I often want to share some data, not necessarily a DBF, but for instance a MEM file or a TXT file between users over the internet or for distributing new versions of the EXE file from an application. Users must be able to upload and download files. I don't have a paid website or webspace. I'm looking for a free webspace. At the moment I'm using some free websitespaces which can be accessed over FTP (FTPPUT and FTPGET). But these webspaces are not meant for sharing data, they are meant voor building websites. And data storage is officially not allowed. DriveHQ.com is also a possibility, but in my opinion their services is often offline or in error. How do you guys deal with this? How do you share new versions or data over the internet to users with different ISP's and maybe in different countries?
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Share data or EXE over the internet
- Thread starter JackTheC
- Start date
Mike Lewis
Programmer
You really need to set up your own website for this purpose (or FTP site, which amounts to much the same thing). You can't rely on the likes of DriveHQ - not because of any perceived weakness in the service, but because you need full programmatic control over what you put there and how it is accessed. I wouldn't go for a free website either, for the same reasons.
Creating your own site needn't be difficult or expensive. Just browse some of the web hosting companies in your country, and look for a good deal - but also read the testimonials or reviews so that you can form an opinion of their service. The chances are that you'll only need a basic package, with no special features.
You mentioned users with different ISPs or in different countries. That's pretty irrelevant. By default, your site will be accessible to anyone who knows the URL. It doesn't make any difference where in the world they are.
Once you've got the site sorted, there are several ways in which you can arrange for users to pick up updated versions of your files. The easiest is simply to give them a URL of the file, and have them manually download it. But you would need to add some basic security restrictions to prevent unauthorised access. The chances are you'll need a more automated solution. If you're not sure how to program that, West Wind's Internet Tools would be worth a look (
I've also written an article which describes certain tools that I use for over-the-web updating in my own applications ( Another approach would be to use the Microsoft Internet Transfer Control that comes with VFP. This gives you programmatic access to any web site, either for downloading files or for performing a full range of FTP functions.
I hope this helps. My main message is that the whole process should be straightforward, and although you'll probably have to spend some money, it's not going to break the bank.
Mike
__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Visual FoxPro articles, tips and downloads
Creating your own site needn't be difficult or expensive. Just browse some of the web hosting companies in your country, and look for a good deal - but also read the testimonials or reviews so that you can form an opinion of their service. The chances are that you'll only need a basic package, with no special features.
You mentioned users with different ISPs or in different countries. That's pretty irrelevant. By default, your site will be accessible to anyone who knows the URL. It doesn't make any difference where in the world they are.
Once you've got the site sorted, there are several ways in which you can arrange for users to pick up updated versions of your files. The easiest is simply to give them a URL of the file, and have them manually download it. But you would need to add some basic security restrictions to prevent unauthorised access. The chances are you'll need a more automated solution. If you're not sure how to program that, West Wind's Internet Tools would be worth a look (
I've also written an article which describes certain tools that I use for over-the-web updating in my own applications ( Another approach would be to use the Microsoft Internet Transfer Control that comes with VFP. This gives you programmatic access to any web site, either for downloading files or for performing a full range of FTP functions.
I hope this helps. My main message is that the whole process should be straightforward, and although you'll probably have to spend some money, it's not going to break the bank.
Mike
__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Visual FoxPro articles, tips and downloads
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks Mike. I know how to program this, that's not the point. I have build auto-update functions (Yes, I need a second EXE or a VBS-script to replace the original EXE) And they all work like charm. And full programmatic control in DriveHQ is also no problem. Different ISP can be relevant that's why I mentioned it. I now have one solution based on the free webspace of my own ISP, but upload access to that webspace is only allowed for subscribers of the same ISP (I mean from a fysical access point at home). So not available in another country. Another solution I'm using is based on a general free websitespace in a hidden sub sub folder. Works pretty well, but as mentioned officially not allowed. I use it now for several years with no problem. But in theory that provider can kill it tomorrow due to rules violation.
I was just wondering if anyone can advise or tip a free webspace. Just a very little amount of space is needed. Besides DriveHQ.com only paid sites are available I agree.
I was just wondering if anyone can advise or tip a free webspace. Just a very little amount of space is needed. Besides DriveHQ.com only paid sites are available I agree.
Mike Lewis
Programmer
Sounds like you're on the right track. Just to pick up one point:
That surprises me. All the hosting companies I've dealt with have allowed uploads (via FTP) from any user who you choose to give acccess to. Right now, I'm looking at the control panel for one of my own sites. There's a screen which allows me to add any number of FTP users: I just need to specify their name and a password. Plus, I know I have uploaded files myself from different locations without any difficulty. I think that's fairly typical.
