Project 7

Chapter 8 - FTP and Managing Files on the Internet

NOTE:
You will be using both of my email addresses to submit your project this week.
Read the instructions carefully for this information.

• Read Chapter 8
• Complete the Review Questions in the text.
• Answer self-check questions given below
• Check your Answers
• Ask questions about anything that you don't understand.
• Complete the lab
  • Submit answers to lab activity questions and the zipped attachment to the instructor

Self-Check for Chapter 8

1. What is FTP used for?
2. How are shareware and freeware different?
3. What is the term for when you transfer a file from your computer to another.
4. List what you should consider BEFORE downloading files to your computer.
5. List the steps to download and install software.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  The activities for this project will include saving files into folders.  If you have never used Windows Explorer or My Computer to create folders, store files in folders, find files in folders or view the hierarchy (organization of files and folders) on your system . . . plan extra time for this week's project.  You may even need assistance from others if you are weak in file management.  I have given many details to try to lead new users through the steps, but don't hesitate to ask for more help if you need it.  Use the link below to see a handout that may help you learn more about file management.

Lecture Notes: File Management

Give yourself plenty of time to complete the project.

Lab Activities

Since this course does not REQUIRE that you have your own computer, you are not REQUIRED to try out downloading and installing software for this project. However, this chapter does give you important information if you DO own your own machine AND know how to use virus protection software to check programs for viruses. If you only download programs from well-organized, well-maintained software archives like Download.com, there is less risk for viruses, but there is no ABSOLUTE guarantee when downloading programs that they are trouble free! Be careful when downloading.

If you use the example they provide in the book to explore how to download and install a program from Download.com, there are a few changes you will need to do in the instructions. Download.com has revised the look of their website since this book was published and FotoFusion has published a new version of their program. So, when you go to Download.com's home page, type FotoFusion in the Search textbox that is in the top right side of the page. After the Sponsored links you will see a result for FotoFusion 3.3. You can click on the name of the program to see more details about it. You don't have to actually download the program to find the answers to these questions.

Answer these questions:

1. How many downloads have been done at Download.com for FotoFusion 3.3?
2. What date was it added to Download.com's archive?
3. After the free trial, how much does it cost to buy the program?
4. What requirements are given for the program?
5. What is the compressed file size for downloading?
   
6. Approximately how long did it take to complete the project?
7. How would you rate the difficulty of this project?

Send the answers in email to the instructor.
(You will also be sending an attachment from the activity below.)

Activity: Downloading files

Things you should know BEFORE downloading files:

• What version of the Windows operating system are you using? If you are not sure, right-click on the Start button, choose "Explore," click on the "Help" menu and choose "About Windows."
• How much free space do you have on your storage device? If you are not sure, you can use My Computer to check. On your Windows desktop click on the My Computer icon to open it. In the My Computer window, right click on the icon for the storage device you choose to use (hard drive, floppy drive, USB pin drive, zip drive). On the pop-up menu, choose Properties which should provide a display showing how much free space you have available.
• How do you create a new folder to use to store files?

To create a new folder first click on the icon representing your storage device. 
(The hard drive will be used in these instructions. You should NOT use the C: drive if you are using Parkland's labs. You need to have your own portable storage device. If you choose a different storage location for your files, adjust the instructions to match your storage device whenever the C: drive is mentioned.)

Click on the File Menu, Choose the New command, Choose New Folder. 

When you see the New Folder appear in the window, type the word: downloads to name the folder and then press Enter.  You will then see a yellow folder named Downloads in your folder list.

Activity -- File Compression

Many times when you download programs from the Internet, they will be downloaded as zipped files. If they are not "self-extracting" files, you need to know how to use Windows Explorer to zip and unzip files. (If you have an older version of Windows, you may not have the file compression utility built in. There are freeware programs available to download that will give you the capability. WinZip is a very popular one if you need it! You can find it available as a free trial at Download.com) You are also welcome to come to campus to use the lab to complete the project.

Being able to zip files allows you to send attachments in email more easily and store files in a smaller storage space on disk. Check your student email for the attachment I sent as a zipped file. Using Windows Explorer, I created a zipped file that compressed 6 Word documents and enabled me to send it as one document. The total storage space for the Word documents BEFORE zipping them was approximately 130K. After I zipped them into one file to send them as an attachment to you, they only take up about 28K!!

