The File Transfer ActiveX control provides a simplified
interface for uploading and downloading files over the Internet or
an intranet. By providing a common interface for dealing with FTP
and HTTP servers, the control allows a developer to concentrate on
file transfer, and ignore protocol-specific issues. The control can
transfer a file with a single method, simply by specifying a URL,
as in a web browser, without the need to separately supply the
protocol, host, port, file name, and account information.
Alternatively, connection and access information may be supplied
separately, to allow multiple file transfer operations to be
performed in a single server session. In either case, the
differences between the supported protocols are kept to a minimum.
Advanced features such as proxied connections and secure encrypted
connections are easily implemented by simply setting a few
properties.
The control offers a comprehensive interface for FTP, providing
the developer with everything that he needs to incorporate FTP file
transfers in an application, as well as FTP remote file management.
In addition to downloading and uploading by file name, URL, and
wild card patterns, a developer may use the control for creation,
listing, and removal of directories, as well as renaming and
removal of files. The set of properties and methods is sufficiently
rich to enable a developer to take advantage of features supported
by specific FTP servers, such as resumption of interrupted
transfers and passive mode operation in the presence of firewalls.
The control also offers a similar interface for HTTP file transfer,
allowing the developer to choose which protocol is most appropriate
for the end user.
In addition to supporting standard FTP and HTTP connections, the
File Transfer Control also supports secure SSL and TLS connections.
By simply setting a few properties, a secure connection using
128-bit encryption can be established, providing your application
with the greatest flexibility and highest level of security
available. Even advanced options such as client certificates are
seamlessly supported.
This component is supported on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows
Server 2003 and Windows Vista. If you are using Windows 2000, it is
required that you have Service Pack (SP4) installed. If you are
using Windows XP, it is required that you have at Service Pack 2
(SP2) installed and it is recommended that you install Internet
Explorer 7.0. It is also recommended that all critical updates to
the Windows operating system be installed.
The SocketTools Visual Edition components are compatible with
any development tool that fully supports COM (Component Object
Model) and the ActiveX control specification. This includes Visual
Studio 6.0, Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005. If you
are using Visual Basic 6.0 or Visual C++ 6.0, it is required that
you have Service Pack 5 (SP5) or later installed. If you are using
Visual Studio .NET 2003, it is recommended that you install Service
Pack 1 (SP1). In all cases, it is recommended that you have the
current updates for your development tools installed.