-
FTP transfer
How woudl i go about setting up a computer at my office for clients to upload files to other than email?
I am wrking on a website and woul like to hae a link that a client can click and upload the files to.
I am not hosting my site so i think it may complicate things.
Cheers
J
-
11 Replies
-
quote simple signs:How woudl i go about setting up a computer at my office for clients to upload files to other than email?I am wrking on a website and woul like to hae a link that a client can click and upload the files to.
I am not hosting my site so i think it may complicate things.
Cheers
J
Depending on your hosting agreement, most hosting companies have an ftp option, rarely at the lower end of the hosting fees tho.
Talk to your host and they’ll probably have the option available, so people can ftp to their server with your site, then you can upload from the same server once its done.
Its not hard. They’ll have something I’m sure.
-
It would be just as easy for your customers to email you and send an attachment, why are you not going to host the site if you don’t mind me asking?
-
Most companies that do hosting offer huge email inboxes as standard. 1and1.co.uk* give you a gig as standard. And they do F TP.
*£8.99 a month – huge space, free co.uk, 200 addresses, and unlimited subdomains (so if you want ten businesses using the same space you can…each with their own area & name).
Yahoo also do 2Gb boxes cheap/free and free ‘geocities’ hosting (side bar advertising).
It is fairly simple to set up a PC to upload files to via ‘remote access’, but I think you’re just making life difficult for everybody.In all the years i’ve been doing this, it’s been sketches, hard copies, floppies, CD’s, USB sticks & Email – never once have I been asked if I do FTP – it’s not that difficult granting access to upload folders specific to the client, but more hassle than it’s worth. If it’s too big to fit into an Email inbox…think how long it’s going to take to upload!! eg. average 2/4/8Mb line only has a 300kbs max upload.
I can only see business suffering because of it as ‘most’ businesses are not PC literate enough to start uploading files…some can barely manage to attach them to Emails!!
I remember when ISDN was all the rage…some businesses were advertising their ISDN number…what for, it’s not like you could call up the PC on it?
Simplicity is the key. Over complicating matters (from the clients point of veiw) is a recipe for disaster… why design your own stuff…then have to upload it when the guy down the road will take an Email or a CD in the post.
I’m not knocking the technology – just being frankly honest that ‘joe public’ is none too smart when it comes to ordering signs…that’s what we’re there for – to be their ‘guru’ the ‘sign dude’ and technical support all rolled into one.
For example – my signs website gets say, 600 proper hits a month…I maybe get 1 or 2 jobs every six weeks directly from it…and that’s with a high ranking site for my geographic area. I use it more as a portfolio when asked "what do you do" and rather than trawl through folders full of pictures they get a brief idea, enough to say yeah or nay.
The main thing my website generates is spam email!!….I don’t need pirate software, investment offers, fake rolex, viagra or ‘a guaranteed 3" ‘A mate of mine (highly accomplished artist) is also a great web designer…but can’t market a damn. He’s tried to branch out into ‘downloadable colouring books’, and it died on it’s feet. The ONLY time it got hits was when he did ‘pay per click’ advertising on Google. At 10p a click – he was in the red faster than he could cope as nobody was buying…only looking. He pulled the plug on that PDQ.
i say it too many times. A good reputation sells signs. You get a good rep. and one guy tells his mates – they tell theirs…and before you know it, you’ve done dozens of spin-off jobs from one van or shop.
Keep it simple….a nice Email link & tel / fax numbers work well enough.
Dave
-
The guys are right KISS ( Keep It Simple Signs), Though……
The upload procedure for files can be set up in a number of ways not just FTP. These systems are exceptional in uploading larger files and can be essential in most graphics applications as you can upload in any format with no degredation both effectively and quickly at sizes that most e-mail systems will not handle. Most e-mail systems have gateway limis.
In most cases the set up is expensive as it is a specialist integration and very much dependant on what you are running and where files will be held and archived for retrival. Your site and system will have to be set up by a company like ours to establish the links and the specialist systems.
The FTP system relies upon the client having FTP software, where as integrated systems work directly from your web site. A numer of larger printers have these systems in place for files over 2MbAn expensive option for a small company.
-
Really good advice here…
Most people can burn a CD or DVD these days, I’ll usually just ask them to pop it in the post.
I do actually get asked about once a month if I can accept ftp, (I deal with a few advertising agents) but I just say no, sorry, can you burn it to a cd for me, and pop it in the post – or I’ll get it picked up by courier. Never had any negative comments at all.
The other thing they may do, is ftp it to their own site and send me a link to download it. That is pretty common amongst graphic designers here too.
End of the day, I get a lot of hits thru my site too, but rarely get 1 or 2 actual jobs a month.
I got a job last month, sending me all their artwork, and the request to fit it ‘next time I’m in the area’. Problem was, the job was in Texas USA, and I’m in Brisbane Australia. The woman figured that as my site came up in google on her PC, I must have been local….. sheesh 😕
-
If you really want to accept FTP files then a good way is to set up the free space you usually get with your ISP or use one of the many storage solutions out there, many now offer free space for archive storage and back ups. These make great FTP storage facilities, hough always remember that anything stored there can be accessed by anyone with your FTP details. Always avoid using your web site space as you are giving access to the files, this advice also applies to having your own computer as a server for FTP service as a good hacker can get into your network.
Its great being part of the www and the world is a smaller space, just a pity we can’t get down the line to do the work… -
This might be a good option and it’s FREE and can be easily integrated within your web site.
There are a number of these available. -
try a third party ftp site.
generally use that if need to send over large files, unless client has own ftp server
-
Thanks guys.
Will be investing in a printer shortly and would like to make it easy for web customers to upload files other than email.
It is just a perception that i am just bigger than a one man band!
Cheers
J
-
Another possibility for file transfer would be to use a commonly used chat client, such as Yahoo Messenger or Windows Live Messenger. I know that the customer technical ability can be somewhat challenging, but these chat clients are reasonably easy and quick to set up.
Once configured, 1) add the customer as a valid contact, 2) start a chat session, and 3) start a file transfer.
Here are the links:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta … layLang=en
Cheers,
Rod
-
yep.. messenger is a good route, its kinda quicker but sometimes firewalls can be a pain
Log in to reply.