What is FTP?
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. Most free-hosted sites do not use FTP, although FreeHostia does support it. But most/all top level domain sites use FTP. Ok, you're probably wondering what FTP does. If you use a free hosted site, you upload your files on file manager. But if you use FTP, it's actually basically the same thing, only it's usually used with a program and it's a little more complicated. My old top level domain site had to use FTP to upload all our files, and so should most other top level domain sites.

Core FTP
Now on to the tutorial's topic, Core FTP. Core FTP is a free FTP program. Click here to go to the download page. Save it to your desktop. Launch the installer, and when it's done, if it asks you to restart your computer do that ;). You can now send the installer to the recycling bin. Go to your web host, and find the FTP manager. There might be a default FTP account for you already, but if there isn't, make an account (if confused, go to your web host's help topics). If there already is a default FTP account, edit the password so you know what it is. Of course, instead of using your default FTP account, you can always make another one (if your host let's you).

Now launch Core FTP. Once you open it, this should pop up:

Look at the letter next to each field and here's what you do:
A: Put your site's URL here, but instead of http:// do ftp://
B: Put your site's URL here, but do not include http://www
C: Go to your web host's FTP manager and enter the name/username of the FTP account you want to use
D: Put the password to the FTP account you would like to use
E: Don't do anything with this
F: You can put anything here. I put main account, since it is my main account xD
G: Press Connect when you're done with all that

Alright, after you pressed connect, if you look at the top frame, you should see the process of logging in. On the left frame, you should see all your computer's personal files. If you look on the right, you should see all your website's files. To upload a file to your website from your computer's files, simply click and drag the file you would like to upload to your website to the right frame.

Now you've learned how to use FTP! If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

~Nicolette