Help with Firefox

[ProAsm]

Generally I find Firefox (v1.5.0.3) a nice browser but I have some problems, or I'm doing something wrong.

With Internet Explorer (IE6), I just FTP onto a site like my test site - ftp://proasm.servegame.com/ and it comes in with all the files listed in that folder.
With Firefox all I get is 'Done' and a blank page OR most of the time a 'Server Timed out'
This test site of mine you can only download from unless you logon with Username = Anonymous and Password = upload
So in IE6 I just rightclick, click on Login As, then type the username and password and bingo, everthing goes like clock work.

1. How do I do this with Firefox ?
FireFTP is not a solution as the average person needs to be a rocket scientist to operate that kind of mind boggling application.

2. How can I adjust the timer to stop the 1000's of 'Server Timed Out' problem that hardly ever happens with IE ?

3. Also the Stop button ('Stop Loading this page') is permanently grayed out, and this is a very important button - why is this ?

 

[noswal]

Click View > Character Encoding >auto detect >universal


...

Having said that I closed the window and it wouldn't work again

 

[nic777]

If you're using FTP often, I don't suggest using IE but rather use a proper FTP client like Filezilla. Firefox is primarily a web browser and IE a web browser and file browser, hence the pretty file icons you see.

About the stop button, its probably greyed out because nothing is loading i.e. timed out and thats the normal operation.

 

[ProAsm]

As I mentioned, FTP Clients are out of the question.
Basically if Firefox cannot supply everything in a package then its just not worth having.
Switching to Firefox is a motivation we're doing to improve security, but trying to replace something that can do everything with something that can only do half will never workout in a corporate enviroment.
It would seem Firefox still has a long way to go.
Pity !

It has also been pointed out to me that on several occasions with sites that are fixed to a certain resolution, Firefox very rarely offers a horizontal scrollbar whereas IE does.

The problem is with the Stop button it grays out long before the page is even in.

Its a pity, I'm really starting to like this Firefox, especially with the Tabs option, but its gonna have to go

 

[bb_matt]

I'd say it's something to do with your FTP settings more than anything else, never encountered this problem before with firefox?

I think that it's timing out - not sure if there's public access to this, but firefox says "Done" and internet explorer just hangs for me.

If this was an issue with firefox, you can be sure it'd be known about - haven't seen anything written up about this, considering the browser has as much as 10% market share, you'd be certain that if there was a problem, people would be writing about it.

So yeah, check your FTP server settings.

Hmmm, my internet explorer just crashed trying to access that FTP

 

[TheWizard]

I'll recommend SmartFTP, http://www.smartftp.com/

*drag and drop files
*Tabs
*etc.

 

[bb_matt]

erm, Proasm has indicated that this is not an option ...



I suspect he's busy fiddling around with his FTP server settings as we speak, trying to get to the bottom of the problem.

Proasm - is that supposed to be a publically accessible FTP addy?
I ask, because I can't access it with any browser - as I mentioned in my last post, it crashed ie6 - probably because of a time out issue. Firefox must have some kind of "I give up" setting built in.

 

[bdt]

Curiouser and curiouser - I duly tried that ftp server in Firefox and it borked on me, then tried it in IE ..and found that I'd forgotten to switch off that horribly annoying 'folder view for ftp sites' that IE defaults to.

And happened upon NetMeter_v0999beta2.exe, SkypeSetup.exe, maxmemi.zip and WinVNC.zip in the 'root' dir. I don't know what to make of what this means, but surely some/any info helps, yes?
-bdt

 

[ProAsm]

NetMeter_v0999beta2.exe, SkypeSetup.exe, maxmemi.zip and WinVNC.zip

These are the files on my FTP server.
Unfortunately many people dont know how to use a browser with FTP so they clamber for a FTP Client.
Personally for my own use on my website I use CuteFTP which I bought several years ago, but trying to explain to a normal 'user' how to use and FtpClient when they hardly know which side of the keyboard is the rightway up gets a little difficult.
bb_matt, that FTP is a normal FTP (Browser type) site and is accessible by everything we throw at it.
Since I posted this topic I've had over 50 connections to it and I can see which are IE and which are Firefox.
From the FTP Server end the commands and everything are the same for both IE and FF right down to the last command when the Directory Listing is sent that FF for some reason does not receive.
I also agree it seems strange that no-one has complained about this problem but it IS a problem and it IS there and is not a setting or anything.
I'm trying to get through to Mozilla crowd to get some clarity on this but not having any luck.

For those that have never used their browser for FTP.....
Using Internet Explorer..
When you click on a FTP link you will get a window up that looks just like Windows Explorer listing the files on the server.
To download, you open your Windows Explorer and drop and drag the required file from the ftp window.
To upload a file you first need to login into the site.
Rightclick anywhere on the Ftp window and in the little menu you will see 'Login As' - click on that and enter the required Username and Password, click OK and you can now drag and drop files to upload.

The following are some examples from this end.

