| I'd been using version 4.6 of this program for years and saw no need to upgrade until this version came along. The main reason I upgraded, and what sets WS_FTP Pro 8.0 apart from any other ftp program I'd seen is the ability to not only view graphics on the local and remote systems, but to also edit them. This, more than any other feature, sold me because I manage a commercial site for an associate that has a high turnover rate of graphics that are associated with vintage pens sold from the site. It's one thing to sift through a listing of graphics files that are only identified by name trying to figure out which ones are no longer necessary. However, when you can see these files as graphic thumbnails the task of identifying the ones that should be deleted becomes easy and prevents mistakes. In addition to being able to view graphics as thumbnails on both the local and remote systems, you can also edit them in place - this is a highly useful feature, especially if you want to crop or reduce the color depth in a remote file to allow it to load faster over dialup lines. Of course, editing local and remote HTML and other text files has long been a feature in WS_FTP, including their older limited edition versions. This feature is carried over. Another useful feature is called Hotdrop, where you can have a Hotdrop folder associated with a specific site, and use Explorer to drag files to that folder, which then automatically launches WS_FTP and completes the transfer. This is a time saver, as is the ability to set up unique profiles for each ftp site you regularly work with or visit. I maintain a large number of web sites, so the profile feature is another time saver. If you work with UNIX or Linux systems another nice feature that has been carried over from earlier versions is the ability to use check boxes for RWX for Owner, Group and Other to set rights masks. This feature makes it easier for home users hosting a personal web page on a Linux system, for example, to ensure the proper security level is established for files and directories without learning about chmod. Normally I don't rush out and upgrade software unless I have a compelling need. In this case I didn't think twice because of the graphic thumbnail feature alone. If you are using any of the following operating systems you'll have no problems installing this program - Windows 98 SE/Me/NT/2000/XP or Windows Server 2003. It will not work on Windows 95 systems. |
