FTP (File Transfer Protocol) was one of the first and remains one of the most popular ways to send and receive software via the internet, from some remote site (e..g.. ftp..avalon-rpg.com) to your home computer.

Most FTP software will handle the low-level communications between your computer and the Avalon server without you having to learn the protocol; the interplay will be seamless and intuitive. However, for those of you doomed or determined to know the FTP command set, here is a summary of commands and syntaxes you will need to know:

DIR

Shows you a list of all the files/software and (if available) sub-directories - other directories/listings of files - for your perusal.

CD <directory>

Changes your 'position' on the FTP site from current directory to one of the listed sub-directories, giving you direct access to whichever files are in the new directory.

CD .

This is the equivalent of 'go back' one space - taking you from your current directory of files into the one you had previously seen, returning you to choose again from further up the site's directory tree.

GET <filename>

The standard command to get a file or piece of software from the remote site, taking it directly and 'as quickly as possible' onto your home computer.

PUT <filename>

If available and allowed to you, you can use the PUT command to send files from your computer to be placed in the currently active directory on the remote site.

TICK or HASH

Switches on two versions (depending on the sophistication of your FTP method/setup) of 'progress reporting' for GET and PUT - so you can see how quickly something is downloading to you, and how much time to expect before the completion of a transfer.

QUIT

Typing QUIT when using direct-access low level FTP setup is simply a well-mannered way to disconnect from the remote server, telling it you have logged out and allowing it to make use of the info. Many FTP sites, for instance, limit the number of concurrent people able to be connected and getting/putting files - and if you do not QUIT nicely, you may not alert the FTP site properly and leave its 'who is connected' tally wrong. This may prevent the next user from being allowed in; and who would wish to behave with such ill manners?