Using Microsoft Internet Explorer to Transfer Files to Polaris

If you wish to use MSIE to transfer files, you'll connect to Polaris then use either copy/paste or drag & drop to transfer the files.

1. Open a new MSIE window (so you don't loose your place in WebTycho)

2. In the address bar, type "ftp://polaris.umuc.edu/" (without the quotation marks)

3. Press "enter" on your keyboard

4. Wait for the connection (you should see the refreshing folder with flashlight icon)

5. If/when you get a message that says something to the effect of "MSIE cannot open this file..." click on the "File" menu and select "Login As"

6. Fill in the "User Name:" and "Password:" for your Polaris account

7. I check the "Save Password" checkbox because I'm naturally lazy and/or forgetful (some may be concerned about saving the password for security purposes. You don't have to save it here, but if you do, the next time you ftp into Polaris it will login automatically and take you to your account.

8. Press "Login" and wait.

9. When the process is complete, it will show all folders/files on your account. At this point you can double-click to access a particular folder, just like Windows Explorer. Unless you know what you are messing with, don't deleted any of the files that show up in your root directory (i.e. ".profile", ".history", etc.)

10. Now I resize my MSIE window so that I can view the contents in MSIE and another window (with Windows Explorer and my .html files open) simultaneously.

11. Right click the file(s) that are on my computer and drag them to the MSIE window.

12. Release the files and select "copy here"

13. You should be presented with a window that says something to the effect of, "Windows is determining how long it will take to transfer the files..."

14. Upon completion of this task, your files are on the internet. Of course you should open a new MSIE window and verify that the page opens correctly, is to your liking, is what you expected to see, etc. (TIP: while you are in the FTP window you can double-click the .html file you would like to view. It will open up in a new window, but if you look in the "adress" bar you will notice that it is being opened by FTP, not HTTP. Otherwise it will appear to be the same. To verify your addressing/linking capabilities, you may wish to open another window and type the HTTP address in manually.)