Purpose of FTP
FTP stands for file transfer protocol and all it is is transferring files from one place to another without having to go in a file manager.
How to use CuteFTP
The first part will be how to use cuteFTP. It's pretty simple actually. If you need to download it, click here to go to the download site.
The first thing you do after installation is open the program. You should be take to a default (not to mention empty) file manager. If it doesn't automatically open up to that, push F4 on your keyboard. Your window should look something like this:
The window in the middle is the file manager. To start a new connection, click on new in the left hand corner of the file manager window. Then follow the directions and fill out the stuff in the blanks.
Label the site whatever you want to call it so you can recognize it later on. Then add the ftp address. The FTP address should've been provided for you by either the webmaster or someone else along with a password. Enter your username and then press connect. You should get a pop up window with a greeting. This means you're connected. All that's left is to transfer files. To transfer files, press the Up or Down button. The Up botton transfers onto the site, and the down bottom downloads to your computer.
It's pretty simple. You can add as many connections as you need. You can always transfer file in different transfer types. Usually it'll be on auto. In cuteFTP, you can change the permission files of a page (aka chmod). Just right click on mouse on the selected file and click on CHMOD and change the number. Do not touch this unless specified to.