Why do a get ^M and other weird characters in my text files?
Different computers use different ways to indicate a new line in text files. If you created your text file on a PC, and look at it on a Mac, chances are "weird" characters will appear where you had a new line. To prevent this, click the "Text" mode of your FTP program when transferring text files.

I used FTP to transfer a text file and everything is on one line. Why?
Most likely you did not have your FTP program (client) set to Text mode. See "Why do a get ^M and other weird characters in my text files," above.

I used FTP to transfer a program (executable) and it doesn't work. Why?
You may have transferred the file using Text mode. Or perhaps your FTP program was set to Auto, and confused the file for Text. When transferring programs (executables) and documents such as images, be sure to use Binary mode.

What's the difference between Binary, Text (ASCII), and Auto?
FTP programs usually allow you to transfer files using a setting of Binary, Text (sometimes called ASCII), or Auto.

Binary is intended to files that are meant to only be read by a computer. This includes executables (programs), and images to name a few.

Text files are files that are able to be read by a human. This may include HTML files, and plain text files.

Auto mode will allow your FTP program to take a guess at the file, determine if it is Binary or Text, and transfer it using the proper mode. While this is usually reliable it does fail from time to time. If you're experiencing problems, be sure to determine for yourself if the file is Binary or Text, and select the appropriate mode.

I can't establish a connection to the FTP server and if I can, I can't see any files. Any ideas?
Many offices (and even homes) are using devices called a Firewall. While these devices protect your computer from the Internet, they can often cause problems with FTP. Most modern FTP clients have an option called Passive FTP. If you are having trouble connecting to your FTP server, seeing files, or doing data transfers, try selecting the Passive (PASV) option from your FTP program.

When I upload a file, the date is exactly a few hours off. Why?
There are many different time zones in the world (four in the United States alone). There is one common time zone, though, called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC); sometimes refered to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Rather than favoring a specific time zone (like Easter, Central, Mountain, or Pacific) the server internally operates on UTC. Accordingly, your uploaded files are stamped with a UTC time stamp. Depending on the time of the year, this is four or five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).

How do I preserve the date (timestamp) on my files after uploading?

I can't connect to your FTP server. Is FTP down?
Most homes and businesses use firewalls. Because of the way traditional FTP establishes a connection, it cannot work with many firewalls. To establish a connection you must use "Passive FTP." We recommend to always use Passive FTP whether you are behind a firewall or not.

How do I enable Passive FTP in Microsoft FrontPage:
To enable Passive FTP in Microsoft FrontPage visit http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/assistance/HA010785401033.aspx

How do I enable Passive FTP in Macromedia DreamWeaver:
To enable Passive FTP in DreamWeaver click here.

How do I enable Passive FTP in Microsoft Internet Explorer:

1. Open the Tools menu
2. Click on Internet Options
3. Click on Advanced tab
4. Disable the Enable folder view for FTP sites option
5. Enable the Passive FTP option
6. Click the OK button