Connecting to a Server

You can connect to any server defined in the CuteFTP Site Manager. If the server that you want to connect to is not yet defined, refer to Adding a Site to the Site Manager or Using the Connection Wizard. You must be connected to the Internet before you can connect to any remote server.

To connect to an existing server within the Site Manager

  1. On the main menu, click Tools > Site Manager > Display Site Manager or click the Site Manager tab.

  2. Click the Site to which you want to connect.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • On the main menu, click File > Connect > Connect.

    • On the toolbar, click the Connect icon .

    • Double-click the selected Site.

    • Press CTRL+T.

  4. If this is a server that requires an SSH2 host key, a message appears asking if you want to add the key to your trusted list. Click Yes. You will not see this message on subsequent connections unless the key has changed.

  5. Transfer files as described in Transferring Files and Folders.

To disconnect from a server

  • Do one of the following:

    • On the main menu, click File > Disconnect.

    • On the toolbar, click the Disconnect icon .

    • Click the X in the upper right corner.

    • Press SHIFT+F4.

To connect to a URL with the Transfer Engine

The Connect to URL feature is also supported by the Transfer Engine. Whether the URL specifies a path to a folder or file, the TE will try to download it.

  1. In the Windows System Tray, right-click the Transfer Engine icon , then click Download URL.

  2. Type or paste the URL in the Download URL box. See below for supported URL formats and the behavior depending on the URL pasted.

Supported URL formats

  • ftp://user:pass@host.host.com:port

  • ftp://user:pass@host.host.com

  • ftp://user@host.host.com

  • ftp://host.host.com:port

  • ftp://host.host.com

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub l: user p: pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub:44 l: user p: pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub port:44 l: user p: pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub l/p: user/pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub:44 l/p: user/pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub p:44 l/p: user/pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub port:44 l/p: user/pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub l: user p: pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub:44 l: user p: pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub p:44 l: user p: pass

  • ftp://ftp.sitename.com/pub port:44 l: user p: pass

  • ftp://[any of the above formats]/pathnametofile/[optional filename]

  • also http, https, sftp, and ftps URLs

Tip:

Using Paste URL, CuteFTP either connects to the folder or downloads the file specified in the path. Here are some sample path endings and how the main program interprets them.

  • "ftp://host/dir.ext/" This URL is considered a folder. CuteFTP can connect to it.

  • "host/.ext/" This is considered a folder. CuteFTP can connect to it.

  • "host/dir/" This is considered a folder. CuteFTP can connect to it.

  • "host/dir" This is considered a folder. CuteFTP can connect to it.

  • "host/dir.ext" This is considered a file. CuteFTP can download it.

  • "host/.ext" This is considered a file. CuteFTP can download it.