Transferring a typical spreadsheet or word processor document of 100 Kbs can take between one and three minutes depending on your modem and file transfer software. There are several alternatives should you need to transfer large numbers of files or correspondingly large amounts of data. If you plan ahead, you can transfer larger amounts of data using a floppy disk. Use the floppy disk to transfer files between the remote and office workstations. Alternatively, you can use a file transfer package that runs in the background.
Some programs reduce the file transfer time by only updating the changes in the file.
This approach is suitable for large numbers of small or medium size files but may prove frustrating for larger files. Most file transfer packages do not cope well with transmission problems on the communications link. For example, noise on the line may necessitate several attempts at transferring large files before succeeding. If you need to transfer larger amounts of data on a regular basis, consider a higher speed digital communications link. Your telecommunications and network service provider can supply you with various technologies depending on the equipment they have .