Lesson 04 Publishing and Managing your web site

File Transfer Protocol [Local] <---> [Remote]

When you are ready to Publish, that is, upload files to your web site, you will need some information from your host.
Most Hosts allow you to upload with your web browser, but the http transfer protocol is usually a slow and long and cumbersome way to do it.

FTP/SFTP = File Transfer Protocol or Secure File Transfer Protocol is a faster and better way to transfer the files from your computer to your web sites server!
FTP programs are better as you can see what files you have on your computers web site folder and what's on the host server...
Some programs can synchronize your home, local Master folder and server Remote folder automatically...

Basic Information you need from your Web Site Host to FTP

1. Your FTP Address...

For Comcast and Quest it looks different than a regular ftp address. eg)
Comcast users it's:
                upload.comcast.net

qwest users it's:
            ftp.users.qwest.net

But for other hosts it'll look like this
            ftp.angelfire.com

or it may include your domain name...
        ftp.apple.com

Your provider may give you a set of numbers like 111.222.123.001 (These numbers are what the servers sees, when you use your alpha-numeric URL)
111.222.123.001 You'll note that in this case there is no "ftp" associated with the numbers

2. User Name or User ID

Usually the name you use for your e-mail like garrystasiuk (from garrystasiuk@comcast.net)

3. Password

Usually the same password you need to retreive your e-mail or to log onto your Hot's web site to get your e-mail online.

4. Port number

Normally it is set to or defaults to "21" so if your provider doesn't give you a port number it's automatically "21"

for sftp (secure FTP) the default port number is "22"

5. Name your site

You can call it what ever you want as this name will be for your identification when using an ftp program

FileZilla

Using FileZilla to upload/download files

FileZilla is available for both the PC and Mac. It's free and it's on the class CD

If you place your mouse pointer over the tools in the tool bar, a text window opens telling you what will happen when you click on it.

as shown here (try them out)

messages

The directory tree is mainly used for navigation...Finding files and folders on your computer (Local Site) and the server (Remote Site)

It looks like this

The contents of the folders you click on once in the file tree above will be listed UNDERNEATH in a File Directory below

it looks like this

Picture 4.jpg

If you right click in the tree listing on the left (the listing for your computer (Local Site)

you'll get a requester that allows you to upload from there... it you right click on a file on the directory tree for the server (remote site) the requester will be grayed out)

so, I suggest you turn off the directory trees when you are done with them...

Uploading downloading files

When you want to upload (put) a folder or files

on the server (The remote site) right click on the

folder or file in the Directory listing

Right clicking pops up a window that allows you to do several things

as shown below

In the RED outlined box (Local Site)

you can Upload, Add files to a queue, Enter a Directory, Open a File or Folder, Edit it, Create a Directory, Delete File or a Folder and Re-name the file

all on your computer

To Download (get) a file or folder from the remote site to your computer

Right Click the file or folder

A similar requester pops up on the Remote Site directory

The differences are

Copy URL(s) to clipboard

This allows you to view the uploaded file in your browser by pasting the copied URL into the Browsers URL address box

File permissions...

On some servers you have control over the file as to who has access rights.

I'll cover more about that in class

To display the file in a browser get the URL
right click the file and choose "Copy URL(s) to clipboard"

it looks like this

When you paste the copied URL
You get this
ftp://gts-prof@ftp.angelfire.com/lynnstiglichpg/BobbinLacePracticePage.html

change ftp:// to http://

and the @ to a .
http://gts-prof.angelfire.com/lynnstiglichpg/BobbinLacePracticePage.html

You should see your page in your browser, on the internet!...

The "PUBLISH" Button

Most Web editors or WYSIWYG web editors have a function called Publish
For some the Publish button, simply logs on to your web site and uploads the current web page you are editing or working on and that's it.

Other WYSIWYG editors give you a full robust manager that looks like the dual window FTP programs we see above. In that case you won't need a seperate ftp program
The more robust programs allow automatic synchronization and many other features.
Some "Site" manager programs allow you to edit the html files directly on site...

There is a hands on Class Demo

Always

Save your work and save it often to your home computers's local web site folder
Test early and test often locally... before you upload
Publish, Upload or update your changes to the remote site when you are done editing and testing.
Then, test your upload using a different computer than the one you used to make all the changes...

Review

Here's a really good article, An Absolute Beginners Guide It's a 37 page synopsis based on the book Build your Web Site the Right Way by Ian Lloyd

This link take you to Ian's web site he has some terrific online tools to make your web page fantastic!