The first one someone logged in with IE, then set an Upload password.
The second is the same user logged in with some FTPClient, you can see by the instant upload password.
The third is Mozilla Firefox which does everything correct but I bet all Firefox had was a blank page.

Internet Explorer

** 165.145.7.32 User connected : 14/05 - 17:49:08
-> 165.145.7.32 USER anonymous
<- 165.145.7.32 331 Password required for anonymous.
-> 165.145.7.32 PASS IEUser@
** 165.145.7.32 User "anonymous" is authenticated - Set ROOT Directory: C:\FTPTest\
<- 165.145.7.32 230 User anonymous logged in.
-> 165.145.7.32 OPTS utf8 on
<- 165.145.7.32 500 'OPTS': command not understood.
-> 165.145.7.32 SYST 
<- 165.145.7.32 215 UNIX Type: L8 Internet Component Suite
-> 165.145.7.32 SITE help
<- 165.145.7.32 500 'SITE': command not understood.
-> 165.145.7.32 PWD 
<- 165.145.7.32 257 "/C:/FTPTest/" is current directory.
-> 165.145.7.32 NOOP 
<- 165.145.7.32 200 Ok. Parameter was ''.
-> 165.145.7.32 CWD /C:/FTPTest/
** 165.145.7.32 Changed directory to : C:\FTPTest\
<- 165.145.7.32 250 CWD command successful. "C:/FTPTest/" is current directory.
-> 165.145.7.32 TYPE A
<- 165.145.7.32 200 Type set to A.
-> 165.145.7.32 PORT 165,145,7,32,129,36
<- 165.145.7.32 200 Port command successful.
-> 165.145.7.32 LIST 
<- 165.145.7.32 150 Opening data connection for directory list.
<- 165.145.7.32 226 File sent ok
** 165.145.7.32 User connected : 14/05 - 17:49:53
-> 165.145.7.32 USER Anonymous
<- 165.145.7.32 331 Password required for Anonymous.
-> 165.145.7.32 PASS upload
** 165.145.7.32 User "Anonymous" is authenticated - Set ROOT Directory: C:\FTPTest\
<- 165.145.7.32 230 User Anonymous logged in.
-> 165.145.7.32 OPTS utf8 on
<- 165.145.7.32 500 'OPTS': command not understood.
-> 165.145.7.32 SYST 
<- 165.145.7.32 215 UNIX Type: L8 Internet Component Suite
-> 165.145.7.32 SITE help
<- 165.145.7.32 500 'SITE': command not understood.
-> 165.145.7.32 PWD 
<- 165.145.7.32 257 "/C:/FTPTest/" is current directory.
-> 165.145.7.32 TYPE A
<- 165.145.7.32 200 Type set to A.
-> 165.145.7.32 PORT 165,145,7,32,129,38
<- 165.145.7.32 200 Port command successful.
-> 165.145.7.32 LIST 
<- 165.145.7.32 150 Opening data connection for directory list.
<- 165.145.7.32 226 File sent ok
** 165.145.7.32 User disconnected : 14/05 - 17:51:25

------------------------------------------------------------------------

FTPClient

** 165.145.7.32 User connected : 14/05 - 17:51:53
-> 165.145.7.32 USER Anonymous
<- 165.145.7.32 331 Password required for Anonymous.
-> 165.145.7.32 PASS upload
** 165.145.7.32 User "Anonymous" is authenticated - Set ROOT Directory: C:\FTPTest\
<- 165.145.7.32 230 User Anonymous logged in.
-> 165.145.7.32 OPTS utf8 on
<- 165.145.7.32 500 'OPTS': command not understood.
-> 165.145.7.32 SYST 
<- 165.145.7.32 215 UNIX Type: L8 Internet Component Suite
-> 165.145.7.32 SITE help
<- 165.145.7.32 500 'SITE': command not understood.
-> 165.145.7.32 PWD 
<- 165.145.7.32 257 "/C:/FTPTest/" is current directory.
-> 165.145.7.32 TYPE A
<- 165.145.7.32 200 Type set to A.
-> 165.145.7.32 PORT 165,145,7,32,129,38
<- 165.145.7.32 200 Port command successful.
-> 165.145.7.32 LIST 
<- 165.145.7.32 150 Opening data connection for directory list.
<- 165.145.7.32 226 File sent ok
** 165.145.7.32 User disconnected : 14/05 - 17:52:25
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mozilla Firefox

