Show your site to the world
Step 5: Web Publishing
Showing your website files on the web
Make your Business Visible.
Web Hosting - Uploading your content to make it visible to all on
the internet
you will need:
- the files created, (including your index file)
- username and password for the web hosting account
Then there are several methods for web publishing the
files on your web space:
- Use the administration tools provided by your web
hosting service
- Use a dedicated web publishing file transfer
software
- Use the web publishing tools that are part of your web authoring
tool (most of them have this feature integrated)
- Use your browser (Internet Explorer for
example)
1. Using the web publishing facilities in your host's Administration
Tool:
The instructions included in these modules are usually self explanatory and easy
to follow. Depending on the capabilities of your hosting services tools there may some limitations
on what these web publishing tools can do.
For example, you may have to duplicate the folder structure identical to the
way you have saved the files on your computer. This is because some of these systems do not allow
to upload folders, but only files.
2. Web publishing using a dedicated file transfer
software:
There are many file transfer software systems available. Some are free of charge,
some have a 30 day trial period others cost some money. What it means is, that when using this type
of software, there is a bit of a learning curve. You will need to learn some intricacies of the
system and how to set up your uploads, passwords and hosting details within these
systems.
But once it is set up, it is really simple to manage the files that you have
published.
3. Using the integrated tool of your website editing
software.
The setup within these systems is similar to the ones in dedicated software
packages, but has an advantage that the file integrity is generally better maintained. This means
that the file is placed into the right folder and the links you have created within your site are
pointing to the correct files and folders automatically. (Example: xSitePro manages this aspect for you)
4. Web publishing using your web browser:
This is probably the most basic way to access your web space,
because everyone is already familiar with the browser. It may however be, that your host does not
allow direct access to your webspace.
But it does not hurt to try:
For web publishing using your browser, instead of typing
"www.forexampleyourwebsite.com", you type
"ftp.forexampleyourwebsite.com" into the address bar of
your browser. Usually some type of error message appears at this point, letting you
know that you can not anonymously access this folder or something similar.
You aknowledge this message and then go to the browsers "File"
Menu and select "Login As...", which will bring up a dialog box asking
for your username and password. You enter these as provided by your web hosting
company and hit OK.
If access is granted, you will now be at the right spot where you want to place
the files you have created earlier.
Find the files on your computer, copy them as
well as all the underlaying folders and paste them into the window you have
reached via the ftp command. That's all.
What ever method you use, when web publishing, it is most important you
maintain the file structure of the site exactly the same way you have generated them on your
computer, otherwise the links or images etc. will not work propperly.
Now you can go and visit your website from the internet.
|
Recommended Steps forward:
Search Google for "ftp Software"
A free trial software: CuteFtp
A free web publishing software: SmartFTP
If you are using Firefox browser, there are plugins that allow you to do
the same thing as well.
I use the FireFTP plugin for uploading my files.
(link above opens in a new window)
|
