To download files from the Internet, you must indicate whether the file is an ASCII or a binary file. By default, when you begin using FTP, you are working in ASCII mode. To transfer text files, it is not necessary to change modes; however, you cannot transfer a binary file while you are in ASCII mode.
Tip
Most text-based FTP clients are case-sensitive, so make sure you use the correct case when you attempt to transfer resources from these FTP sites.
The following message appears to confirm the change to binary transfer mode:
The following message appears to confirm the change to ASCII:
For example, to get the directory map on the Microsoft FTP server, type
get dirmap.txt
To place the file on a computer with a name other than the one it had on the server, type
get filename newname
If you get an error, remember that you are using software that is case-sensitive, so make sure you typed the word dirmap.txt exactly.
When you see the ftp> prompt again, look in Windows Explorer for the DIRMAP.TXT file and open it by using a text processor such as WordPad.