---------------------------------------
Introduction
---------------------------------------

Welcome to GlobalFTP, a Windows File Transfer Protocol client that allows transfer of multiple concurrent files to multiple concurrent hosts. 

The vast majority of other Windows FTP clients single thread all FTP requests. This means you can perform only one action at a time (unless you start multiple copies of the program). If you are retrieving a long directory listing, for instance, you can't to anything else until the listing completes. If you are transferring a file, you must wait for the transfer to complete before retrieving another. This approach has advantages, with smaller program sizes and a simplified user interface. But it can be very tedious to work with. 

GlobalFTP takes a different approach. With GlobalFTP, a shell is presented showing the directory structure of the remote host. From this shell, you simply request the actions you wish to take, and the FTP commands are then scheduled to execute in the background, without interfering with your interactive session. In addition, multiple connections are allocated as needed to the remote host, and these sessions are shared among the queued background commands. While this approach necessitates a more complicated user interface and a larger program size, the gains in flexibility are well worth it for FTP power users. 

And the shell is very flexible. You can open as many directory windows as you like, and sign on to as many hosts as you like (as long as your network card can handle the traffic). You can copy/delete entire directories at a time. You can mirror directories (which only copies changed files - useful for maintaining web pages for instance). Support for Drag and Drop / Copy and Paste is included. The shell windows look and feel very similar to Windows Explorer, but also include lots of visual feedback on the status of file transfers and directory listings. 

GlobalFTP is designed with the more advanced user in mind.

This version of the software is currently FREEWARE. If, however, you would like to register GlobalFTP, and be informed of new releases, and support a poor programmer, please send your email address and $20US or $25CDN to:

Murray Computer Technical Services
Box 132,
Tantallon, 
Nova Scotia,
Canada  B0J 3J0

To install, unzip the distribution file and run setup.exe.

This version also includes German resources. To enable, simply choose a German locale in windows control panel and restart GlobalFTP.

For online help and screenshots, see the web site at http://www.dbis.ns.ca/~rmurray/GlobalFTP/GlobalFTP.html

Contact the author, Robin Murray, at globalftp@iname.com