Unzipping

Open your Parkland student email message.

• Click on the name of the zip file listed as an attachment
• In the dialog box that opens, choose "Open"
• If you have a current version of Windows, a window will open displaying the contents of the zipped file. On the left side of the window, under Folder Tasks, click on "Extract all files"
• The Extraction Wizard will open
• When you get to the window to select a folder to extract the files to....click on Browse.
• Select where you created your downloads folder. (You may have to use the My Computer choice to see other storage locations listed) Highlight the correct location and click on OK / Next / Finish
• The downloads folder should open and display the extracted files. There should be six of them, each between 20-26KB

Compressing (zipping) files:

In the downloads folder:

• Click on the file named: WKS-COMMAS to select it.
• Hold down the Ctrl key while you click on the file named: WKS-HYPHENS. This should allow you to highlight both files at the same time.
• RIGHT-click on one of the selected files.
• Choose send to compressed zipped folder
• A folder will appear with a zipper on it!
• RIGHT-click on the folder
• In the pop-up menu, choose Rename
• Type: zipper151.zip for the file name
• Send zipper151.zip as an attachment in email along with the answers to questions in first lab activity

Activity - Uploading and using Online storage

Prepare to download an image file into your downloads folder.
The image can be found on Parkland's athletics page at:

http://www.parkland.edu/athletics/

Right-click on the Cobras logo and use "Save Picture As...." to save the image to your downloads folder.  The file will be listed as cobr.gif.

Yahoo Briefcase - Online Storage

There are several websites on the Internet that offer you "online storage." When you establish an email account with Yahoo!, you are also given space on the Internet to store files called the Yahoo Briefcase! You can store up to 30 megabytes there and access it from any machine in the world that is hooked up to the Internet!! So, you can upload a file to your Briefcase while you are at home and when you get to school or work, download the file to the machine you are using. No more disks or USB sticks to depend on!! These directions are just to give you an idea of what to expect. Make logical choices to complete this activity if things look different than the steps listed below! The elements that you see in your Yahoo briefcase may be slightly different than these directions. Yahoo likes to make frequent changes to the layout of their pages!!

• Use your Yahoo UserName to find your briefcase. Whether you have realized it or not, you already have a briefcase waiting for you to use at:
  http://briefcase.yahoo.com/username My briefcase is http://briefcase.yahoo.com/cis151jduncan.
• When you type in the URL to go to your briefcase, simply fill in your username that you use for your Yahoo email account where it says username in the URL shown above.
  
  If this does not work for you, go to the yahoo home page and use the hyperlink to the Briefcase. It is near the bottom of the Yahoo home page in the box about More Yahoo! Services.
  
  If you have forgotten your Yahoo ID and password, you will have to fill out a short form to set up your account again.
• If you DO know your Yahoo ID and password, when you arrive at the briefcase page, type in your ID and password to "Login."  When you go to your Briefcase, the welcome at the top should list your userID now rather than "Guest."
• The first page will also include a brief "setup" page. Accept the defaults to have a folder named My Documents and type in the confirmation code.
• When your confirmation is accepted, you will go to a page with a File Folder called: My Documents. Click on the name of the folder to open the folder. Click on the link that says "Add File."
• In the Add Files screen, use the Browse button to find your files on your computer. Remember that your files are in the downloads folder. Click on the Browse button. In the screen that pops up, locate your cobr.gif file by using the drop down arrow to view your storage locations in the Look In: box and clicking on the icon for your storage device and double-clicking on the downloads folder.
  
  There may not be any filenames listed because only files that are HTML files will be displayed by default. If you don't see your .gif file, click on the Files of Type drop-down arrow. Click on All Files (*.*)
• When you see the filename for cobr.gif, click on it to select it, and if necessary, click on the Open button. This should take you back to the Add File window and display the filename and path in the box next to your Browse button. When finished, click on the Upload button at the bottom of the screen.
• When the uploading is completed, click on the link  that says "Back to Folder" to get back to the first screen.
• Now you can access the cobr.gif file from any computer that has Internet access. Next time you have an opportunity to be on a different machine, go to the Internet and open your briefcase to see any files that you have uploaded.
• Don't forget to Sign Out! (Link in upper right corner of screen) whenever you leave one of your Yahoo accounts.

NOTE: I will view your briefcase at your yahoo address.