Selected FTP commands
- dir: List the contents of the directory on the server.
- mkdir: Make a new directory on the server.
- rmdir: Remove a directory on the server. (It must be empty).
- cd: Change directories on the server.
- pwd: Show the current directory on the server. (Handy if you get lost).
- lcd: Change directories on the client. (If you omit the directory name, it displays the name of the current directory).
- get: Transfer a file from the server to the client PC.
- put: Transfer a file from the client PC to the server.
- del: Delete a file from the server.
- binary: Shift to binary mode for the transfer of non-ASCII data.
- quit: Exit from the FTP client.
- help: Display a list of commands
- help <command>: Display help for the specified command.
If you use a GUI client, you can the directory and files on both the client and server. With a command line interface, you might get lost. Use the pwd command to see which direcgtory youy are in on the server and lcd command to see which directory you are in on the client.
Note that some Windows command line FTP clients do not have a command for changing directories on the client machine (lcd). That means you should use DOS to change to the local directory you wish to transfer files to or from before you run the FTP client. (Most FTP clients do have a command to change the local directory).