Newbie Question: FTP copying - binary or ASCII ?

[shiphen]

How do I get copied files to stay the same size
(i.e. to go black?!)
- Beyond Compare 2 (recent download, trial version v 2.4.3 build243)
- Windows XP (SP2)
- Linux



Hi

HELP!

(Sorry for the newbie question but)
I am copying HTML files from Linux to Windows.
How do I get them to stay the same file-size?

Very strangely, in SOME directories, when I copy
the files over they stay the same size, [and hence
go black!] whereas in OTHER directories when I do
EXACTLY the same thing and copy a file over,
they go to DIFFERENT file sizes - and hence stay
RED! And this happens even if I delete all files
in the receiving directory...

AH-HA - I have just discovered that if I FORCE all
FTP transfers to happen in BINARY rather than ASCII
that this seems to keep the files the same size!

It there any problem with copying in BINARY
- because I note that this does not appear to be
the default...



If I cant keep files the same size, maybe I could get
Beyond Compare to ignore file size(??)

With thanks


Ship
Shiperton Henethe

[dr_barnowl]

Re: Newbie Question: FTP copying - binary or ASCI

This is a line-endings issue ; ASCII mode FTP rather kindly tries to cope with the line-ending differences between operating systems, and will futz with the line endings, converting between LF (*nix) CRLF (DOS/Win) and CR (Old Mac).

Binary mode just does what it says on the tin, and copies the file without actually thinking about it too hard.

IMHO ASCII mode is a nasty throwback and should no longer be the default mode for FTP transfer ; the only convincing argument for it is if you have a klutzy old editor like Windows Notepad which can't cope with the line endings of other OSs.

[Chris]

Re: Newbie Question: FTP copying - binary or ASCI

To ignore file size, select Session|Comparison Control. Uncheck "Compare Contents".