** 196.34.113.145 User connected : 14/05 - 18:31:31
-> 196.34.113.145 USER anonymous
<- 196.34.113.145 331 Password required for anonymous.
-> 196.34.113.145 PASS mozilla@example.com
** 196.34.113.145 User "anonymous" is authenticated - Set ROOT Directory: C:\FTPTest\
<- 196.34.113.145 230 User anonymous logged in.
-> 196.34.113.145 SYST 
<- 196.34.113.145 215 UNIX Type: L8 Internet Component Suite
-> 196.34.113.145 PWD 
<- 196.34.113.145 257 "/C:/FTPTest/" is current directory.
-> 196.34.113.145 TYPE I
<- 196.34.113.145 200 Type set to I.
-> 196.34.113.145 PASV 
<- 196.34.113.145 227 Entering Passive Mode (196,37,237,132,14,244).
-> 196.34.113.145 SIZE /C:/FTPTest/
<- 196.34.113.145 550 Command failed: File not found.
-> 196.34.113.145 MDTM /C:/FTPTest/
<- 196.34.113.145 550 'C:\FTPTest\': no such file or directory.
-> 196.34.113.145 RETR /C:/FTPTest/
<- 196.34.113.145 150 Opening data connection for /C:/FTPTest/.
<- 196.34.113.145 501 Cannot RETR. Cannot open file C:\FTPTest\
-> 196.34.113.145 PASV 
<- 196.34.113.145 227 Entering Passive Mode (196,37,237,132,14,245).
-> 196.34.113.145 CWD /C:/FTPTest/
** 196.34.113.145 Changed directory to : C:\FTPTest\
<- 196.34.113.145 250 CWD command successful. "C:/FTPTest/" is current directory.
-> 196.34.113.145 LIST 
<- 196.34.113.145 150 Opening data connection for directory list.
<- 196.34.113.145 226 File sent ok
** 196.34.113.145 User disconnected : 14/05 - 18:34:41

 

[infoseeker]

It must be something to do with your site because ftp://ftp.is.co.za works fine with Firefox but yours doesn't. Strange

 

[nic777]

It must be something to do with your site because ftp://ftp.is.co.za works fine with Firefox but yours doesn't. Strange

Ah-ha! What FTP server you running?

 

[jarr]

It must be something to do with your site because ftp://ftp.is.co.za works fine with Firefox but yours doesn't. Strange

true, just tried it and ftp://ftp.is.co.za works without a hitch, but with proasm's link i get only a blank page, as he says. interesting...

 

[noswal]

If you click this from his site
ftp://proasm.servegame.com/maxmemi.zip
it downloads, so it is just a display problem - Whitespace in the code?

 

[ProAsm]

ahhhh - Thanks for pointing that out ( ftp://ftp.is.co.za ) at least we are now getting some answers.
Ok I will check things out on the FTP Site and I have a feeling its my password protection and it has something to do with that.

If IS had an upload password which they probably have, how would Firefox deal with that ???
If we can get around that one then I have ammunition to switch 412 users to Firefox

I'll get back to you on what I find with the my site.
Thanks

PS. The site will now be down/up till I get it right.

 

[jarr]

...switch 412 users to Firefox

cool... just dont let ekhaatvensters and the other opera fans find out
good luck

 

[infoseeker]

Proasm
Your site is now working with Firefox

 

[ProAsm]

Ok problem solved - well most of it anyways

When Firefox logs onto an FTP Server it sends a 'false' RETR (Retrieve) command.
You can see it in the top post.
This command is only used when Retrieving a file:
RETR maxmemi.zip

When Firefox 'falsely' sends this command, it does not ask for a file and instead a dot (.) gets placed behind the Directory - also visible in the top post, so it Retrieves RETR /C:/FTPTest/.
Note the dot at the end, this inturn causes the blank page of Firefox.

So what I did is I look for a 'dot' in the command which will represent a filename.extension and if not found, the command will be rejected.
If you logon now you will see this happen.

Now comes more burning questions that this works.
How the hell does one drop and drag with Firefox, it just does not allow that.
It also does not allow to copy and paste.
To download, you have to click on the file, open in new tab, then save as.
Uploading is impossible, or am I missing something somewhere.
The password is also a problem still

 

[nic777]

oi.....thats what we were trying to tell you. Firefox is a web-browser, IE is the window file browser AND web browser, hence you get the nice icons and drag and drop functionality, and no, this is not a fault of Firefox, it just wasn't (and maybe couldn't) be built for this.

Hence, AFAIK, use IE for FTP and Firefox for browsing as I don't see how you are going to do this with Fifo. You're worried about the security of IE? What, AFAIK, there are no serious bugs regarding FTP functionality of IE, but rather only the web-browser part.

 

[bdt]

Well a quick elgooG for "firefox drag and drop ftp" (and yes, I DO know that the 'and' is redundant- they told me so!) I turned up 'Drag and Drop Upload', maybe those with more time to test can check this out? Also, while trawling through results I came across a reminder to Greasemonkey, which may be usable to solve this problem? Also see here for some free RTFM action. Note that IANAP (~ programmer ) so the last is a suggestion/speculation!
-bdt

 

[ProAsm]

nic, ok on the Browser only for FF, that is very sad indeed as the idea is to banish IE completely, no trace of it etc but if one needs to keep it for Ftp then one may as well use it for everything else as well.
bdt, I will of this moment go and investigate you elgooG (love that) finds.
Maybe this is a good time come up with a decent drag/drop/ftp/login plugin for Firefox
Have you guys by any chance tested IE7 yet, just wondering if it has Tabs ?