Subject:  ncftp - Alternative User Interface for FTP, Part01/01

Archive-name: ncftp/part01
Environment: UNIX, ANSI-C, getopt

ncftp - Alternative user interface for FTP
version 1.0 PL 2 by Mike Gleason, NCEMRSoft.

Changes from 1.0 PL 1:

  * ls is more flexible, so now you can do things like "ls -flags directory."
	Previous versions of ncftp (and ftp) only allowed "ls -flags" or
	"ls directory."

  * Some new progress meters, a fancy bargraph and another similar to the
	original % meter that shows how many kilobytes have been transferred.
	This meter is also used when the remote site doesn't support the SIZE
	command, so you can always have a progress meter.

  * If you don't want ftp and ncftp to share an rc, you can use a '.ncftprc'
	for ncftp and a '.netrc' for ftp.

  * Better portability; in addition to support for DG/UX, NeXT, and DYNIX,
	the getpass2() function which was causing problems has been replaced
	by a more portable version.  Also using a private getopt which can be
	called more than once.

  * Syslog'ging capability added for system administrators.

  * So many small enhancements and bug fixes that the patch is almost as
	large as the shar-chive.  See patchlevel.h for the gory details.


ncftp was created out of disgust with using the regular 'ftp'
command found on many brands of Unix.  People who spend a lot
of time in ftp will want to install ncftp.

Features:

 * No more typing 'anonymous' and your email address every time
   you want to ftp anonymously.  You don't need to have the
   site in your .netrc.
   
 * No more typing complete site names.  Sites in your .netrc
   can be abbreviated.  Type 'o wuar' to call wuarchive.wustl.edu.
 
 * Use your pager (like 'more') to read remote files (and also
   compressed files).

 * Use your pager to view remote directory listings.

 * Transfers feature a progress meter.
 
 * Implicit cd.
 
 * Fancy prompts.
 
 * You can keep a log of your actions.  See what the path was of
   that file you downloaded yesterday so you don't have to
   look for it today.
 
 * Built-in mini-nslookup.
 
 * The 'ls' command is ls -CF.  Some ftp's ls was identical to 'dir.'
 
 * You can 'redial' a remote host until you connect.

 * Don't need to 'close' a site, just open a new one.
 
 * Don't feel like typing a long filename?  Use a wildcard in single
   file commands like get and page.
 
 * You can create empty remote files.

 * Supports 'colon mode', so you can type 'ncftp cse.unl.edu:/pub/foo',
   to copy foo into your current directory.

 * You can re-display the last directory listing without getting it
   across the network.

 * Detects when new mail arrives.

 * ncftp is quieter by default -- who cares if the PORT command was
   successful (if you do, turn verbose on :-).

 * It can be compiled to log transfers, etc., to the system log.

