Publishing Your WWW Files Online

Create a Web Page or Site

You can author HTML (HyperText Markup Language, the code that makes Web pages work) files using any one of a number of DOS, Windows, or Macintosh editors, either those specifically designed to author Web pages, such as Netscape or Mozilla Composer, Macromedia's Dreamweaver, or Microsoft Front Page, or even using just a simple text editor such as Windows Notepad.   For information on creating a Web page using Composer, see the tutorial at http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/~/jwalker/tutorials/composer/. For information on creating a Web page using basic HyperText Markup Language (HTML) coding, see HTML Authoring for Beginners.

Once your WWW files are done, you will want to check them to make sure that all the links and graphics are working properly, that the files are readable in various platforms (i.e., that the files work when viewed with Netscape Communicator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or other browsers, with various preferences, such as font sizes, background and text colors, or other user choices), and that your files are accessible by those with disabilities.
 

Transfer your Files to your Web Page Server

The following directions show steps for uploading (moving files from your local host, that is, your disk drive or hard drive, to your remote host, the WWW server online) and downloading (moving files from your remote host to your local host) using the WS_FTP program, but you can use these directions to help you figure out the required information for other FTP programs if necessary.
 

Step One:  FTP Opening Dialog Box

Once you have installed the FTP software, locate the WS_FTP icon on your desktop or in the Program Files of your Start menu.

The first screen that will appear is the FTP Opening Dialog box (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 The FTP Opening Dialog Box

1. Enter a profile name (choose any name that will help you remember what it is)
2. Enter your host name (everything after the "@" sign in your email address)
3. Enter your User name (your login name, or the name that appears before the "@" sign in your email address)
4. Enter your password
5. NOTE: It is essential that files to be read on the Web be uploaded into your public_html directory.  If you do not start in this directory, see directions below for ensuring that you are in the correct directory before uploading files.
6. Click on "OK"

Step Two: Connection Established

Figure 2 The WS_FTP File Screen

1. Double click on the drive designation where your files are located (usually your a:\ drive) in the left-hand side of the dialog box.
2. Locate your public_html directory on the right-hand side of the dialog box (NOTE: If you do not have a public_html directory, you must create one before uploading your files; for Georgia Southern University, please see the instructions at http://services.georgiasouthern.edu/its/tutorials/createingwebpage.php .)  If you entered sfa/login_name/public_html as your initial directory in the previous step, you will not see the public_html directory on the right-hand side of your screen because you will already be in the public_html directory.  To verify what directory you are in, look at the very top of your WS_FTP screen.  Your current Local Host is shown on the left-hand side (C:\ WINDOWS\desktop in Figure 2) and your current Remote Host directory is shown on the right (sfa/jwalker/ in Figure 2).
3. You are now ready to transfer your files.

Step Three: Transfer Your Files

1. Locate the file you wish to transfer on your disk on the left-hand side of the dialog box.
2. Double-click on the file name to upload the file (to transfer the file to your host server).  The file will then appear in the list on the right-hand side (NOTE:  the file folder icon indicates sub-directories; for more information on creating directories and sub-directories and on managing computer files, see Directories and File Management.)

Your files should now be available for anyone with the URL to view on the Web.  To access them, simply type your URL in the location bar (above) and hit the enter key.  Your URL will be:
 
 

The Protocol	Your Domain Server Name	~Your Login Name	File Name and Extension*
http://	www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/	~my_login_name/	index.html

For example, http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/~my_login_name/index.html
 

* Note: The index.html file is the default file. You can omit this file name from the address and the browser will automatically load it anyway. If, however, the file you are looking for has a different name, then you must include the file name after your home directory (the my_login_name/ directory).

Make Sure your Files Work!

One of the most common problems encountered with graphics and links occurs when authors use the "browse" button to locate pages or graphics on their disks.  Often, the link or image properties will show something like "file:\\\a:|" at the beginning of these addresses. Delete everything except the file name if the file is in the same location as the page you are editing.  For links to external files (files on someone else's Web site, make sure you have included the protocol (e.g., the "http://") in your link address.

    Setting Permissions to Make Your Files Readable

If the version of FTP you are using does not include this choice, then you will need to connect to your account using a telnet application such as Ewan Telnet.  Once you are logged on, you must make sure you are in the public_html directory.  At your server prompt (usually a "$") type:

cd public_html

If you don't receive an error message of some kind, then the command worked.  Unix (the operating system of your Web server) is funny that way.  A successful command will be greeted by returning you to your $prompt. Next, type:

chmod 755 index.html

(NOTE:  replace "index.html" with the name of each of your files in turn to make all of your files readable.)

Good luck, and happy Web authoring!