The process by which files are transferred to the web server is called "FTP" (File Transfer Protocol). You have unlimited access via FTP 24 hours a day. As such, you can create and maintain your web pages on your own computer and upload files to your web site at your leisure.
Online services which offer an Internet gateway, such as AOL, CompuServe, and Prodigy may have a built-in FTP interface. If you have a PPP Internet account, you need an FTP program.
If you are using FrontPage, you must create your new web on the "localhost" system. This is accomplished by selecting "create new web," and then entering "localhost" in the line where it asks for the web location. Once you have completed your web on your computer, you can then select the "publish web" option from the file menu in FrontPage Explorer. You will be prompted for your IP address and web name and then it will send it to our servers. Please note that you will be prompted for a user ID and password, and depending on your system configuration it may be the one that we issued you or it may be the one that you entered when you first installed FrontPage. If one does not work, then simply try the other. If you have forgotten what that password was, then you will need to reinstall FrontPage and select a new one.
NOTE: If you are using FrontPage, you should
NEVER use regular FTP to upload your files. This will damage the extensions.
Stick with one or the other all the time.
For instructions for the most popular FTP client software for both PC and Macintosh users, see the instructions to follow.
The following information is contained within your account activation notice and is needed to connect you to your website via FTP:
USERID
PASSWORD
FTP HOSTNAME
Each time you run WS_FTP the Session Profile
window will be displayed. A profile contains the information needed to connect
to your website. Creating a profile now will eliminate the need for you
to configure the software each time you wish to connect to the web server
via FTP. To create a profile, click the "New" button and enter
a generic profile name at the top of the Session Profile window, such as
"My Website." Next, enter your Host Name/Address (yourdomain.com),
User ID (yourdomain), and Password for your website as illustrated in Figure
1A.
Next you need to click "OK" to continue.
This will connect you to the webserver, where you will connect directly
to the root ("home") directory of your account. WS_FTP will display
a split screen where files on the left-hand side are within your own computer.
You will see several folders on the right-hand side such as www, and infobots
which are landmarks suggesting a successful connection to your website,
as illustrated in Figure 1B.
You need to double click on www to get to your web directory. This is where all your files will be downloaded, and/or you will create subdirectories. The only system directory that you may need to use is cgi-bin; this directory is reserved for custom scripts. To make your home page load automatically, name the HTML document "index.htm" in lowercase and upload it to the www directory of your account. To upload a file or files, simply highlight the file(s) on the left and click the right arrow button (->) in the center of the window. Be sure to upload HTML documents and scripts in ASCII mode and images in Binary mode. To transfer a file to a subdirectory, double-click the appropriate subdirectory to open it before transferring the desired file(s). To create a new directory, click on the MkDir button when you are inside the www directory or subdirectory.
As soon as a file is uploaded to the web server, it is available for all to see. If, after uploading a file, you are still unable to see the updated file via Netscape, try hitting the "Refresh" or "Reload" button. If that fails, you need to clear both disk and browser cache. This function can be found by selecting Options>Network Preferences in Netscape. Remember that you must first be connected to the Internet through your local Internet service provider in order to connect to the web server.
The following information is contained within your account activation notice and is needed to connect to your web site via FTP:
USERID
PASSWORD
FTP HOSTNAME
The hostname tells your FTP software to connect to the web server upon which your web site resides.
Each time you run Fetch, the New Connection...
window will be displayed. A profile contains the information needed to connect
to your web site. Creating a profile now will eliminate the need for you
to configure the software each time you wish to connect to the web server
via FTP. To create a new profile, select "New Connection..." from
the File menu. Next, enter the Host (yourdomain.com), User ID (yourdomain),
and password for your web site as illustrated in Figure 2A.
Don't worry about the Directory option right now. When you have your Host, User ID, and Password entered, click on the OK button.
The next window which will pop up will look
virtually the same as Figure 2B, except that yourdomain will be in
the popup window.
Bookmarking the Connection
You should take the time, now that you have
established your connection, to make it easier for you to get here next
time. Under the Customize menu, select New Shortcut. A window will pop up
called Bookmark Editor, as shown in Figure 2C. It will already have
your name, Host, and User ID filled in. Under Type, choose File from the
popup menu. If you would like Fetch to remember your password so you won't
have to type it in each time, type in your password in the Password field.
Now, under the same Customize menu, choose Preferences, and under the General
tab, make sure the connection you just entered is selected as the default
shortcut. Next time you open up Fetch, your shortcut will be opened automatically
and all you'll have to do is click the OK button!
How to Transfer Files
Refer again to Figure 2B. You need to
double-click on www to get to your web directory. This is where all your
files will be downloaded, and/or you will create subdirectories. The only
system directory that you may need to use is cgi-bin; this directory is
reserved for custom scripts. To make your home page load automatically,
name the HTML document "index.htm" in lowercase and upload it
to the www directory of your account. To upload a file or files, simply
drag them from your hard drive onto the Fetch window when you are in the
appropriate directory or subdirectory. Be sure to upload HTML documents
and scripts in Text mode and images in BINARY mode. Or to make life easier,
click on the Automatic button as shown in Figure 2B, and Fetch will
decide the proper format. To transfer a file to a subdirectory, double-click
the appropriate subdirectory to open it before transferring the desired
file(s).
To insure that the Automatic selection works
properly, make sure the selections under the Upload tab in the Preferences
window looks the same as Figure 2D below.
As soon as a file is uploaded to the web server, it is available for all to see. If, after uploading a file, you are still unable to see the updated file via Netscape, you need to hit the Reload button in the Netscape button bar. Remember that you must first be connected to the Internet through your local Internet service provider in order to connect to the web server.