File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Instructions
There are many different operating systems (Windows 98/NT; Unix, OS400) and
different software programs that have FTP ability. For the purposes of providing
this document, we are offering step by step instructions for
DOS Command Line FTP:
DOS Command Line FTP Instructions
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Advisory to Employers Automating the FTP Process
If your company is planning or considering the automation of
the file transmission using FTP, we strongly encourage you to
incorporate some type of reporting to key staff if the file
transfer fails for any reason.
By knowing when a file was not successfully transmitted, you
can ensure your company's compliance with new hire reporting
laws and retransmit the file as soon as possible. This advisory
is only meant for employers who are programming their computer
systems to automatically transmit new hire data files.
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File Naming Guidelines
When you are ready to save your file, please name the file with the first
four characters of your company name, plus the day and month you are creating
it. For example:
Acme Incorporated, file created on December 1st- acme1201.txt
Microsoft Corporation, file created February 14th- micr0214.txt
If you are unable to use this naming convention, please name your file as
uniquely as possible. Using 4-8 letters that are an acronym of your company
name, or actually spelling your company name is acceptable.
Please do not use "newhire" or any variation of "newhire"
for your file name.
This file layout has been created for employers who have the ability to
export new hire data from their existing payroll or human resources software. If
you have any questions, or need further assistance with reporting
electronically, please
contact
our office.
DOS Command Line FTP Instructions
To begin FTP transmissions, employers must first make a connection with the
Maryland New Hire Registry's FTP server. Once a connection has been
established, users will have to provide a host name, user name, and a password.
Host name:
ftp.mdnewhire.com
User name: anonymous
Password: your email address (employer@domain.com)
Step by Step Instructions
Please press your enter/return key at the end of each command. At the DOS prompt:
Type: |
FTP |
- You will get the "ftp>" prompt
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|
Type: |
open ftp.mdnewhire.com
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- You will get the "connected to
mdnewhire.com"
message with another message following it. It will then prompt you for user:
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Type: |
anonymous |
- Message should state "Anonymous access allowed, send
identity (e-mail name) as password:"
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Type: |
ie: yourname@tmch.net |
- You will receive a message "Welcome to the New Hire FTP
site. Be sure to change to the appropriate directory for your state. Anonymous
user logged in"
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Type: |
put "c:\path\filename.ext" |
- The actual path will be typed here. Do not use quotation
marks. You will receive a message saying "PORT command successful".
Opening ASCII mode data connection for <filename>. Transfer complete."
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Type: |
quit |
- After you receive the above confirmation message Type Quit.
You will then receive the message "thank you and goodbye"
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You are now finished. The following page is a screen print showing you what
your screen would look like.
Troubleshooting Tips specific to DOS
- DOS-FTP can only support 8-character file and directory names, plus a
3-character file extension. Be sure your file name and any directory where
it is stored has a name which contains 8 characters or less, plus the 3
character extension.
- If you have trouble transferring the file, try locating the file directly
in a "root" directory on either the "C:" or
"A:" drive. This will eliminate the need to type a long path name.
You can now retry the "PUT" command to initiate the file transfer.