FileZilla Tutorial – Importing/Exporting Site Connections, Editing and Logs

In the forth part of our FileZilla tutorials, learn how to import and export site connection settings, edit files from FileZilla and enable logs for your transfers.
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Import and Export site connections

Importing and exporting site connections allows you to efficiently share site connection settings with multiple recipients effortlessly. Recipients can simply import the site connections directly into FileZilla and connect to your server without even needing to know hostname, username or password. Typically, importing and exporting site connections is used to give users – who have no FTP client experience – the ability to connect to their remote site quickly and with ease. To learn how to import and export site connections, follow the instructions below:

To export a site connection, follow the instructions below:

Note: Exporting site connections exports ALL saved site connections.

1. Connect to the account you want to give your user(s) access to.
2. Go to “File” located at the top of FileZilla and select export from the menu.
3. In the export settings window, select “Export Site Manager entries” and “Export Settings”.
   This will export all saved connections: their hostname, username and password information, in addition to any advanced options (does not include PKI keys)
4. Select “Export Queue” to save the current transfers (optional)
5. Select “Export Filters” to save the current filters used in the local or remote browser (optional).

This will create an XML file that can be sent to recipients. Recipients can import the XML file to gain all the saved site connection settings and information.

To import a site connection, follow the instructions below:

To import a site connection, you will need the XML file exported from FileZilla.

1. Go to “File” located at the top of FileZilla and select import from the menu.
2. Browse your local device for the XML file you received or exported from FileZilla.
3. In the import settings window, select the options you want to import and click ok.
4. Open the site manager to view your imported site managers.

Editing files in FileZilla

Edit a file in your remote site. The file will be downloaded as a temporary copy and once updated or changed, the file will automatically upload and overwrite the previous copy. To edit a file in FileZilla, follow the instructions below:

1. Locate the file in your remote site you want to edit.
2. Right click the file and select “View/edit”.
3. If FileZilla does not recognize the file format, it will ask you what editing program to use. Use the browse button to locate the appropriate program.
4. Once you complete your changes close the program. FileZilla will ask you if you would like to re-upload the file into your remote site.

Enabling Logs

Enabling logs will allow you to view all transfers conducted in each FileZilla session. To enable logs, follow the instructions below:

1. Go to “Edit” located at the top of the FileZilla interface and select settings.
2. In the settings window scroll down until you find the logging options.
3. Select “Show timestamps in message log” and select “Log to file”.
4. Specify a name for the log and click “Browse” to select what folder you want the logs to be generated in.
5. Press “Ok” at the bottom of the settings window.