Sorry I can't recommend any particular host for free webspace - apart from the likes of DriveHQ, which you already know about (and which, by the way, I use myself, but not as part of an automated system).
Mike
__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Visual FoxPro articles, tips and downloads
That surprises me. All the hosting companies I've dealt with have allowed uploads (via FTP) from any user who you choose to give acccess to. Right now, I'm looking at the control panel for one of my own sites. There's a screen which allows me to add any number of FTP users: I just need to specify their name and a password. Plus, I know I have uploaded files myself from different locations without any difficulty. I think that's fairly typical.
Sorry I can't recommend any particular host for free webspace - apart from the likes of DriveHQ, which you already know about (and which, by the way, I use myself, but not as part of an automated system).
Mike
__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Visual FoxPro articles, tips and downloads
Olaf Doschke
Programmer
Well, the new way of doing this is using sites like DriveHQ, of course. DropBox or Google Drive would be more popular and free services. Dropbox just recently has added a datastore API:
But otherwise you can best do all you need driving your own site. Webhosting is inexpensive and lot hosters don't even give a traffic limitation. You would add a application FTP user your application uses for uploading files or upload them via http post requests, that does not need any specific rights to the users, not even a public FTP access. In http post the default server settings disallow files larger than some MB, but that can be configured as needed. Also you always get files in a web servers temp folder and have to have a script getting the http post request to put the file somewhere (and perhaps check it for validity, too).
This web application technique can easily be used by a desktop app, too. As you already have your routines, you may even know already.
Bye, Olaf.
But otherwise you can best do all you need driving your own site. Webhosting is inexpensive and lot hosters don't even give a traffic limitation. You would add a application FTP user your application uses for uploading files or upload them via http post requests, that does not need any specific rights to the users, not even a public FTP access. In http post the default server settings disallow files larger than some MB, but that can be configured as needed. Also you always get files in a web servers temp folder and have to have a script getting the http post request to put the file somewhere (and perhaps check it for validity, too).
This web application technique can easily be used by a desktop app, too. As you already have your routines, you may even know already.
Bye, Olaf.
- Thread starter
- #6
@Mike, My ISP gives space for building your own website (A) and space for private data storage (B). But FTP access is only possible for space A. And I need FTP for up and downloading invisible under water not disturbing the user. That worked fine until my brother went on holiday and abroad no FTP upload was possible. I tested this by using a proxy at home, so the ISP would think I was somewhere else and alas, no access. The ISP company confirmed that FTP upload to space A was only possible from a subscribers address. That's why I moved the FTP-base to DriveHQ or another general (not ISP bound) website.
@Olaf, It would be great if Google or Dropbox would support FTP, but they don't. Almost no free cloud space does.
I don't know if that datastore solution can help. I will look into that. Thanks.
@Olaf, It would be great if Google or Dropbox would support FTP, but they don't. Almost no free cloud space does.
I don't know if that datastore solution can help. I will look into that. Thanks.
Mike Lewis
Programmer
Fair enough. But that's the story for your ISP. There's no reason why you should go to your ISP for web space. There are a vast number of web hosting companies competing for your business. Check a few of their websites. I'm sure you'll find that none of them restrict you to a particular ISP. Why would they?
Mike
__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Visual FoxPro articles, tips and downloads
Olaf Doschke
Programmer
>It would be great if Google or Dropbox would support FTP
Why would they need to? Is FTP really the only way to share files for you?
Dropbox makes it even easier. You put your file into a local folder and it get's uploaded automatically, in whatever way Dropbox does that.It only requires the user to have the dropbox client installed. And there are more APIs. The datastore API is just for your other demand to store data, small data, some config records etc. into something like a table that is not synched as a whole file, but recordwise. I haven't tried it yet, and don't know what the limits are, you might also put whole files into records and transport them that way.
Indeed the prerequisite remains a dropbox installation, but even if only you install dropbox, the public section creates public download links, which can be used for file downloads of any user, even without having installed dropbox and without owning a dropbox account, so that part can for example be used to offer a new application version.
Bye, Olaf.
Why would they need to? Is FTP really the only way to share files for you?
Dropbox makes it even easier. You put your file into a local folder and it get's uploaded automatically, in whatever way Dropbox does that.It only requires the user to have the dropbox client installed. And there are more APIs. The datastore API is just for your other demand to store data, small data, some config records etc. into something like a table that is not synched as a whole file, but recordwise. I haven't tried it yet, and don't know what the limits are, you might also put whole files into records and transport them that way.
Indeed the prerequisite remains a dropbox installation, but even if only you install dropbox, the public section creates public download links, which can be used for file downloads of any user, even without having installed dropbox and without owning a dropbox account, so that part can for example be used to offer a new application version.
Bye, Olaf.
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