[jdorisco]

I accidentally (it's a long story) changed some .JPG images into html and I don't know how to convert back to JPG, or if it can be done. Have I lost my precious pictures for good?

[brendandonhu]

You can't convert between a picture and text...what did you do to change them?
If you just changed the name to .html, rename it back to .jpg and it will be fine.

[jdorisco]

Somewhere - I got the impression that ALL webpage content (including graphics) was HyperText. I'll try changing it to .JPG.

[brendandonhu]

No, a graphics file is binary data. HTML is plain text. You can't just switch between the two.
What had you done to the JPG file to change it?

[aewarnick]

If you want the jpeg image you can usually right click on it and save it. Is that what you want? Or you can use a program like WebStripper to download the entire page or site, including the images that go with it.

[jdorisco]

Using an FTP program, I tried to upload some pictures to a webpage. When the pix did not appear on the site, I deleted them from the destination server. When I visited my original pictures file, I was shocked to find that the process had not merely copied - but removed all of the pictures, and now there is only a file filled with html. I have recovered some of the pix from my harddrive, but some of them have been corrupted/overwritten. These were all pictures of my Granddaughter, but it's not the end of the world. We still have lots of pictures of her, and I have learned a valuable lesson. Backup! - Backup! - Backup! Thanks for the info. on html and binary

[aewarnick]

What ftp program did you use?

[Rockn]

If you deleted them on the destination server side they are gone. Unless you have backup copies of the images your ISP will have to restore them from backup.

[aewarnick]

But the ftp program should not have touched the original files, merely read and copied them. What ftp program did you use and what exacly did you do?

[jdorisco]

The program is Core FTP LE. I don't know if I can remember the exact steps I took. When I started the file transfer attempt, the location of the pictures was already typed into the directory window. (probably from an earlier attempt). I'm not sure, but I think I either dragged the picture file to the "index html folder, or I just clicked the upload arrow and the transfer appeared to be successful. But when I visit(ed) the site, all I see is a box with a red X and the right-click/show picture doesn't work. I've been trying (off and on) for months to upload pictures to my webpage. After this experience, I'm afraid to go near an FTP program.

[brendandonhu]

Did it show a red X when you went directly to the URL of the image file?
If so, you probably uploaded the file as "Binary" instead of "ASCII"

[aewarnick]

Download WS_FTP. I always use binary; I don't think that is the problem. You most likely typed a bad url for all the pictures.

[Rockn]

It will delete them on the destination server believe me. To quote our friend here "When the pix did not appear on the site, I deleted them from the destination server."

Sure sounds to me like they were deleted.

[aewarnick]

Quoting our friend again: "When I visited my original pictures file, I was shocked to find that the process had not merely copied - but removed all of the pictures"

The ftp program shouldn't have messed with the originals.

[brendandonhu]

He may have chosen to Move the files instead of Copy by accident.