FTP Browser readme
==================


   This file contains the following sections:

    What is FTP Browser?
    System requirements
    Feature list
    Features that may not be obvious
    Solutions to common problems
    Changes for this release
    Legal disclaimer
    Availability and support
    Installation procedure
    Changes in previous releases

=====================================================================
What is FTP Browser?
=====================================================================

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 accross a variety of hosts.

Please, feel free to use this shareware version of FTP Browser to
evaluate its functionality as long as you agree to the legal
disclaimer. Should you continue to use this product beyond the
30-day trial period, please select "Registration information" from
the site manager's help menu.

Registration for FTP Browser is only $29.00 in US funds.

Thank you for your interest in FTP Browser.

=====================================================================
System requirements
=====================================================================

Your system must meet the following minimal requirements in order to
install and use FTP Browser: 

     OS/2 Warp version 3 or 4

          Presentation Manager
          TCP/IP

     2 Mb free disk space

=====================================================================
Feature list
=====================================================================

The following features 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
     Local file manager
     Quick connect feature to test new sites
     Ping feature to test site responsiveness before connecting
     Unlimited number of simultaneous connections to the same site
     Multiple and simultaneous transfers to the same site
     Graphical file transfer display
     Host redialing for busy sites
     Seamless reconnects for lost connections
     Automatically resume interrupted transfers
     Resume partially transferred files
     Transfer queue for storing items to transfer
     Recursive directory tree transfers and deletes
     Server to server tree and file transfers
     Tree synchronize feature for maintaining identical trees on
      local and remote systems
     Recursive directory tree search feature for finding files
     Archive content and text file viewer
     Configurable file associations for viewing downloaded files
     Classical and transparent proxy firewall support
     Firewall support for travelling (laptop) users
     Configurable directory lisiting cache
     "Quick paths" allow access to frequently accessed directories
     Parent directory button to quickly move up one directory
     Communications log with save to file option
     Hooks for command file execution after file transfers
     Download information optionally written to file EAs
     File list filter
     Hover help for all toolbars
     Warp 4's tabbed notebook style
     Drag and drop color and font configurability

=====================================================================
Features that may not be obvious
=====================================================================

- To move a site to a new folder, drag and drop the site over
  the target folder. To copy a site hold down the control key
  while dropping the site over the target folder.
- To create a reference to a site on the desktop, drag and
  drop the site in any desktop folder. Double clicking the
  new site reference object will open the FTP window for that
  site, bypassing the site manager.
- To connect to a site double click the site name. To connect
  to every site within a folder, double click the folder name.
- To be prompted for a site address or password, simply
  leave these fields empty in the properties notebook.
- To start FTP Browser from another application and
  automatically connect to a FTP site refer to the "command line
  arguments" section of the FTP Browser manual.
- To transfer files and directories, simply drag objects from
  or into the FTP window.
- To view a file using the 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.
- To resume an interrupted file transfer, simply start the
  transfer again and select append from the file transfer
  prompt.
- To transfer files and directories from one site to another,
  simply drag objects from one FTP window to the other.
- To recursively delete directories on a site, make your
  selection then select delete.
- To synchronize directory trees between your system and a
  remote system, both the local and remote directory fields
  must changed to the directories that are to be synchronized.
- To filter the file list add the filter string to the end of
  the remote directory. For example, the following remote
  directory would only list ZIP files: /os2/incoming/*.zip
  To remove the filter refresh the directory.
- To change the font and color of a window, simply drag and
  drop them to the window. All changes will be saved.
- if you would like to move FTP Browser to another location use
  the move function in the install program. Refer to the install
  help for more information.

=====================================================================
Solutions to common problems
=====================================================================

- if there is a problem getting a list of files from a Windows 
  for Workgroups/95/NT FTP server, try changing the site type
  in the site's properties notebook to DOS.
- if there is a problem connecting to sites on the internet through
  a firewall/proxy server, make sure that the "located behind
  firewall" check box is not checked. It should only be checked
  for sites within (local to) your LAN.
- if a site does not allow fully qualified path names when changing
  or listing a directory, the file list will be empty even though
  there are files. If this is the case then disable "fully qualify
  directory changes and listings" on the preferences page of the
  site's properties notebook.
- if you are having problems connecting through a firewall or
  connecting to a specific site, view the communications window
  and select save. Send this text file along with a description of
  the problem in an e-mail message to the address listed under
  support.
- if FTP Browser is slow accessing data files or creating a lot
  of disk activity, try using the install program to clean your
  data files. Refer to the install help for more information.
- when closing the FTP window, it is normal if it takes up to 5
  seconds to shut down.

