. Fetch can be used as a helper for FTP URLs (i.e. ones that begin ╥ftp://╙).
Fetch also supports a user interface convention for more convenient handling of URLs. Command-clicking on a URL in any of Fetch╒s text windows (such as this help window) automatically passes that URL to the helper program you have specified using Internet Config (see the Internet Config topic). So, for instance, command-clicking on <http://www.dartmouth.edu/pages/softdev/fetch.html> will instruct your web browser to view the official Fetch web page.
