NWE Help: Remote: FTP: Binary or ASCII

There are a few things about ftp you must know regardless of the client you choose. Here's the most important.

Most ftp programs allow you to select "Binary," "ASCII," or "Auto" as file transfer methods. This determines the language the client and server use to make the transfer.

The "ASCII" option will allow you to very rapidly transfer text-only files that have been saved in ASCII format. (Compression is used to speed the transfer.) It also adjusts the line-feed characters (return, enter, linefeed, newline) that appear at the end of a line -- and which are different on Windows, MacOS, and Unix computers.

The "Binary" function will transfer all other files (images, applications, word processor documents). Generally speaking, this option will sucessfully transfer all types of files, including ASCII text files, so if you are not sure, set it as the default.

It is important to note that the "ASCII" option will not transfer files other than ASCII text sucessfully. Files which should be transferred in binary mode but are transferred in ASCII will be useless.