Catalyst File Transfer 6.0 Product Features

The Catalyst File Transfer product is a single .NET managed code class or ActiveX control which provides a simplified interface for downloading and uploading files. By providing a common interface for dealing with FTP and HTTP servers, the component allows a developer to concentrate on file transfer, and ignore protocol-specific issues. The component can transfer a file with a single method, simply by specifying a URL, as in a web browser, without the need to separately supply the protocol, host, port, file name, and account information. Alternatively, connection and access information may be supplied separately, to allow multiple file transfer operations to be performed in a single server session. In either case, the differences between the supported protocols are kept to a minimum. Advanced features such as support for proxy connections and secure, encrypted client sessions are easily implemented by simply setting a few properties.

Comprehensive Interface

The File Transfer component offers a comprehensive interface for FTP and HTTP, providing the developer with everything that he needs to incorporate file transfers in an application, as well as remote file management using FTP. In addition to downloading and uploading by file name, URL, and wild card patterns, a developer may use the component for creation, listing, and removal of directories, as well as renaming and removal of files. The set of properties and methods is sufficiently rich to enable a developer to take advantage of features such as the resumption of interrupted transfers, passive mode operation in the presence of firewalls, automatic file verification and support for custom server commands.

Security and Reliability

The Catalyst File Transfer component provides industry standard security using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Shell (SSH) protocols. Our components support strong, commercial grade 128-bit encryption over the Internet, and don't rely on WinInet or third-party toolkits which have licensing restrictions or are encumbered by patents. Set a single property or option, and the control automatically handles all of the complex certificate management, protocol negotiation and encryption for you. Even advanced options, such as using client certificates, are handled easily with just a few lines of code.

Internet Standards

The File Transfer component implements the standard Internet protocols for FTP and HTTP, ensuring the highest degree of compatibility possible with servers of those types around the world. These standards are defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force and published as standard track Request For Comment (RFC) documents. RFC 959 documents the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), which is used for file transfer between a client and a server, and for remote management of files on a server. The Internet draft document "Securing FTP with TLS" describes a mechanism that can be used by FTP clients and servers to implement security and authentication using the TLS protocol defined by RFC 2246 and the extensions to the FTP protocol defined by RFC 2228. RFC 1945 documents Version 1.0 of the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and RFC 2616 documents Version 1.1 of the protocol. These standards govern the communication of client applications such as browsers with web servers. The File Transfer Control implements the GET, POST and PUT commands of these standards.

Features and Stability

The File Transfer component is built on the solid foundation of the award-winning SocketTools family of products. The same core technologies and features that have been market-tested and proven since 1995 were used to create the File Transfer control. As a leading developer of Internet component software, tens of thousands of developers around the world trust Catalyst Development to create components with the stability and features needed to build dependable, world-class software.

Flexibility

The File Transfer component has been designed with a great degree of flexibility and can be used with a wide variety of programming languages and different types of development environments. Available either as a managed .NET class or a standard ActiveX control, it is fully supported by languages such as Visual Basic, Visual FoxPro, Visual C#, Visual C++, Borland C++ Builder, Delphi and PowerBuilder. In addition, the ActiveX control can also be used as a basic COM object in scripting languages like VBScript, with full support for server-side scripting in Active Server Pages and other similar technologies.

Simplified Redistribution

The File Transfer component has no external dependency on third-party components or Microsoft support libraries. This means that only the control itself needs to be included with the program that uses it, simplifying the process of redistributing and installing the software while reducing the application's overall size.

Documentation

As important as functionality, features and stability are, comprehensive documentation is equally as important to the application developer. This is why the Catalyst File Transfer product includes a Developer's Guide and a complete Technical Reference which documents every property, method and event supported by the component. A printable version of the documentation is included with the product, as well as context-sensitive online help which can be accessed directly from within the development environment. Example programs in a variety of languages are also included to help the developer become familiar with the features of the control and provide code which they can re-use in their own applications.

Licensing

Catalyst understands today's software development requirements which often require support for multiple operating systems and different programming languages. As with all Catalyst components, the File Transfer product is licensed to a single developer, and applications built using the control can be redistributed to as many end-users as needed without additional royalties or runtime licensing fees. Developers are also permitted to install the product on different development systems as long as they are the only one using it and there is no chance that it can be used by more than one developer at the same time.

File Transfer Links

Product Overview
An overview of the product design, features and benefits.

Product Features
Additional information about the product features.

.NET Component
Information about the File Transfer .NET component.

ActiveX Control
Information about the File Transfer ActiveX control.

Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about the product.

Release Notes
Release notes for the current version of the product.

License Agreement
The developer license agreement for this product.