FTP in ASCII mode not binary mode

What does this mean? How is it done?

[kapow]

Some technical issues with my website host say:

'...upload plain text files in ASCII mode not binary mode'

I have heard about this but know nothing about it. I use Macromedia DreamWeaver - I don't see an option in DreamWeaver to upload in ASCII mode.
Do I need some other bit of software to do this?
How is it done?
What does it mean?
Can it be done on an ordinary PC running XP?

[benihana]

AFAIK dreamweaver tends to work out whether to upload in ASCII or binary, and takes care of it automatically.

If you find scripts arent working properly after uploading, it maybe worth getting something like ftp explorer, which lets you select whether to upload in ascii or binary.

hth

[Alternative Future]

Hi,

Mainly you would upload images/movies/sound (jpg, gif, mid, avi, wav) in binary, while you would upload scripts (.html .php .css .cgi) in ASCII. ASCII means that you are uploading in text mode.
Binary I am pretty sure is a speed issue while uploading to the server (someone correct me if I am wrong here).
[added]If you don't upload files using the correct file type can result in images appearing distorted (or not appearing at all) and scripts not functioning properly.[/added/
HTH,

-gs

[kapow]

Its only certain files I need to upload in ASCII mode e.g. a list of configuration instructions for cron jobs. (this isn't my strong point so I may be explaining it wrong).

Html, images, php etc are all fine.

So whats the best/easiest way to upload in ASCII mode?

[Alternative Future]

Not sure on dreamweaver as I use CuteFTP, but as benihana suggested you can get hold of another FTPClient which gives you more administrative rights FTPExplorer is another good one which I think is *free*

HTH,

-gs

[benihana]

yep - ftp explorer is free and has big A and B buttons to upload in ascii or binary.

you should be able to find their site with a quick google search. :)

<edit> cannot chmod with ftpexplorer though </edit>

[kapow]

I guess this is turning into a 'which FTP application' question.

So does Cute allow
- upload in ASCII mode
- chmod

[benihana]

I havent used cute for a while but I think the answer is yes and yes.

AF - can you verify this?

[Alternative Future]

yeah cute allows CHMOD and binary ascii upload.

small price attached to it i think roughly $20

[added]I have used ExplorerFTP and many others but give the credit to Cute[/added]

HTH,

-gs

[kapow]

Just bought Cute.
FEATURES:
- Upload in ASCII / Binary
- Resume upload / download
- Chmod

Problem solved.

Thanks for the info.

[DaveAtIFG]

Back to the original questions. :) An ASCII file is a plain text file. Each line of the file is a terminated with a "line ender" character or character sequence. These preferred line enders vary on different op systems:

Windoze: line feed and carrige return
*nix: line feed
Mac: carrige return (I think!)

Transferring a file in ASCII mode translates the line enders to the appropriate characters for the receiving op system, as a file is transferred. Transferring a file in binary mode makes NO changes to the file.

Many FTP programs (DW included) will guess which mode to use. This is based on the file extension and many programs allow you to set or override these guesses (not DW, or maybe I haven't figured out how!)

Often when installing a script, some files need to be transferred in a specific mode and DW is a poor choice for this. DW is my primary FTP for routine web work and CuteFTP serves well as a backup for the more techie needs.