=====================================================================
Changes for this release
=====================================================================

1. The active data connection setting not functioning properly.

2. The notebook that should occupy the bottom half of the FTP
window is not visible on Warp3 systems.

2. When opening a site from a desktop reference object, the site's
directory list would never appear and cause an endless loop that would
constantly read from your hard drive.

3. The "No auxiliary connection" message would consistently appear on
any OS/2 system without multimedia installed when the user attempted to
download/upload. The process that is responsible for transfers requires
an OS/2 multimedia file called "mdm.dll". As a temporary work around I
have disabled the multimedia sound support that optionally plays after
transfers.

=====================================================================
Legal disclaimer
=====================================================================
 
FTP Browser is provided "as-is" without any warranties (or
conditions), expressed or implied with respect to the software,
including the implied warranties (or conditions) of merchantability
and fitness for a particular purpose.  The entire risk arising out
of use or performance of the program remains with you.  In no event,
will Jason Rushton be liable for any lost profits, lost savings,
incidental or indirect damages or other economic consequential 
damages, even if Jason Rushton has been advised of the possibility
of such damages.  In addition, Jason Rushton will not be liable for
any damages claimed on you based on any third party claim. 

FTP Browser, Copyright (c) 1996 Jason Rushton 

=====================================================================
Availability and support
=====================================================================

If you have questions, suggestions or bug reports, use any of the
following contact methods.  Registered users will receive first
priority, although I will surely make an effort to respond to 
unregistered users as well. 

   Internet mail 
      rushton@netcom.ca 
       
   Regular mail 
      Jason Rushton 
      81 Calais Street 
      Whitby, Ontario 
      Canada, L1N 5M3 
  
The latest version of FTP Browser will always be available for
download from the following internet FTP archives, WWW pages and
internet BBSs:

   ftp.cdrom.com     /.4/os2/internet
   hobbes.nmsu.edu   /os2/internet
   ftp.bmtmicro.com  /bmtmicro
   http://www.bmtmicro.com/catalog/0internet.html
   ftp.leo.org       /pub/comp/os/os2/tcpip/ftp
   os2.musthave.com  /OS2
   http://www.os2ss.com/internet/ftp/
   bbs.os2bbs.com    Area #35

=====================================================================
Installation
=====================================================================

To install FTP Browser:

1. Unzip the compressed file into a temporary directory.
2. Make this directory the current directory.
3. Run INSTALL.EXE to install the application.

=====================================================================
Changes in previous releases
=====================================================================

v1.7

- added a clean button that will clean out FTP Browser's
  data files. This is recommended for users who have upgraded
  from a previous release. This feature removes all unused
  data and reorganizes the data files for efficiency when
  FTP Browser accesses them.
- added a move button that will relocate an FTP Browser
  installation to another path.
- fixed some minor bugs.
- changed the FTP Browser logo (again).
- added the ability to have one level of child folders.
- added a quick connect feature to connect to sites not
  frequently visited.
- to create a site entry in the site manager for a site
  that you have connected to using the quick connect, select
  "save site properties". You will be prompted for the name
  of the new site.
- added a feature that writes the properties of all sites
  to a text file.

- added an auxiliary connection setting to the site properties
  notebook.
- added an auxiliary connection setting to the set default
  window.
- added a setting to the site properties notebook that hides
  the local file list and directory.
- added a setting to the site properties notebook that
  will enables the conversion of all uploaded file names
  to lowercase characters.
- moved the enable active data connections setting to the
  site properties notebook so that it can be configured
  independently of each site.

