If you need to move files from your computer to a remote computer, one of the best methods is to use an FTP client. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and it is a standard method for moving files on the Internet. So when I talk about moving files to a remote computer, one specific example is a Web server. When I need to make changes to the Unleashed Web site, I upload those changes via FTP.

A few months ago I switched to the FileZilla Client. It is free and is available for Windows, Mac and Linux. As it works a little different from the software I previously used, I’ve had to adjust how I perform some tasks. This was not a major learning curve, just changing a few steps.

For those of you who have never used an FTP client, you’ll have to get the credentials you need to access the remote Web site. Some sites allow for anonymous FTP access, though servers typically require a login for security purposes. If you think some passwords are crazy, the one we need for using FTP on our Web site is really crazy.

Once it is setup, you can typically login to any of the saved sites with only a couple of clicks. Uploading and downloading files works similar to Windows Explorer (the file manager on Windows computers). Your local computer is shown on the left and the remote computer is shown on the right. Simply select files on either side and select whether you want to upload or download them.

If you have no need to access a Web server, you may not need an FTP client. Should the need ever arise, now you’ll know where to get a good one and it is free!