21.004 I need some help with uploading. I uploaded a large file to an Apple II ftp site but nobody seems able to download it without ending up with garbage. What's wrong?
Description
This article is from the Apple II Csa2 FAQ, by Jeff Hurlburt with numerous contributions by others.
21.004 I need some help with uploading. I uploaded a large file to an Apple II ftp site but nobody seems able to download it without ending up with garbage. What's wrong?
Uploading files to an FTP site is a fairly simple process-- basically,
it's pretty close to the reverse of downloading described above. For example,
to upload a group of Apple IIgs files named "NARFGAME" you would ...
o On the GS, use GS-ShrinkIt to created a single compressed file
containing the NARFGAME files. The new .SHK file could be named
"NARFGAME.SHK". (On an Apple IIe or other 8-bit Apple II, you
could use an 8-bit version of ShrinkIt to compress the NARFGAME
files.)
o Use Spectrum or some other A2 telecom program to NULL modem
NARFGAME.SHK to, say, the PC's C:\UPDOWN folder using Z-modem
protocol.(Z-modem is easiest; but, other protocols, like X-modem,
are fine. Mainly, both telecom programs involved in the transfer,
Apple II and PC, need to be set to the same protocol.)
o Dial-up your ISP-- no need if you are already connected via
Netscape, 'Explorer, or some other browser or application.
Uploading via a Browser
o If you are running Netscape or some similar browser, you can do
the upload very easily to one of several ftp sites. (Some ftp
sites may not permit uploading from a browser. Major Apple II
sites which will include Asimov, Ground, and TFFE.)
Go to the site's upload URL-- e.g. you might type in
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/ (or click your bookmark for
"Ground") and click on the upload/ folder to open it.
Note1: The folder for uploads will usually be named "upload",
"uploads", or "incoming". Sometimes, there will be folders inside,
like apple2/, apple2gs/, etc. which you should open depending
upon where you think your stuff fits.
Note2: Some sites will show the current contents of the uploads
folder and some will not. Often you will see a nearly blank
screen.
Open a window for the folder on your system which has the file or
files you want to upload. For example, you may want to upload the
file NARFGAME.SHK which is in the C:\NeatGames\ folder on your
hard disk. So, you would open a window for C:\NeatGames\.
Select (click on) the files to upload and drag them onto the
uploads page display-- you would click on NARFGAME.SHK and drag it
onto the part of your screen showing the uploads page display
(which may be blank).
Click "Yes" when asked if you want to upload the file(s).
If the site accepts your upload you will get some kind of message
indicating this somewhere on your screen-- maybe at the bottom--
saying "upload successful", "upload done", etc..
Uploading via an FTP program
o If you prefer using an ftp program (e.g. WS_FTP, Cute FTP, etc.)
or the ftp site will not permit browser uploads, start your ftp
program.
Select the desired FTP site's name in your "profiles list" (or,
if necessary, create the profile entry) and connect with the
FTP site.
Navigate to the FTP site's uploads folder-- usually, it will be
named "upload", "uploads", or "incoming". There may be folders
inside this one (like apple2/, apple2gs/, etc.) to open depending
upon what sort of stuff you are uploading.
Note: you may or may not see any files listed when in a site's
Uploads folder. Some FTP sites hide file names in this folder
and/or restrict folder access to upload-only.
For .shk, .dsk, and most other program files you upload, make
sure 'transfer mode' is set to "binary". (For Text files, mode
can be "text" or "ASCII"; however, "binary" mode is fine for
Text uploads.)
Highlight "NARFGAME.SHK" (and any other binary mode files to
upload) in the listing of files in your C:\UPDOWN folder.
Click an arrow button (or whatever) to start the transfer to
the FTP site's uploads folder.
If the upload is successful, you will usually get a message like
"transfer complete" on your ftp program's display.
With a little experience everything is nearly 'automatic'. However, there
are a few common mistakes which can ruin an upload:
o Probably, the most common error is failing to make sure "binary" is set
(check-marked, etc.) as the transfer mode when an .SHK file or other non-Text
file is uploaded using an ftp program. Basically, you should use binary mode
for all uploads to modern ftp sites. If some site complains when a .txt file is
uploaded in binary mode, use "text" (or "ASCII") mode for the Text file.
o Many Apple II users seem to feel that, because "Binary Up"-- an option which
adds a Binary II header-- is available on their telecom program, it should be
used for all transfers. It is best to turn OFF any Spectrum (ProTerm, etc.)
option which adds a Binary II header. (Also, you should not use GS-ShrinkIt's
option to add a Binary II header.) A Binary II header renders a file useless
until the header is stripped off; so, for example, any Text file with the
header will be un-readable by a PC. If a down
loader does not have an A2 telecom program which automatically strips off the
header during NULL modem transfers (or if "Binary Down" is turned OFF), the
Text file will look like garbage on the Apple II as well.
o Too many old-time Apple II users still insist upon doing a binscii
conversion of all .SHK files before uploading them. When, as sometimes happens,
a binscii'd .SHK file is uploaded as an ".SHK" file, downloaders end up with a
".SHK file which ShrinkIt cannot unshrink". Except for uploads to text-oriented
services like comp.binaries.apple2, binscii is not necessary on the modern
internet.
o Sometimes, a user will NULL modem an Apple Text file to PC using a block
transfer protocol (like Z-modem) and, then, upload the file as Text intended to
be readable on-line. Such a file will, usually, be a mess when viewed on a PC.
o Mac owners sometimes use the Mac version of ShrinkIt to create a ".SHK"
archive of Apple II files which is then uploaded to an Apple II FTP site. The
result is another 'mystery .SHK file' which Apple II users cannot unshrink.
.SHK files uploaded to an Apple II FTP site should be created on an Apple II
using an Apple II version of ShrinkIt.
In short, most of the common uploading errors are the result of
carelessness or of doing something which is unnecessary. A good uploading 'rule
of thumb' is "Keep it simple".
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