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Originally published at Internet.comNetLoad is an advanced file transfer agent that allows you to maintain Web sites via the File Transfer Protocol. The client functions similar to a standard FTP client in that it will allow you to transfer Web documents from your computer to remote FTP/Web sites. NetLoad can be set up to transfer new and/or updated files, remove old files and directories, or even create entire directory structures, making it an ideal client for mirroring a Web site or multiple Web sites.
Configurable Automatic Update Capabilities
A number of options are available in NetLoad to make the process of transferring files as simple and efficient as possible. You can configure NetLoad to automatically connect on start-up, compare sites after log-in, and then immediately start transferring new and updated files. Another option will have NetLoad automatically update multiple sites upon start-up (all active FTP entries in NetLoad are updated). You can also choose to have NetLoad exit after transferring files to a site (or after a multiple-site transfer).
In addition to its automatic update capabilities, one of NetLoad's best aspects is its ease of use. Intuitive icons and a clean graphical interface make using NetLoad as simple as possible. Features in the client include file filtering options, an automatic time offset feature (for remote sites in different time zones), support for the WinGate proxy server, customizable sounds for file operations, and file transfer logging.
A Couple of Items To Watch Out For
One aspect of NetLoad that new users will need to watch out for is NetLoad's option of deleting files on remote sites that are not on your local PC (when uploading files) as well as deleting files on your local PC that are not on the remote site (when performing a download). An option is available for toggling the automatic deletion feature, but it is turned on by default. When the option is checked, any file marked with a trash icon will be deleted.
NetLoad is only available for 32-bit platforms, but it can be used by all editions of Windows 95/98 and Windows NT4/2000. The downloadable evaluation of NetLoad is not time-restricted, but it is limited to fifty full transfer sessions. Once you reach the limit, only files smaller than 1024 bytes can be transferred. The registered release can be purchased for $39.95.
Overall
In all, NetLoad makes for an excellent choice when you need a tool to facilitate the management of remote Web sites from a local computer. NetLoad handles many of the tasks for you and performs silently and efficiently in the background, allowing you to work on other projects. While apps like Internet Neighborhood and FTP OutBox are more efficient at uploading files to a remote site when you don't need to compare and synchronize sites, NetLoad holds an edge in downloading files as well as synchronizing sites.
Author: Forrest Stroud
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