FTP  /  file 'uploading'  instructions:

Note:  If you already are very familiar with FTP concepts, and have an FTP program (or wish to get one), click here to skip directly to the FTP program section below.

1.  While this file transfer procedure may work on other web browsers, I ultra-strongly recommend using Internet Explorer, preferably version 5 or 6.  So... if you have it, open this page using it.  If you have trouble getting things going with your web browser, you can instead use an FTP program to transfer your files.  Click here for more on that.  Otherwise, continue the steps below, and if they don't work for you, then you can try the FTP program method.

2.  Click the following link to open another web page up, which is my FTP site:  ftp://ftp.alpiger.com/incoming/.  After the page opens, immediately switch back to these instructions, and continue with them.

3.  After the FTP page comes up (and, it will be blank; if you get an error message box, ignore it, and just click OK), go to the File drop-down menu item, and choose 'Login As'.  For user name, type ftp@alpiger.com; for password, leave it blank.  Click Login, or Log on, as appropriate.

4.  Now you're ready.  Simply 'drag and drop' files onto the browser window to copy them to my site.  Please note: if at all possible, please create one folder (on your hard drive) with your name on it, and put all of the files / folders (as appropriate) that you're going to upload inside; when ready, 'drag and drop' the folder with your name onto the browser window, to have it automatically copy to my site.  The name will help me to know who sent what, and also, to not have files mixed up with more than one person.  Oh, and as a final note, because I set things up so one person could not see another's uploads (for privacy reasons), if you refresh the page, you will see your upload(s) 'disappear'.  They truly are still there, but you cannot see them if you do a refresh... so, please don't, to avoid confusion !

5.  After you're done, be sure to , to let me know to pick up the files, as I am not given notice of any uploads automatically.

6.  That's it - you're done.  You can now close the FTP browser window.

FTP program method for transferring files

1.  Start your FTP program.  If you don't already have one, you can download a nice one (Core FTP Lite, or CFL) from this site, here, or, you can Google for the program if you prefer.  I have specific brief instructions (and pics) for CFL, starting at note #3 below, and I have generic FTP program instructions in note #2, directly below.

2.  All FTP programs need basic info, and that info is as follows:

        the FTP address, which is    ftp.alpiger.com

        the user name, which is        ftp@alpiger.com

        the password, which can be left blank; if you have trouble signing on, then enter 1234 for the password

3.  Now, if you're specifically using the Core FTP Lite version you downloaded from my site, I have pictures to guide you, with instructional text below each:

This is the site manager window, which should pop up when you run the program.  If not, pull it up manually by going to the Connect option under the File drop-down menu.  You can type anything in for the first box (Site Name), but fill in box 2 and 3 exactly as shown above.  For the password box, normally nothing should be necessary, but for some reason, this FTP program 'needs' something in the box, whether the FTP site itself needs a password or not (and, my site does not need one).  So... you can type anything in for the password (I suggest 1234, to make it easy).  OK - you're done, as all the rest of what appears is there by default.  Click the Connect button at bottom to connect to my FTP site.  The window will disappear, and you'll arrive at what you see in the picture below.  BTW, when you start the program in the future, all the info you typed from the last session will be there, ready to go - just click Connect.

Now, here's the window that appears after you're connected.  On the bottom left, a list of files and folders from your hard drive appears; on the bottom right, my FTP site directory appears.  Now, this is important - be sure to click twice on the incoming folder that's shown, so you change into it.  That result is shown in the pic below:

OK - now we're ready.  Simply navigate (on the bottom left window) to the folder on your computer containing the file(s) you'd like to transfer, and drag that folder over to the empty white space on the window at the bottom right.  Let go, and the folder and files will begin to transfer.  Note that for every 1 megabyte of file size, the typical time to transfer is about 20 seconds, give or take 10 seconds.  Of course, this assumes broadband use; I don't recommend using dial-up, tho I doubt anyone reading this has that 'ancient' setup anymore...

One final, and important, note - please name the folder containing your files to your own name, so I know who it's from, and to avoid mixing up multiple sets of folders.  Also, be sure to , to let me know to pick up the files, as I am not given notice of any uploads automatically.

Oh, I almost forgot - thank you for sending me, and this website, your great files - I really appreciate it !!