- added a setting to the options notebook that specifies
  whether the queue, log or quick path pages should be the
  first in the new FTP window notebook.
- added a network thread priority setting to the options
  notebook so that very fast transfers will not dominate
  your CPU. This setting resides on the network page.
- added a setting for enabling/disabling the system beep
  at the end of transfers. In addition there is now a field
  for specifying a sound file to play at the end of transfers.
- users are now prompted before connecting to all sites in
  a folder in case it was not intended.
- added the ability to drag and drop sites to the desktop to
  create site reference objects.
- added a status area to the bottom of the site manager window,
  which displays the status of the site manager, the number
  of open FTP windows and the number of transfers running.
- added spacers between unrelated toolbar buttons.
- the delete key can now be used to delete folders and sites
  provided the respective container has the focus. You will be
  prompted to confirm to the deletion.
- refreshed the menu layout and key accelerators.
- fixed a bug in the context menu interface.
- improved the layout of the data files holding many of FTP
  Browser's settings. FTP Browser should now operate more quickly
  when reading from these files, at the expense of resetting
  some options to their default values.
- changed all threads to an idle priority.
- reduced fragmentation when dynamically allocating memory.
- updated help system.
- changed the FTP Browser logo (again).
- enhanced the command line arguments for FTPBROWS.EXE. Refer
  to the new command line argument section of the help.
- added context menus all over the place.
- added a local file list which functions in the same way as
  the site list. It is drag and drop enabled and multi-threaded.
- moved the previous dir and open folder toolbar buttons
  back beside the their respective dir entry fields.
- added a notebook to the bottom of the window that conatins
  pages for the queue, log and quick path windows.
- added to splitbars, one between the site and new local file
  listings, and one between the status area and the new
  notebook.
- added a toolbar button that incremently adjusts the vertical
  splitbar betweem the site and local listings.
- added a feature that prompts for a file name of a zero
  length file that will be created on the site. This is useful
  for sending messages as files to the site administrator.
- added a feature that opens the properties notebook in the
  manager for the connected site. This saves the user from
  having to search for the site in the site manager, although
  the folder that contains the site must be open in the site
  manager.
- the last sort performed on the site list and local list
  is now remembered the next time the FTP window is opened.
  If no sort is performed or default is selected from the
  sort menu, the default sort attribute is used.
- added an auxiliary connection status area that displays
  information about transfers and deleted files only.
- replaced the local directory field with a drop down list
  that contains all the local drives on the system.
- added new "download as" and "upload as" features that
  prompt the user for the target file name of each file
  to be transferred.
- added an "apply action to all existing files" setting
  to the transfer prompt that appears when transferring
  a file that already exists on the target system.
- during queue transfers the user is now prompted when the
  file exists.
- added a local file name prompt when the file name contains
  illegal characters.
- added an option to the synchronize feature which allows
  files to be included if they are older than a specified date.
- added a file search feature which will recursively search
  site directory trees for a file name. This file name can
  include a "*" as a wild card and the search can be limited to
  include only files that are newer than a specified date.
- added a file rename feature.
- added a site command feature which allows the user to manually
  send commands to the site.
- added a connect/disconnect feature so that the FTP window can
  remain open while the connection is closed.
- added the ability to save the queue to a file when closing the
  site and load the queue when opening the site.
- the site list now contains a field that displays the site file
  permissions if available.
- added the ability to save the all files to be transferred to a
  file list when the transfer fails and load this list into the
  queue when opening the site.
- added the ability to start multiple, simultaneous transfers
  from one FTP window through auxiliary connections.
- it is now possible to change directories, change the transfer
  mode, send site commands, rename files and create directories
  while any number of file transfers are in progress.
- each auxiliary connection has its own transfer status window,
  text viewer, synchronize list and search facility.
- auxiliary connections are also used to delete site files
  and perform server to server transfers. This means that it is
  now possible to perform multiple, server to server transfers
  simultaneously using the same FTP window.
- it is now possible to close the FTP window without affecting
  any number of file transfers, site file deletes or server to
  server transfers.
- when aborting transfers the auxiliary connection will quickly
  disconnect and then reconnect to fix many of the previous
  problems with many sites not properly reacting to an abort.
- added a reconnect button to the transfer window, which will
  quickly disconnect, reconnect and then resume the transfer.
  This can be useful if you feel the site has forgotten about
  your transfer or your ISP has hung up on you.
- enhanced command line argument support to accept a username,
  password, port#, account name and site type.
- added a toolbar button that cycles through a splitbar
  position of 50%, 75% and 25%.
- added spacers between unrelated toolbar buttons.
- the delete key can now be used to delete site and local
  files, queue items, quick paths, synchronize list items and
  search items provided the respective container has the focus.
- refreshed the menu layout, key accelerators and toolbar.
- fixed a bug in the context menu interface.
- fixed a bug in with the storing of quick paths that caused
  them to be truncated to a certain length.
- fixed minor bugs in the synchronize feature.
- changed all threads to an run at the priority set in the
  site manager's options notebook.
- updated help system.
- reduced fragmentation when dynamically allocating memory.

