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Troubleshooting FTP Directory Listing

Consult the following list if you are having trouble obtaining directory listings at an FTP or SFTP site:

Trouble obtaining a directory listing or Server returns error "425 Can't open data connection"

If you don't see a directory listing in either the server pane or the command window, your server may not support the PASV command. Try clearing the Use passive mode setting in the Connection tab of the Site Properties dialog box.

Trouble seeing all files in a server directory

You may have specified a default wildcard filter for the site's server directory listings. The wildcard filter limits directory listings to files of a specific type. For example, if the filter specifies *.txt, directory listings will show only files that match the wildcard (that is, files ending in .txt).

  • The default wildcard filter for server directory listings is set on the Directories tab in the Site Properties dialog box.

  • When a wildcard filter is in effect, the filter will be shown in the title bar of the FTP Site pane (the right pane).

  • To temporarily override the default wildcard filter for server directory listings, use View > Filter . To see all files and folders in the directory, type * (an asterisk).

Incorrect or empty server file display when connecting to a UNIX server using SFTP

Try changing the Use structured listing data setting (Site Properties > Security > Secure Shell ) if you are connecting using SFTP and the server pane display is missing or is not correctly displayed. This setting specifies which data list style sent by the server is used to create the directory display in the right pane of the FTP Client. When this setting is not selected (the default), the FTP Client uses the standard UNIX-style data list. When it is selected, the FTP Client uses the structured data list.

You see an error message saying "The system cannot find the path specified" when you connect to the server

This error may indicate that the FTP Client is trying to find a local file path that does not exist. Check the local Home folder setting to be sure that the folder path exists on your computer. To view or edit this setting, open the Site Properties dialog box, click Directories , then find Home folder under Local .

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