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How To Use The WinSCP FTP Client

Once you have installed the WinSCP FTP client, you can use the software to move or copy files from your local computer to a remote system such as TerpConnect using the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP).

Connect To A Remote System
How to Upload and Download Files
How to Find your Pub Folder
Exit the FTP Client

Connect To A Remote System

1. To start the WinSCP SFTP client either:

   • Click on Start --> Programs --> WinSCP --> WinSCP
         OR
   • Double-clicking on the WinSCP desktop icon.

   (Windows Vista users will click the Windows Logo and select All Programs, then WinSCP and then click on WinSCP once more.)

2. When WinSCP opens, you will need to:

   • Enter the full hostname of the remote system to which you wish to connect to (like "terpconnect.umd.edu") in the Host name field.
   • Enter your Directory ID in the User name field. Leave the rest of the settings as they are unless you know what you need to change.

   

3. Click on the Login button. If this is the first time you are connecting to this particular remote system, a dialog box will appear informing you of the public security key of this remote system, and allowing you to save a record of this key in your WinSCP program.

4. Click Yes

   

5. If you plan to connect to this remote system again, then you will want to save the information you entered in step 2 in a session profile. Click on the Save button and choose your own session name or use the default name. Click OK

   

6. You are now connected to your home directory on the remote system. In the left column of the WinSCP window, you will see a list of files and folders (also called directories) on your home computer. In the right column you will see a list of directories and files that are contained on the remote system to which you are connected. In the example below, the right column is displaying the contents of your home directory. The left column of the window displays the name of the remote system to which you are connected (in this example,terpconnect.umd.edu).

   

7. If you leave the FTP client idle for several minutes, it may disconnect from the remote system. If that occurs, connect by clicking Reconnect

How to Upload and Download Files

Uploading and downloading files to and from the remote system is straightforward. The quickest way to transfer files between remote and local systems is to simply drag the files or folders you want from one system and drop them into the other.

You may also select the file or folder you wish to transfer by clicking on it and then selecting Files at the top of WinSCP and the click on Move. This will bring up a dialog box from where you select Move to transfer your file to either your remote or local system. In the top left corner of the Move dialog box you will see Move file "Example" to remote directory or it will say local directory depending on to which system you are transferring the file.

How to Find your Pub Folder

To find your Pub directory you can click on the button in the top right of WinSCP. You may also choose to click on the icon which will take you up one level on your remote system.

Exit the FTP Client

To exit the WinSCP FTP client, click on the F10 button (shown below), or click on the X in the top right corner.

To learn more about how to use the WinSCP FTP Client, please consult the help documentation in the program by clicking on Help on the menu bar.