WinSCP Table of Contents

• What is WinSCP?
• Download and Install WinSCP
• Connecting to a Host
• Downloading a file
• Uploading a file

What is WinSCP?

WinSCP is the Chemistry ITG's recommended secure file transfer application for Windows. It uses the SSH protocol to connect to a UNIX host, and provides an easy to use interface to download or upload files. For more information, see the WinSCP website at http://winscp.sourceforge.net/eng/

Download and Install WinSCP

First download WinSCP from ftp://ftp.chem.indiana.edu/pub/Windows/winscp356setup.exe

When you open the winscp356setup.exe file that you downloaded, you should have an installer launch. I recommend going with all of the defaults, so once you accept the License, you can just click "Next" until the window closes.

At the last screen, it will ask if you wish to launch WinSCP. Leave the box checked and click "Finish". If you do not do this, you can still launch WinSCP from the desktop or start menu.

Connecting to a Host

When you first start WinSCP, you are greeted with a Login interface as below:

Type in the hostname of the machine you wish to connect to, as well as your username. You can click "Save" in order to store this information for future sessions, or Login to just connect right away.

If you have never connected to this host before, you will be asked to save it's encryption fingerprint locally. You will want to click "Yes" at this prompt:

It will then ask for your password. If you type the password in wrong, it will prompt you again.

Once you have successfully connected in, you will get a file management interface similar to:

Downloading a file

By default, WinSCP file interface has two panes to it. The left side is the "local side", which starts out as the "My Documents" folder for your user, and the right side is the remote server you have connected to, which starts out as your home directory.

If you want to copy a file from the remote server to the "My Documents" folder, you can just select a file on the right hand side, and then drag it to the left pane.

You will be prompted with a box asking if there are any specific download options you wish to use. In nearly all cases, the defaults are fine, so you can just click the button labelled "Copy".

The file will then appear on the left pane.

If you wish to save to another location, you can navigate through the directories by clicking on them, and go up a level by clicking on the first icon on your left (the folder with the up arrow).

Uploading a file

Uploading a file is very similar in process to downloading one. Now you want to drag a file from the left (local) pane to the right (server) pane.

You will again be prompted for any specific settings you wish to change for the upload file. Click "Copy" to upload the file.

Usually it's safe to go with the defaults, though it may be useful to use the permissions dialog if you wish to lock down access to this file on the server.