TechNote

Troubleshoot FTP issues in Dreamweaver CS4

What's covered

This document can help you resolve FTP issues that occur while you use Adobe Dreamweaver CS4. Keep track of the tasks you perform and the results of each task, including errors or problematic behavior. Adobe Technical Support can use this information to better assist you, if you need to call.

1. Install the latest version of Adobe Dreamweaver CS4.

Updates to Adobe Dreamweaver may resolve FTP connection or transfer issues.

Check for free updates to Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 on the Adobe website: www.adobe.com/support/downloads.

2. Install current operating system updates.

Updates to your operating system may resolve FTP connection or transfer issues.

Mac OS X: You can obtain Mac OS X updates from the Apple website at www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/, or choose Software Update from the Apple menu. For assistance installing updates, contact Apple technical support.
Windows XP: See "Install current Windows service packs and other updates (Windows XP)" (TechNote kb404859) for details.
Windows Vista: See "Install current Windows service packs and other updates (Windows Vista)" (TechNote kb405107) for details.

3. Verify that you have a working internet or network connection.

Open a website such as www.adobe.com in a browser to verify that a connection to the Internet is active. If you can't connect to the Internet or the network, contact your Internet service provider (ISP) or your system administrator.

4. Check if other connection options than FTP exist for the server.

Other connection options such as SFTP, WebDAV, RDS (for Adobe ColdFusion servers) or a direct local network connection may be possible for the server you cannot connect to using FTP. Since FTP implementations vary, resolving FTP issues can require significant time and testing. If connecting to the server using a different connection method works, then use that option.

5. Check that you have defined a site in Dreamweaver.

Dreamweaver requires a site definition (or a siteless FTP connection) before you can use FTP. Ensure you have defined a site or FTP server in Dreamweaver.

On creating a site definition, see "Setting up a Dreamweaver site" in Using Adobe Dreamweaver CS4,
On creating a site-less FTP connection, see "Connect to an FTP server without defining a site" in Using Adobe Dreamweaver CS4

Note: If you work on your documents without defining a site, then you will not be able to perform sitewide operations or take advantage of Dreamweaver functionality which requires a site definition.

6. Verify your FTP host and directory information.

You may be unable to connect to your server or to transfer files if your host and directory information is wrong or incomplete.

Do not enter the protocol (ftp://) in the "FTP host:" text box in your site or FTP server definition.
If you cannot connect using a domain name such as www.servername.com, then try ftp.servername.com.
If you cannot connect using a domain name such as ftp.servername.com, then try www.servername.com.
If you cannot connect with no host directory information, then try entering a single forward slash.
If you cannot connect with a single forward slash, then try with one or more of the following folder names in the "Host directory:" text box (these are commonly used as the top-level document folder for a website):
- /[domain_name] (e.g. /www.mywebsite.org)
- /html
- /docs
- /www
- /public_html
If you still cannot connect, then contact your web hosting service or server administrator and confirm the details required to connect to your server.

7. Use Passive Mode.

Passive mode may help resolve FTP issues caused by firewalls preventing the FTP server opening a connection to your computer. Using Passive mode the connection is made from your computer to the server instead.

To turn on passive mode in Dreamweaver:

Choose Site > Manage Sites
Select your site and choose Edit.
Choose Remote Info
Check the "Use passive mode" option.
Choose OK.

8. Try connecting to a different server.

If you can connect to a different FTP server, then the issue may be with the connection details you are using in Dreamweaver or with the server itself.

Enter the following details to Adobe's public FTP server in your site or FTP server definition, then click "Test":

FTP host: ftp.adobe.com
Host directory: /pub/
Login: anonymous
Password: [your e-mail address]

9. Try unchecking or checking "Use FTP performance optimization".

Site > Manage Sites.
Select your site in the site list.
Click Edit.
Select Remote Info
Click Server Compatibility
Uncheck or check Use FTP performance optimization

10. Try using IPv6 transfer mode.

If your FTP server is IPv6 enabled, then you may need to check "Use IPv6 transfer mode" in your site definition.

