SocketTools FTP Toolbox

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The SocketTools FTP Toolbox offers a comprehensive interface which supports both high level FTP operations, such as uploading or downloading files, as well as a collection of lower-level file I/O methods that give your application precise control over the transfer process. In addition to file transfers, your application can create, rename and delete files and directories, search for files using wildcards and perform other file management tasks. This product includes broad support for a variety of programming languages and it provides a comprehensive interface suitable for every kind of project, from simple administration utilities to complex enterprise applications. Here's an overview of just some of this product's features:

• Includes managed .NET classes compatible Visual Studio 2003/2005/2008/2010
• Includes an ATL-based ActiveX control compatible with Visual Basic 6.0 and many other languages
• Includes a standard Windows dynamic link library (DLL) and C++ class
• Support for the standard SSL, TLS and SSH security protocols with up to 256-bit encryption
• Support for both implicit and explicit SSL and TLS connections
• Includes both high level and lower level interfaces for maximum flexibility
• Support for custom commands and protocol extensions
• Low resource utilization and no external dependencies on third-party libraries
• Support for both synchronous and asynchronous network connections
• Thread-safe implementation with full support for multithreaded applications
• An extensive Developer's Guide and online Technical Reference
• A professional technical support staff and extensive online support resources
• No runtime licensing fees or additional royalties, unlimited redistribution to end-users
• A trusted company with over 10 years experience developing Internet components

Files Transfers
The FTP interface includes methods which enable an application to upload and download files with a single line of code, as well as lower-level functions which can send and receive file data using strings or byte array buffers. For example, the GetFile method is used to download a file from the server and store the data in a file on the local system. On the other hand, the GetData method will download a file from the server and store the contents of that file in a string or byte array. This gives your program the flexibility of handling the data either on disk or in memory, depending on the best needs of your application. If your program needs to transfer multiple files at once, there are the GetMultipleFiles and PutMultipleFiles methods which will automatically download or upload two or more files in a single function call.

File Management
In addition to transferring files, the FTP component can be used to manage files on the server. Methods are provided to delete, rename and move files between directories. For servers that support specific protocol extensions, advanced features such as getting or setting a remote file's modification time or access permissions are also supported. If the server supports site-specific commands, you can also send custom commands to the server and then process the information that it returns. The FTP component can also be used to manage directories as well as files on the server. The application can open a directory and return a list of the files that it contains, as well as create new directories and delete empty ones. It recognizes a number of different directory listing formats, including those typically used on UNIX and Linux based systems, Windows server platforms and VMS systems.

Secure Connections
The FTP Toolbox components support secure connections using SSL, TLS and SSH. Data is encrypted using industry standard protocols, protecting both the client authentication credentials and the file data that is being transferred. Enabling the security features in your application is typically as simple as setting a single property or specifying an additional connection option. SocketTools supports strong encryption up to 256 bits and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cipher, among several others. The data encryption is handled transparently, with no special knowledge required on your part, and does not depend on any external third-party libraries. SocketTools also supports both implicit and explicit SSL sessions, as well as authentication using client certificates. With broad server compatibility and the ability to dynamically adjust its feature set based on the type of server that it is connected to, the FTP component provides reliable connections to secure servers, ensuring that your data is always protected.

Toolbox Components
The SocketTools FTP Toolbox includes a .NET class for managed code development in Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET, an ActiveX control for development in Visual Basic 6.0, and a standard Windows DLL that can be used with virtually any Windows programming language. Because the Toolbox package includes each of these component types, it ensures that you can use SocketTools with the development platform and tools of your choice, without limitations or workarounds. If you're working in C++, you can use the DLL and the C++ class that's included. If you're working in C#, you can use the managed class that's supported on versions 1.1, 2.0, 3.5 and 4.0 of the .NET Framework. If you're working with legacy code in Visual Basic 6.0, using languages like Visual FoxPro or PowerBuilder, or need to write some scripting code, you can use the ActiveX control. With the SocketTools Toolbox, you have the freedom to choose what best meets your specific needs for any type of project.