WinSCP
WinSCP is a free Windows file transfer application used to copy data to and from a remote host.
WinSCP is installed on all UMIACS-supported Windows workstations.
For all other Windows hosts, WinSCP can be downloaded from https://winscp.net/eng/index.php.
Logging Into WinSCP
When launching WinSCP, it asks you to log into a remote host.
- If you would like to upload files to OBJ, follow the login instructions on the S3 Clients page.
To access a UMIACS directory, such as your NFShomes directory, legacy web page directories, or legacy FTP directories:
- For the File protocol, select SFTP.
- For the host name, enter your Nexus submission node.
- Enter your UMD username and password.
After logging in, WinSCP shows two directories.
The left side shows a directory on your computer and the right side shows a directory on the remote host.
Changing Directories
Changing the Local Directory
To change the directory on your computer, select "Open Directory" from the "Local" menu.
This controls the section on the left-hand side.
Changing the Remote Directory
To change the UMIACS directory, select "Open Directory" from the "Remote" menu.
This controls the section on the right-hand side.
When changing the remote directory, you have to put in the path to that directory.
Below is a list of frequently used directories and their paths.
If you would like to access a specific directory and you don't know the path, please contact the HelpDesk.
| Name | Path |
|---|---|
| NFShomes | /fs/nfshomes/<username> |
| Nexus Scratch | /fs/nexus-scratch/<username> |
| www-umiacs | /fs/www |
| www-users | /fs/www-users |
| ftp-umiacs | /fs/ftp |
Transferring Files
To transfer files between your computer and the remote directory, simply drag the files from one side to the other.
You can also select the files and use the corresponding button.
Uploading Files
To upload files from your computer to the remote directory, select one or more files on the left-hand side and then click the Upload button.
After clicking the Upload button, another window pops up. You can enter a different directory to change where the files are uploaded. Click OK to start the upload.
Downloading Files
To download files from the remote directory to your computer, select one or more files on the right-hand side and then click the Download button.
After clicking the Download button, another window pops up. You can enter a different directory to change where the files are downloaded. Click OK to start the download.
Opening Files
Double clicking on a file will open the file in a text editor. This works for small, simple files, such as .txt and .html files.
To open more complex files, such as .pdf files, select the file and then click "Open" from the "Files" menu.
Saving the Workspace
If you frequently move files from your computer to a specific directory, you can save the workspace so it will open to that directory when you launch WinSCP.
First, change the local and remote directories to the directories you want using the instructions above.
Then, click "Save Workspace" under the "Tabs" menu.
Another window pops up letting you set the name of the workspace.
You can check the box next to "Create desktop shortcut" so it will save an icon on your desktop that will open up to the saved directories.
