FTP Aliases

[paulc]

Not 100% sure why, but I just can't find much to like about the name for this functionality. Personally, I think FTP Droplet is more descriptive. Not sure you want to entertain changing it's name, but probably worthwhile to see if someone can come up with a killer name...

That being said, I DO have some ideas (and questions). First, I find what one needs to do to MAKE one to be very counter intuitive (as in PITA). One has to not only connect, BUT make sure the server is highlighted before the option opens up. One SHOULD be able to make one whenever one has the bookmark list (or individual bookmark in edit mode) open and one highlighted.

The question centers around the password. Because passwords are totally obscured in Yummy, I make sure they all come from my keychain. BUT what happens when I make a FTP Droplet (err Alias)? Theoretically, as long as I run it ON my machine, it can still get the password from the keychain. BUT what if I intend to use the FTP Droplet/Alias, say, on my work computer, do I have to manually enter the password in the bookmark, THEN make the FTP Droplet/Alias? Or is Yummy smart enough to embed the password into that FTP Droplet/Alias automatically, even if it's source is the keychain and not the bookmark?

[JD]

Not 100% sure why, but I just can't find much to like about the name for this functionality. Personally, I think FTP Droplet is more descriptive. Not sure you want to entertain changing it's name, but probably worthwhile to see if someone can come up with a killer name...

I gave it the Alias name after the classic Mac OS feature - the  'alias'

With a Mac folder alias you can double click it to view the contents and drop items on it to transfer them there. That's exactly how an FTP Alias behaves. FTP Alias is, quite literally, an alias to an FTP folder

That being said, I DO have some ideas (and questions). First, I find what one needs to do to MAKE one to be very counter intuitive (as in PITA). One has to not only connect, BUT make sure the server is highlighted before the option opens up. One SHOULD be able to make one whenever one has the bookmark list (or individual bookmark in edit mode) open and one highlighted.

I guess I could make it easier, yes Thanks for the feedback.

The question centers around the password. Because passwords are totally obscured in Yummy, I make sure they all come from my keychain. BUT what happens when I make a FTP Droplet (err Alias)? Theoretically, as long as I run it ON my machine, it can still get the password from the keychain. BUT what if I intend to use the FTP Droplet/Alias, say, on my work computer, do I have to manually enter the password in the bookmark, THEN make the FTP Droplet/Alias? Or is Yummy smart enough to embed the password into that FTP Droplet/Alias automatically, even if it's source is the keychain and not the bookmark?

The password that was used to successfully connect to the server is stored in the Bookmark. If you intend to distribute an FTP Alias you should use the new Secure variant so that the login details cannot be viewed or edited.

[paulc]

Interesting.

I have an "old" one connecting to my website. Double clicking it ends up showing me a directory listing. I made another one, but used the "secure" setting. THIS one, if double clicked, gives me a dialog box about needing to drop files on it, then it quits after the dialog's OK is pressed.

Is THIS action the result of making it a secure one? FWIW, the "secure' one is about 600k larger, although the 5.1MBs for it aren't all that large.

Just to make it REALLY clear to my ancient gray matter (AGM), even if the password is ONLY in my keychain, making a "secure" ftp alias will embed that password; now I can drop files at the office to my website!

Even so, if I had a non-secure one on my machine at work, even of someone had the full app, the best they would see is the remote server's address and my username; the password would be redacted, right?

[JD]

The secure variant does not allow the server directory to be viewed. That's part of the security, that if you gave the FTP Alias to somebody, they couldn't go browsing your server. So to answer our question - yes, the dialog box that comes up when double clicking it is a result of being a secure variant.

The secure variant embeds the password into it, so you can safely distribute it with the knowledge that the settings cannot be viewed or edited. So, to answer your question, yes you can use it to drop files to your website from the office.

The non-secure one could be edited to see the other settings, although the password will be not be readable. However, I don't recommend distributing these or leaving them in publicly accessible places. The secure variant was made with good reason! Mind you, if your computer has Yummy installed on it and you leave your computer open to the public then all bets are off - you're asking for it!