Many people new to the Internet probably don't know about it and most of the computer veterans may rarely think about it, but file transfers are what make the Internet possible and are present in every application we use online.

The World Wide Web (courtesy of Hyper Text Transfer Protocol or that "HTTP" you usually see before Web addresses) is nothing more than a file transfer system designed to keep colorful text, glitzy pictures and stereo sound grouped together. Our WWW browsers like Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer sit waiting for the data to arrive so they can display the files as single, organized Web pages.

In fact, as far as our computer and modems are concerned, e-mail, WWW, Gopher, Telnet and FTP are all just different ways to transfer bits of data from one location to another and are treated the same.

Before the Internet was widely accepted by the public, there were computer Bulletin Board Systems, or BBSs that seasoned computer addicts could "dial into."

Transferring files between these publicly-available computer collections of text, graphics and programs usually meant getting a standard communication package and learning the art of downloading and uploading files through the maze of non-graphical file directories.

Since the public embrace of the Internet, a protocol (or standard) for transferring files emerged called, simply enough, File Transfer Protocol. FTP is often dressed up when used through a World Wide Web browser, but sometimes the old BBS file directory style rears its head and makes getting the files needed difficult for online "newbies."

One of the biggest problems with FTP sites is that often you need to know a specific filename to download. When first attaching to FTP sites, look for files called "index.txt," "readme.txt," or something similar. These files explain what programs you can expect to find and the directories to find them in.

Once you have read about the directory structure, start clicking on the directories to get to the file. For example, if the file you want is called "program.exe" and it is shown in the "/pub/windows/games" directory, you need to first click on the directory called "/pub," then find the directory listed there called "windows," and finally look for "games." Once in that directory, look for files that end in ".txt" and select them to read more about the programs. Notes about the latest features and tips for installation may be included.

Note that not all files will work on all computers. Try to find out if the program you want is specifically designed for IBM-compatibles, Macintoshes or other computers. Text and graphic files will often work on most any computer system.

After determining which file is the latest version of the program you want, simply click on the file. You may be asked where to save the file on your computer. Either save it to a temporary directory, or, in the case of Macintosh, save it to the desktop.

At any time later, you can run the program just like any other file you may have installed on your computer.

Since most programs downloaded from the Internet are compressed to speed the transfer of the program, you may need a decompression program like PKZip for DOS-based programs or Stuffit for Macintosh files.

For a list of FTP sites, I found Tile.Net/FTP to be a good resource. It's easy to search and has reviews about each FTP site listted.

You can always look to ZDNet Software Library or Shareware.Com for the latest and best in general software programs. These may take some of the sting out of hunting for files, but don't expect the complete range of programs you could get directly off good FTP sites.

Finally, there are many different dedicated FTP programs available. I recommend WS_FTP LTE for Windows users. Macintosh users can visit Macworld Online Software Library and type in "FTP" (without the quotes) to search for good Mac FTP programs like "Fetch."

Dedicated FTP programs go above and beyond the capabilities of what you get in your WWW browser, but are usually only needed when uploading files or downloading multiple files at once. You may not need a dedicated FTP program, but it is always a good tool to have in your Internet bag of tricks.