v1.6
- added a menu item to the site manager window for creating a
  desktop icon that references a site. Click this icon to directly
  connect to the site.
- added menu items to the site manager window for cascading, tiling
  or closing all open FTP windows. Cascade and tile use the size of
  the top-left-most window for determining the size of the others.
- changing certain options and site properties are now reflected
  immediately if the there are open FTP windows.
- updated all toolbar buttons with a consistant graphic scheme.
- replaced some infrequently used toolbar buttons with more
  frequently used ones.
- added a setting to the site properties notebook for turning off
  fully qualified directory names, because some sites do not like the
  LIST command fully qualified.
  NOTE: turning off fully qualified pathnames prevents recursive
        directory tree transfers etc.
- added a setting in the site properties notebook for converting
  uploaded file names to FAT (8.3) format.
- fixed the deletion of sites from the site manager window which
  was causing a memory leak.
- fixed the site manager splitbar, so that the sizing pointer
  (left-right arrow) is displayed while moving the splitbar.
- enhanced transfer status window updates, which are now performed
  in a seperate thread. It was found that updating the status
  from within the transfer thread degraded transfer performance
  by as much as 50% with extremely fast transfers (30kbs+).
- added a list of files to transfer to the transfer status window.
- added an elapsed transfer time field to the transfer status win.
- multiple FTP windows are now cascaded instead of opening on top
  of each other.
- changed the following FTP window dialogues to windows for improved
  functionality:
      Connect status, Transfer status, Transfer queue, Quick path
      Communications log, Synchronize
- added help to many of the remaining (modal) dialogues.
- added a select all function to the FTP window directory menu.
- enhanced file transfer code which now allows a user selectable
  action when a file exist condition occurs during a recursive
  tree transfer.
- enhanced the file transfer prompt with a manually rename file
  option and changed the old rename option button to "unique".
- added column titles to the FTP window file list, transfer queue,
  and synchronize list.
- enabled the remote directory field to accept filter strings.
- synchronize feature now compares file names without case
  sensitivity and also compares file sizes in determining
  which files to synchronize.
- fixed a bug during file transfers of > 40MB which caused the
  percent and progress indicators to reset to 0.
- improved server to server transfer code, now more robust in
  dealing with transfer failures.
- FTP window now displays on top after a successful connection.

v1.55
- added a directory tree synchronize feature, which lists and
  recursively transfes missing files between your a system and a
  remote site
- enhanced the informational messages displayed in the status area
  and the connect window
- added a "how do I ..." section the help system
- added a similar "Features that may not be obvious" section to this
  readme file.
- added an switch that can toggle between active and passive data
  connections
- added the ability to start an FTP session from the command line
  (or your another application) by specifying an ftp site address
  eg. ftpbrows ftp.cdrom.com
- added an option to not display the local and remote dir fields in
  the FTP window

- fixed a bug which confused FTP Browser when informational messages
  posted by some sites contained an extra new line character.
  A dash as the first character of the password is no longer needed
  for Hobbes. (Directory -> Synchronize)
- fixed a bug in the passive data connection code
- fixed a small GUI flaw in the status area
- fixed the display of binary/ascii transfer mode
- many GUI and network code optimizations
- reduction in memory requirements and increased performance
