There are many ways of sharing files. FTP is one of them.

Is it the best way of uploading and downloading files? Well, it is robust, easy and sometimes you have no choice but to use it.

Filezilla is probably the easiest tool for FTP uploads and downloads - so called an FTP client. It is free and can be downloaded from Filezilla Website. If you are using Windows operating system, download the recommended Filezilla...win32-setup.exe file, and install it like any other Windows application. More information about installation here.

Make sure that you obtain the necessary information to connect to the FTP server: server name, user name, password, additional details (if needed). Such information will be provided by the FTP server administration.

Start Filezilla - you will have a shortcut in the 'Start' menu.

Click on the 'Open the Site Manager' icon on the top right side of the screen.

Click on the 'New Site' button.

Enter an easy to remember name for the new site, e.g. XYZ Office. Enter the host name i.e. the name or the address of the ftp server.

Leave the 'Server Type' as 'FTP File Transfer Protocol' unless instructed otherwise.

Unless instructed otherwise, change the 'Logon Type' to 'Normal' and enter the user name and password.See a sample data on the form:

Click on the OK button to finish the setup.

Click on the 'Open the Site Manager' icon on the top right side of the screen, click on the name of your site (Joes Office in our case) and click on the 'Connect' button.You will get connected to the site.

Information about navigating on the FTP server, and the local machine, files' uploads and downloads can be found here.