How do you download a document from a remote computer?

It depends. There are different options: an old way but still used is FTP, now there also is PUTTY (there may be others too, ask your system admin). If the remote computer allows you to use FTP (file transfer protocol) then this is how. You'll find out fairly fast whether you'll need a username and passWord when you hook up to the remote computer.

1. Get online (eg dialup, broadband etc);

2. Remember that your own computer is local (here) and the remote computer is, well, remote (there);

3. If using a browser, e.g. internet Explorer or Firefox, type the URL in the address box e.g. ftp://the.remote.computer/. A screen will appear with folder (directory) listings. Navigate through these in the usual way. Another Windows-type application, e.g. WS_FTP, has two side-by-side Windows: one showing what's on your local computer, the other the contents of the remote computer. This type of application is fairly intuitive and usually involves clicking buttons to move/copy files from one side to another;

4. If using an FTP through a command-line program, e.g. Telnet, then open this application and type 'open the.remote.computer' (or similar command, depends on the software you're using). Once you get in (possibly after entering a username and passWord), then navigate around using Linux or unix commands (probably) e.g. 'ls' to show the contents of the current directory (folder), 'CD' to change directory. If you're accessing the remote computer using a command-line interface, then to download you must 'get' a file in order to download to your local computer. You may need to have moved to your preferred download folder (directory) first before downloading as this is where the file will be downloaded to when you enter the download command. Otherwise after the download, search your computer using e.g. Windows Explorer, for the filename (remember or write this down before beginning the download!).