Fetch Softworks

Fetch, AOL, and MacBook w/Intel Chip (17 posts)

• Started 16 years ago by ymshelanu
• Latest reply 16 years ago from Scott McGuire

• ymshelanu Member

  I can't get Fetch to upload files to my website on AOL using my MacBook computer. I see in the Fetch "help" the suggestion to use a Classic version of AOL software, but Classic apps do not run on the Macs with Intel chips.

  Any other ideas for how to get things to work?

  I can view my web files on the AOL server, I can download them; just can't upload them.

  Thx

  Jon

  [This message has been edited by ymshelanu (edited 07-03-2007).]

  Posted 16 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi,

  I've looked into using Fetch with AOL, and the information in the FAQ is a little out of date, sorry.

  In order to be able to use Fetch with your AOL website, you need to do the following:

  * First, you must run the AOL software, sign in to AOL with your screen name, and stay signed in, in order for Fetch to access your AOL webspace. AOL will not let Fetch access your webspace if you are not signed in to AOL with the AOL software on the same Mac at the same time. You do not need to use the classic version of the AOL software to do this; the current Mac OS X version will work.

  * Then in Fetch, connect to the AOL server with the following information:

  Hostname: members.aol.com
  Username: ftp
  Password: your-AOL-screenname@aol.com
  (replace "your-AOL-screenname" with your screen name)

  * Then try uploading.

  If your AOL account doesn't offer unlimited use - that is, you are charged for every minute you're signed on - you can avoid those charges by entering a "free" area via keywords such as "billing" while you are uploading files in Fetch. Fetch will work normally while you are in a free AOL area.

  Please let us know if this does not fix the problem for you.

  Thanks,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 16 years ago #

• ymshelanu Member

  Thanks for your response, Scott.

  First of all, when I tried to connect, I got a dialogue saying, "If you do not disconnect, your password will be sent over the network in the clear." When I chose to ignore, it took me to some general ftp space - not mine.

  When I was able to get into my files, when I tried to upload, the server was returning a message saying, "Only 'incoming' directories are guest writable."

  Any other ideas?

  Jon

  [This message has been edited by ymshelanu (edited 07-04-2007).]

  Posted 16 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi Jon,

  The warning about sending your password in the clear isn't related to trying to connect to AOL. You'll get it any time you use FTP and the "Warn before sending password insecurely" preference is on; that preference is only useful when you are connecting to servers that support secure connections like SFTP or FTPS, because it can warn you that you aren't making a secure connection. But the only way to connect to AOL's FTP space is with regular, unsecure FTP, so you would always get that warning.

  You can turn the warning about sending your password in the clear off by:

  * Choosing Preferences from the Fetch menu.
  * Click the Security tab.
  * Uncheck the "Warn before sending password insecurely" checkbox.

  For the problem with ending up connecting to some general FTP space, the next thing I would try is to download and install the most recent version of the AOL software for Macintosh. Older versions of the Mac OS X software didn't allow you to connect to your FTP space. You can get the latest version from here:

  http://www.aol.com/downloads/

  Then once you've installed it, sign in to AOL, and try connecting to your FTP space with Fetch.

  Let us know if that helps.

  Thanks,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 16 years ago #

• ymshelanu Member

  Hi again, Scott.

  Thought about that, and checked - I do have the latest AOL software for Mac.

  Jon

  Posted 16 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi Jon,

  Sorry, I'm afraid I'm out of suggestions - while I was able to connect to the web space for our test AOL account on Mac OS X (on an Intel Mac) using the steps outlined above, perhaps it doesn't work in all cases? There have been problems with this in the past on Mac OS X (as noted in the FAQ), and from my testing it looked like they had been fixed, but maybe not.

  I think your only alternative is to use the AOL software to upload the files to your AOL webspace. If you enter the keyword "FTP", it will take you to a page where you can upload stuff to your AOL web space.

  Sorry not to have a better answer,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  [This message has been edited by ScottMcGuire (edited 07-05-2007).]

  Posted 16 years ago #

• ymshelanu Member

  One last question: could it be the version of Mac OS X? I'm running 10.4.10. Do you know what the issue with the OS was that it wouldn't work in the past?

  Maybe this is an issue to take up with Apple?

  Oh, and if this helps, I'm able to upload to a Verizon website using Fetch.

  Thx for all of your time.

  Jon

  [This message has been edited by ymshelanu (edited 07-05-2007).]

  Posted 16 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi Jon,

  I was also using Mac OS X 10.4.10 for my testing.

  The problem isn't with Mac OS X, the problem is with the AOL software for Mac OS X (sorry, I realize I was a little unclear on that in the past) and how AOL accepts connections to their FTP/web server - it is a problem peculiar to their setup that can prevent any FTP software besides theirs from working with their server.

  As I said, I am not sure why it worked for me; this was a surprise to us as well (because, as the FAQ said, we did not believe it worked at all with the AOL for Mac OS X software). We had supposed it was a change in their software.

  Sorry,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 16 years ago #

• ymshelanu Member

  The reason I asked is b/c I've been able to use other FTP programs in the past; when they stopped working, I decided to try other FTP programs, and found Fetch. It seems to me that the problems started around when I ran a Software Update.

  I'll try contacting AOL, and see what happens.

  Again, thanks for all of your time. I really would like to resolve this, so that I'm able to use Fetch. Your customer support is great. :)

  Jon

  Posted 16 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi Jon,

  Yes, unfortunately the problem contacting AOL will affect all FTP clients.

  It shouldn't interfere with Fetch's ability to connect to other FTP servers (such as Verizon, as you already noted).

  I would try downloading and reinstalling the AOL software anyway, even if you think you have the latest version - you never know.

  And if you hear something useful from AOL, please let us know.

  Best,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 16 years ago #

• ymshelanu Member

  Tried downloading and installing AOL - it said I was already running the current version, but I installed it anyway. No change.

  If I hear anything from AOL, I'll let you know.

  Jon

  Posted 16 years ago #

• ymshelanu Member

  Hi Scott!

  FYI, I contacted AOL help, and they suggested several steps which didn't work (clearing AOL preferences, dumping my filing cabinet, clearing internet preferences).

  They then said that they would refer my problem to their technical staff for investigation.

  I'll let you know what they say.

  Thanks again for taking the time to work with me.

  Jon

  Posted 16 years ago #

• Jim Matthews Administrator

  Thanks for keeping us updated.

  Jim Matthews
  Fetch Softworks

  [Scott is on vacation]

  Posted 16 years ago #

• ymshelanu Member

  I think I figured out the problem. I ctrl-clicked my AOL icon to show the package contents, then went into Contents > MacOS, and issued a "Get Info" command on the AOL icon. I checked the permissions, and noticed that "Others" could "read only." When I changed that to "Read & Write," I was able to upload using Fetch.

  Oh, and I found that I had to add a path: /username in order to get into my site.

  Thanks for your time and help.

  [This message has been edited by ymshelanu (edited 07-22-2007).]

  Posted 16 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi Jon,

  We're glad to hear you got it working. Thanks for the update.

  Best,

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 16 years ago #

• ymshelanu Member

  Hi Scott,

  Yeah - just figured I'd play with something, and it happened to work.

  Hope you enjoyed your vacation!

  Jon

  Posted 16 years ago #

• Scott McGuire Administrator

  Hi Jon,

  Yes, thank you, I did. :)

  Scott McGuire
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 16 years ago #