Transfer of files across networks is widely used to update applications and to exchange information in bulk. For the developer, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) provide a reliable means for sending and receiving files where the protocols are based on well-known and widely used standards. The SocketTools File Transfer control provides an interface to file transfer services, allowing developers to easily implement this functionality (as well as remote management of files via the FTP protocol) in their own software without requiring general knowledge of network programming or specific application protocols.

The File Transfer .NET component provides a single interface for sending and receiving files. For most applications, this is the only component that will be needed to upload and download. However, in some cases a program may require the advanced features of a specific SocketTools class, such as posting a query to a web server. In this situation, the File Transfer .NET component can be seamlessly integrated with the other SocketTools components to build a more complex solution that requires a greater degree of customization.

The File Transfer .NET component is managed code class designed specifically for the Visual Studio 2003 and Visual Studio 2005 development tools. This edition of the product is ideal for the developer who is programming in Visual Basic .NET or C# on the Windows platform. If you are currently using the File Transfer ActiveX control with Visual Basic .NET or Visual C#.NET then we strongly recommend that you move to the File Transfer .NET component. You'll see improved performance and a more natural interface that makes the product much easier to work with. If you're planning on migrating your application to the Visual Studio .NET platform, many of the the properties, methods and events are the same. Although there are some differences between the two editions in terms of the interface, those differences are minor. Both versions of the product provide the same general functionality and support the same Internet application protocols.