How to Use CoffeeCup Free FTP for Website Uploads (Step‑by‑Step)
1. Download and install
- Go to CoffeeCup’s site and download CoffeeCup Free FTP for Windows.
- Run the installer and follow prompts (accept defaults unless you need a custom install folder).
2. Gather server details
- Host/Server: domain or IP (e.g., ftp.example.com)
- Username and Password (from your hosting provider)
- Port: usually 21 for FTP or 22 for SFTP
- Remote path: the folder on the server where your site files go (often /public_html or /www)
3. Create a new site profile
- Open CoffeeCup Free FTP.
- Click New Site (or Site Manager).
- Enter the host, username, password, port, and protocol (FTP or SFTP).
- Optionally set a friendly site name and the remote path.
- Save the profile.
4. Connect to the server
- Select your saved site and click Connect.
- If using SFTP, accept any presented host key if it matches your host.
- The interface shows local files (your PC) on one side and remote files (server) on the other.
5. Upload files
- Navigate the local pane to the folder containing your website files (index.html, CSS, images, etc.).
- Navigate the remote pane to the target directory (e.g., /public_html).
- Select files or folders on the local side and click Upload (or drag-and-drop to the remote pane).
- Monitor the transfer queue for progress and completion.
6. Verify file permissions
- After upload, right-click a file or folder on the remote side and choose Permissions (or CHMOD).
- Standard web-readable permissions: files 644, folders 755. Adjust only if needed.
7. Test your website
- Open a browser and visit your domain to confirm pages load correctly.
- Clear browser cache or use an incognito window if changes don’t appear.
8. Update and synchronize
- To update content, upload modified files the same way.
- Use the client’s Compare or Synchronize features (if available) to detect differences and push only changed files.
9. Disconnect and secure credentials
- When finished, disconnect from the server.
- Store credentials securely (password manager) and avoid saving passwords in plain text.
Troubleshooting (quick)
- Connection refused: confirm host, port, and protocol; try passive vs active FTP in settings.
- Permission denied: contact host or adjust remote folder permissions.
- Files not updating: ensure you uploaded to the correct remote path and clear caches.
If you want, I can provide a short checklist you can print and follow for every upload.