getting files from network/internet

i was just reading up on petzold and he talks about FTP and it's usefulness. and i'm planning on writing this program where two computers have a form of communication with each other via either a network (lan) or the internet. but the way they would communicate would be through a server which would act as a middle man.

and this server would have x amount of files that each computer on each end would be interested in. and when the computer logs on to the server that computer can view the file, etc.

with my plan on this, i'm guessing i would use FTP to carry this out? and this would be the WinInet API, correct? or am i thinking of something else?

i'm not really sure, because do i want to use WinSock to connect to a server (TCP/IP)? but if so, i would need to download files which would require FTP. but if i use FTP with WinInet will i be able to work with servers? you see my little interchangability problem?

any ideas how i should go about this? thanks.

FTP is a protocal that is implemented using winsock (or berkly sockets) - the API itself does not supply FTP functionality. You will have to come up with your own protocal for comunicatining between client and server - not a trivial task.

gg

so then i just connect to a server and then transfer files (data) accordingly. but the winsock lets me transfer data, right, so thats enough to just send a file over the network/internet. right?

thanks

Sure - its kinda like reading writting from streams, just a different set of API's and a different set of gotcha's.

gg

You are still unsure of the design. Post a specific question after you have a design ready.

Kuphryn