Site > Manage Sites.
Select your site in the site list.
Click Edit.
Select Remote Info
Check the Use IPv6 transfer mode option.

11. Try changing FTP preferences in Dreamweaver.

The default settings used in the Dreamweaver preferences for handling FTP connections will work in most situations. Changing them may help if you are experiencing connection issues.

Uncheck the option to disconnect after 30 minutes idle or increase the time before Dreamweaver disconnects.
Increase the FTP time out value from 60 seconds to a higher value such as 90 seconds or 120 seconds.
Note: Do not set too high a value for the FTP time out. Dreamweaver will become unresponsive while it waits for the server to respond.

12. Try with a new site definition.

Creating a new site definition tests whether the original site definition has become corrupt.

13. Try using a different FTP application.

If you can connect to your server and/or upload files using a different FTP application and the same connection details, then the issue most likely relates to the connection details in the Dreamweaver site definition. If a different FTP application displays the same issue, then the problem is most likely to do with your computer or network.

There are many third-party FTP clients available which you can use for this test. For example:

FileZilla (http://filezilla-project.org). Windows/Mac OS X.
Cyberduck (http://cyberduck.ch/). Mac OS X.
Core FTP Lite (http://www.coreftp.com). Windows.

You can also use the built-in command-line FTP client which is part of your operating system. See "Command line FTP instructions" (TechNote tn_16418) for details.

14. Check file and folder names.

FTP server environments vary considerably. Issues uploading specific files or folder can because caused by special or reserved characters or filename length depending on the server environment. Try removing any characters other than alphanumeric (a-z,1-9) and underscores and test uploading a file with a short, simple name such as test.htm.

15. Check server permissions.

You may received "access denied" errors or be unable to transfer files if you do not have sufficient permissions on the server. Check with your server administrator or web hosting service that you have sufficient permissions to upload to and overwrite files on the server.

Some Unix servers may set default permissions on newly uploaded folders or files which prevent you transferring files later. You can change permissions on files and folders in Dreamweaver. To set permissions in Dreamweaver:

Select Remote View in the Files Panel.
Select the folders or files for which you want to set permissions.
Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac OS X) and choose Set Permissions from the contextual menu.
Note: Check with your server administrator or web hosting service what permissions they recommend setting on folders and files.

16. Check the Dreamweaver FTP log.

Dreamweaver keeps a log of the commands it sends to the FTP server and the responses it receives from it. Responses from the server may help in diagnosing FTP issues. To view the FTP log:

Window > Results > FTP Log.

For more information on interpreting FTP log files see sections "An FTP log example", "FTP codes and actions", and"FTP commands and actions" in "Checking the FTP log" (TechNote tn_14536)

17. Temporarily disable firewall software on your computer.

If you can successfully connect to your server when your firewall is disabled, you need to configure it to allow Dreamweaver to access the internet or configure it to allow FTP.

18. Verify whether your company network has a firewall or proxy which prevents a successful FTP connection.

Your company's firewall or proxy server may block FTP connections or require specific configuration in Dreamweaver.

Check with your network administrator whether FTP is allowed on your network or through the firewall and what other connections options may be available if it is not.

You may need to configure Dreamweaver to use your network's firewall or proxy. Check with your network administrator whether you need to configure Dreamweaver to use the firewall or proxy.

To configure Dreamweaver to use a firewall or proxy:

Choose Site > Manage Sites.
Select your site.
Click Edit.
Choose Remote Info.
Check the "Use firewall" option.
Click "Firewall settings" to open Dreamweaver's preferences.
Enter the server name or IP address of the firewall host.
Enter the port of the firewall host.
Click OK to close the preferences.
Click OK to close the site definition.

Note: This will not work for proxies which require separate log in and authentication such as a SOCKS proxy server.

19. Verify that your router is not causing your issue.

If you are working in a home or small office environment with a router try plugging the network cable from your DSL/cable modem directly into your computer to verify whether your router is causing a connection issue in Dreamweaver.