WinSCP - Windows FTP Client

FTP is the preferred way to transfer files to most any server. There are many popular clients, including FileZilla and WinSCP.

Unfortunately, many FileZilla users waste their time finding the file they want to upload, double clicking it, and waiting. They are unable to edit certain files off the server if they do not have a default program set. In addition, once a file on the server is placed in temporary directory and edited, the FileZilla client asks the user again if he/she would like to upload. Clearly, these are HUGE time wasters.

Until now, I have been a FileZilla devotee. After reading a few articles about FTP clients, I came to understand that FileZilla actually wastes much of my time. Thus, I stumbled upon WinSCP. WinSCP is not your ordinary FTP client. It creates simple ways to edit files and uploads them with speed and precision.

To see exactly how this FTP client works, why don’t we download it from the Download Page:

Once that is complete, open WinSCP to yield the following.

Note that I already have sessions stored. If you are new to WinSCP, you will need to add in the information of the server you want to FTP to.

After typing in your information, you should see a double sided screen. The left represents your computer and the right signifies the remote server. Clicking on any file in the remote server will automatically open up an internal WinSCP editor to edit the file. Best of all, this file will uploaded to the remote server with no excess dialogs. Every time the file is edited and saved, it is uploaded to the server. How easy is that?

Now, I love the Notepad++ code editor. What if I don’t want to give this up? Well, that’s not a problem! WinSCP lets you pick which editor you want to use. By clicking the preferences button in the upper left hand corner (after you have connected to a server), a screen like this appears:

Browse to editor in the left hand side and click the “add” button:

Look through the folder you have Notepad++ installed in and find the .exe file. Double click this and Notepad++ should show up in the editor list. Once this is completed, hit the “up” button as many times as necessary to make Notepad++ top priority, as so:

And that’s all there is to it! Clicking on any file will automatically open it in Notepad++. It’s as easy as that!

Thanks for reading!