With the latest versions of software, there is a great power to create. We are, however, creating larger and larger files, filling up CDs and DVDs to send to the printer and uploading files to their FTP sites.
For years, prepress personnel have talked customers through sending files via FTP from their Macs and PCs, using clients, browsers or the command line. Here are some hints to make it easier to send large files via FTP:
- If you plan to send big files unattended at the end of the day, make sure your computer’s energy settings are not set to hibernate or set to put the hard drive to sleep. This could cut off your upload unexpectedly.
- If your files are very large, over 800 MB, you may want to call ahead and make sure it will succeed. If it takes several hours to transfer you may want to ensure that a timeout limit does not cut off your connection either.
- If your office does not have a fast internet connection and network, FTP may not be the best solution. If you work on a system that uses a wireless connection in your office, it may be better to upload files directly from the office server instead.
- By default, most clients create a Passive Connection to an FTP server. This opens a connection on your end and allows the FTP server at the other end to open a connection to you. If you have a firewall and experience troubles with FTP, you can try an Active Connection. In this mode, you open both connections with your system.
- Even though it seems like extra work to zip your files before sending (and may not speed things up), it will protect your files from corruption. Sending files as binary is also recommended, corruption can be caused by uploading files in ASCII format.
- If you are uploading files on a Mac, you are best advised to use an FTP client. Although you can download files from your browser, most of them do not support drag and drop upload without special plug-ins.
- For those who have slower or “lite” Internet connections, your provider may not allow you to transfer large data to other systems. Some ISP plans have a bandwidth limitation, which you will discover when you receive an email informing you that you have exceeded it. You may have to upgrade your plan in order to deal with larger files.
- Other choices available are websites like “You Send It” and “MegaUpload.” These are pay as you go file sharing sites that offer space to place large files and send an email with a download link to the party you are sending to.
FTP has remained the same, but the networks are getting faster and the files are getting bigger. As long as you invest in your network and ISP plan, you will be able to create large files and stay up to speed.
