LAST UPDATED: 2002/Jan/21

BY: Baron R. K. Von Wolfsheild



This is a constantly improving document.    If you do not find what you are looking for, 

or even want to challenge one of our design concepts, please select [FEEDBACK] from the Help tab in FTPGadget.  



We will answer your question, and post it here for others as well.

Table of Contents

1. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
      1.1. Q: Why doesn't FTPGadget have menus?
      1.2. Q: Isn't [OPTIONS] just a different type of menu?
      1.3. Q. Why is the left pane just for Local files, and the right for FTP only?
      1.4. Q. What actually is an FTP site?
      1.5. Q. Why doesn't FTPGadget tell me up front how much space is available on the FTP site.
2. STATUS CODES
      2.1. To be filled in as they are created.
3. ERROR CODES
      3.1. To be filled in as they are created.
4. HOT TIPS

1. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1.1. Q: Why doesn't FTPGadget have menus?

A: Menus are very useful in some applications. However, most application use menus even when there are not enough options in a program to warrant them. A program that only has several actual functions might have 10 to 20 menu items. Since FTPGadget is so simple, there has yet to be a reason to add menus.

1.2. Q: Isn't [OPTIONS] just a different type of menu?

A: Not at all. Menus are meant to make categorizing functions easier, and in theory then finding a function later should be easier. However, most menus do just the opposite. And once an application begins Menu-itus, it never seems to stop.

In FTPGadget, if you think you need something from a menu, you only have ONE choice, [OPTIONS]. These are in fact your ONLY "Options." Once you select Options, all (every one) of your options are displayed in a single clear list. You should be able to quickly and easily deduce under what header (tab) your desired feature will be found.

But there is more, unlike Menus Tabs lay out all your functions before you. You do not have to "carefully" move your mouse left and right and up and down making sure not to move the cursor 2 pixels off the menu, otherwise it all collapses, and you must start over. Tabs offer you the fastest, most comprehensive way to view your settings, and features.

1.3. Q. Why is the left pane just for Local files, and the right for FTP only?

A: We will change this in the future. We are simply testing out how people like the Source and Destination always being the same place.

1.4. Q. What actually is an FTP site?

A: A File Transfer Protocol site is nothing more than a computer (somewhere in the world) that is running a piece of software on it that allows a method for you to download and upload files through the internet, and in a secure way. This is called a Server FTP app (application). FTPGadget is the other side, it is a simple program that runs on your computer (locally) and uses the same protocol (method). FTPGadget is therefore a Client FTP app.

1.5. Q. Why doesn't FTPGadget tell me up front how much space is available on the FTP site.

A: Because the FTP protocol was very poorly designed. This and many other features are simply missing form the protocol, and as a result, many things one would come to expect from a file system are simply missing. Bit by bit (literally) we are trying to build in features that address this problem. Such as keeping track of the largest size the FTP site has been known to be, and making this the best "known" size.

2. STATUS CODES

This is a complete list of all Status codes, and what might have caused one to be generated. These codes are seen in the Status Window, and although they will usually have a simple and clear explanation, sometimes more details are needed.

2.1. To be filled in as they are created.

3. ERROR CODES

This is a complete list of all error codes, and what might have caused it.

3.1. To be filled in as they are created.

4. HOT TIPS

This is a complete list of all Hot Tips

• 1. OPTIONS: Click on this to bring up Preferences, FTP Sites, Register, License, Help and About.
• 2. STATUS: This shows you what FTPGadget is currently doing.
• 3. LOCAL DIRECTORY: Click on [PARENT] to go up a directory. Right Click to view more options.
• 4. FTP DIRECTORY: Click on [PARENT] to go up a directory. Right Click to view more options.
• 5. LOCAL PATH: Enter the path of a local drive.
• 6. FTP PATH: Enter the path or name of an FTP site.
• 7. HELP: To get more help, select [OPTIONS], and then select HELP.
• 8. LOCAL DIRECTORY: You can drag this file, or all the files over to the FTP Directory.
• 9. FTP DIRECTORY: You can drag this file, or all the files over to the Local Directory.