Filesize differences?

[michael1960]

Why are the sizes of the files different on my computer compared to my website server when transferring with FileZilla? I used the comparision feature and it identifed hundreds of files that are different in size. Are these files still ok? I am using FileZilla for the first time. I transferred some files using FTP and Windows Explorer. These files are the same size.

Here is an example:
- file on PC (viewed through FileZilla): 8234
- file on server (viewed through FileZilla: 8114

After copying file to server again but using FTP/Windows Explorer both are 8234.

Is this common for FileZilla? Therefore I assume I will not be able to use the file compare feature based on file size.

Thanks

[boco]

If the files in question are ASCII (text) files, then a slight change in size is normal. Please read about line endings conversion here: Data Type.

[michael1960]

Thanks. The files are text files. I read the information on Data Type.

It just surprised me that when I used Windows Explorer/FTP, control panel File Manager, CoreFTP, etc. the file transferred the same size. But when I used FileZilla the file size was different. It is not for all files but a large percentage of them. I would like to use the compare feature of FileZilla to identify files out of sync based on the file size but with the file size difference it is highlighting too many files that are the same file.

I appreciate the explanation.

[markcooper]

The space allocated to files is determined by the cluster size for the formatted partition. Cluster size is highly variable in FAT32/FAT16 file systems, but Windows 2K/XP using NTFS has clusters of 4096 bytes.To compute the real space allocated to files you need: rounded to the next higher integer x 4096.
FileSize 37352 bytes
FileSize/4096 = 9.11 rounded to 10
Space Allocated 40960 bytes (4096 x 10)
If the file is then compressed the real space allocation may be lower then native FileSize.

[boco]

The space allocated to files is determined by the cluster size for the formatted partition. Cluster size is highly variable in FAT32/FAT16 file systems, but Windows 2K/XP using NTFS has clusters of 4096 bytes.To compute the real space allocated to files you need: rounded to the next higher integer x 4096.
FileSize 37352 bytes
FileSize/4096 = 9.11 rounded to 10
Space Allocated 40960 bytes (4096 x 10)
If the file is then compressed the real space allocation may be lower then native FileSize.

While your information is technically correct, you completely missed the point. Cluster allocation takes place on filesystem level, the OS always shows the real size, for compressed and sparse files, too. Line ending conversion truly changes filesize.

[Poirot]

I know this is an old thread, but it has not really been answered and I have exactly the same problem.
If I FTP using any other program (I use HTML-Kit Tools) then the transferred file is exactly the same, but when I transfer using FileZilla then the file usually grows a little. This suggests it is a FileZilla problem. I tried changing all settings, from default to ASCII and binary but no luck.

Not really a drama, but it means I cannot use the file comparison.

[richosr]

I too am having a problem with Filezilla Files sizes but only since the last update.

My files get smaller when transferring to the server and larger when transferring back.

Yet in every other FTP program, Coffee Cup, Total Commander, Cute FTP and windows explorer the files sizes remain the same both ways.

Why does this happen with Filezilla?

[Poirot]

I changed the transfer type to always binary in Transfer > Transfer type
Forget about "auto", just does not work.
I've had no more problems since changing to binary for all files