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TCFN is a nonprofit organization that uses Internet technologies to bring people together in communities of shared interest or need. We've been linking the people of Minneapolis, St Paul and neighboring communities since 1995.

File Management FAQ

The version of Lynx installed on the Free-Net server provides many file management capabilities. Also, if you have an independent ISP you will be able to use ftp to transfer file to/from your personal work directory. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about managing files on the Free-Net.

How do I manage files in my work directory?

* What is a work directory?
* How do I go to my work directory?
* How to Organize your File and Directory Display
* How do I upload a file to my work directory?
* Uploaded File Names and Uploading Multiple Files
* How do I download files from my work directory?
* How do I Restart an Interrupted Download?
* How do I create a file on-line?
* How do I delete a file from my work directory?
* What Happens if I Exceed My Disk Storage Quota?
* Using FTP to transfer files 

Formatting of this document: Text in quotes represents text which appears verbatim on the system, or text which you should enter verbatim. Text in single quotes represents a single keystroke to type. Unless otherwise noted, control characters are not case-sensitive.
Managing Files in Your Work Directory
What Is a Work Directory?

All TCFN registered users are allocated a small amount of disk space on the Free-Net server, referred to as their work directory. This space is to be used for file management functions, including:

* uploading and downloading files
* storing your home page
* on-line editing
* e-mail management 

How Do I Go to my Work Directory?

To go to your work directory, follow these steps:

1. From the Main Menu, select "E-Mail & Account Management".
2. Select "Change files in your TCFN account directory".
3. Lynx displays the current directory name and list all files and subdirectories currently in it. All file management functions are performed from here. Each work directory has two subdirectories. They are:
* "www" - your home page goes in this subdirectory
* "mail" - the system deposits your e-mail INBOX and folders in this subdirectory 
4. To open a subdirectory, use your up/down arrow keys to highlight the directory name. Then, press 'RETURN' and the contents is displayed. 

How Do I Upload Files to My Work Directory?

You can upload, or copy, a file from your local computer to your work directory. Follow these steps:

1. Go to your work directory, or the subdirectory, wherever you wish the file to end up.
2. Press 'u'.
3. Select the upload protocol you'd like to use. (See your modem software or terminal emulator's documentation.)
4. Enter a filename for the file you are uploading. (If the system cannot use the filename you entered, it will ask for another. Some software will send the filename that is selected for upload. You will need to check your software documentation. Also, some software allows multiple files to be selected for upload. See below.)
5. A message prompts you to start uploading your file. Start the upload process.
6. When done, the upload protocol options are displayed again.
7. To exit the account management screens, press the left-arrow key.
8. To return to the Main Menu, press 'm' then 'y' to confirm. 

Uploaded File Names and Uploading Multiple Files

* If you're uploading a file using the zmodem or kermit protocol and your terminal emulator supports passing the filename to the remote system, the Free-Net system will accept the filename which the terminal emulator sends it. In this case, the filename you type at the start of the upload will be ignored. The Free-Net system will try to give the files the same name that they had on your computer. 

How to Organize your File and Directory Display

If you're using Lynx to edit directories which contain a mixture of other directories and files, try setting "F)TP sort criteria" to "By Type" to make the layout of those files and directories more readable. See the "O)ptions" menu in Lynx
How Do I Download a File from my work Directory?

You can also download files from your work directory to your local computer. Follow these steps:

1. Go to your work directory, or the subdirectory where the file is located.
2. Highlight the file you wish to download.
3. Press 'd'.
4. Select the download protocol you'd like to use. (See your modem software or terminal emulator's documentation).
5. Enter a filename, or press 'RETURN' to accept the default name.
6. The file is downloaded to your computer.
7. When done, the download protocol options are displayed again.
8. To exit the account management screens, press the left-arrow key.
9. To return to the Main Menu, press 'm' then 'y' to confirm. 

Note: When you download a file from your work directory, the original file remains in your work directory. Because you have limited space on the Free-Net server, you may want to delete the file. See below.

How do I Restart an Interrupted Download?

If you're using a slow modem, or the net is slow, and you are unable to download a large file before the Free-Net's session timer closes your connection, your terminal emulator may support the continuation of interrupted file transfers using the zmodem or kermit protocol.

If your file transfer is interrupted when the Free-Net ends your telephone connection, reconnect to the Free-Net and select the same file to download. Tell both the Free-Net's and your own download software to use the same file names that were used in the interrupted file transfer. The zmodem or kermit protocol download software will try to resume the interrupted file transfer (if supported by your terminal software.)
How Do I Delete a File from my Work Directory?

1. Go to your work directory, or a subdirectory, wherever the file is located.
2. Highlight the file you wish to delete.
3. Press 'r' , then 'y' to confirm.
4. Lynx redisplays the list.
5. To exit the account management screens, press the left-arrow key.
6. To return to the Main Menu, press 'm' then 'y' to confirm. 

How Do I Create a File On-Line?

Lynx has built-in text editing capabilities so you can create and edit files on-line.

1. Go to your work directory, or the subdirectory, where you want the file located.

Note: For a home page, this must be the "www" subdirectory.

2. At the "Create file or directory (f or d):" prompt, press 'f'.
3. At the "Enter name of file to create:" prompt, enter a filename. Press 'RETURN'.

Note: If this is your home page, it must be named "top.html".

4. Lynx redisplays the list. Highlight the new filename and press 'e'.
5. PICO, a text editing program built into Lynx, opens the file.
6. Start entering text.

Note: If you don't know HyperText Markup Language (HTML) you can simply type "<PRE>" at the beginning of the file and "</PRE>" at the end of it. This will generate text in a standard fixed width font with no other formatting.

Another Note: The Beginner's Guide to HTML, written by folks at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, is one of the best places to start learning how to use HTML. It includes an overview of all of the HTML tags, examples of how to use them, a good glossary, and hyperlinks to other useful HTML references.

7. Press 'Control-X'.
8. At the "Save modified buffer "? prompt, press 'y'. (Answering "No" will destroy changes.)
9. Lynx redisplays the list.
10. To exit the account management screens, press the left-arrow key.
11. To return to the Main Menu, press 'm' then 'y' to confirm. 

What Happens if I Exceed My Disk Storage Quota?

All accounts on the Twin Cities Free-Net have a disk storage quota. This quota puts a limit on how much disk storage space your account may use on the system.

All of your files - including e-mail, personal Web pages, and any other files you create - must fit within your quota. The standard disk quota for individual users is 1 Megabyte for a "soft" quota and 1.05 Megabytes for a hard quota. Information Providers with the Free-Net are allocated larger quotas because of their requirements to serve a group of individuals.

If your account has exceeded its disk quota, you will be warned quite sternly when you first log in. If you exceed your "soft" disk storage quota, you have 3 weeks to bring your disk usage back under the soft quota limit. If you wait for more than 3 weeks or your disk storage reaches your "hard" quota limit, the following nasty things will happen:

* You will not be able to receive new email messages.
* You will not be able to create new files.
* You will run the risk of destroying the data in files you already have if you attempt to edit them. 

If you get a "quota exceeded" message, you should do the following:

* Download any files you want to save (optional)
* Download any e-mail you want to save (optional)
* Delete any old e-mail you don't need anymore.
* Go to your work directory to check if there are other files in your account you might have forgotten about and can delete.