i don't have an answer for that, but I suppose it depends on your operating system and the ftp program you use?

My ftp client doesn't seem to have a setting for this, so I guess it is up to the server (it only happens in the remote folder). The server is running linux with some unknown ftp server.

I've been reading about this and found that the normal policy of ftp servers is to hide any files or folders that begin with a dot.
Which mean that if you ask the server to list the files and folders (LIST command) in a folder, it will not list these files. However you are still able to store and fetch them (upload/download) when you specify their name explicitly. Likewise, you can list the content of a folder, whose name starts with a dot, if you specify the name of the folder explicitly.

My problem was (and I guess this could be the problem for most ftp clients) that when the client asks the server to list the content of a directory, and the result excludes hidden folders, the client will think that the folder is not there and therefore will not ask to list the content of the folder. A bit tricky, and a real problem, when trying to compare local and remote folders and syncronize them. The client would think that a whole folder of files have not been uploaded.

The solution in my case was really simple though.
If you add the -a switch to the list command (LIST -a), most ftp servers will honour the request to show ALL files and folders.
I was lucky that my client had an option in the preferences to customize the list command. By simply typing -a in the LIST options box, everything is working like a charm.

Other clients might not have this simple option or the server might not show dot-files even with the LIST -a command. If you have other solutions, please share them!

Jakob

glad you found the solution.
Which ftp program are you using?

"Beyond Compare"
Great little tool, easy to use - only freezes from time to time.
It's not only for ftp. It keeps your local files in sync as well.