Using FTP
What is FTP and What is it Used for?
First of all, i'll clear up what FTP is, FTP is only avaliable for people with subdomains
and domains. So that means if you are hosted by piczo, freewebs, myspace, etc, FTP will NOT
work!
FTP is very important if you want to build your website. It allows you to transfer
and edit your all (or most) of your web pages.
If you having trouble understanding what FTP is (it's probably to do with my explaining)
click here to
read ''what is ftp?'' in a more detailed/professional manner.
Before I get started on teaching you how to use FTP you'll need an FTP program! I use
smart FTP, and I recommend it. :) You can
download it here.
Getting Started with FTP
I will be using Smart FTP in this tutorial to show you how to use it.
1. Download Smart FTP onto your DESKTOP. You can download it here.
2. When you have downloaded Smart FTP on your desktop, you should see two icons. They should look like this:
Double click on the the world icon with the red ring around it and it should say ''SmartFTP Client''
underneath the world icon.
(This is the program that we are going to use to transfer files)
You should see a pop up reminder (It will pop-up everytime you open up your FTP client.)
If you are using FTP for non-profit use (like me) you do not need to buy a
license. So you can just ignore it and click OK. :)
I've highlighted the part where it states so.
3. OK, so now at the top (under File, Commands etc) here you log into your FTP account.
If you have a subdomain, or have been hosted, your host should of given you your log in information.
If not, just ask your host kindly. :)
If you own a domain, log into your Cpanel and create your own FTP account.
Your FTP log in information is USSUALLY something like this:
Connection URL:The URL of your host or server. It ussually has ftp. at the front. (E.g. ftp.beautifulmistakes.unphased.org)
Username/Login:yoursitename@yourhost (or heres a better example; beautifulmistakes@unphased.org)
Password:You or your host should only know this. Make sure you keep this private for secuirty reasons... :)
PORT Your port number is ussually 21, but it could be something else depending on your host.
click here for a screenshot of where you should be filling in your login information.
4. Once you're done filling in your login information, hit enter on your keyboard.
Now, your FTP account should be quite empty, unless your host has put uploaded something in their for you.
(E.g. ''cgi-bin'' and a file called ''.ftpquota'') You can ask your host about those
files, or leave them alone.
5. Heres a little directory map I made for you to show you what, and where the things are
in ftp. I guess it's like a little guide as well. :) (*Click thumbnail below to view full size)
UPLOADING FILES/FOLDERS
6. Now, to upload files, just right click in the RED section (as shown in the screenshot thumbnail in step 5.)
and select Upload>>Direct>>Select (*Click thumbnail below to view full size)
Now this should come up:
Select ''Add File'' or ''Add Folder'' depending on what you are uploading. Then
browse what you want to upload (you can upload more than one file/folder at once) and then select OK. (Make
sure the file has an appropiate extension at the end; NOT .txt; E.g. .html, .php, .htm, etc.
FTP should now be transfering your file/folder. And you can tell this by looking in the ORANGE
section (as shown in the screenshot thumbnail in step 5.) And you can tell in the ORANGE section
because all these words should appear in the ORANGE section. Heres part of it in my screenshot.
USING/CREATING FOLDERS
Using folders in FTP is a really good idea because it keeps you VERY organised;
especially if you have/are going to have alot of pages on your website.
7. All you need to do is right click in the RED section (as shown in the screenshot thumbnail
in step 5.) or in the place where you upload your files/folders, and then select
New>>Folder
Now just name your folder (Right click on folder>>rename) and to upload a file in your new
folder, just double click on it and upload a file like normal.
GETTING THE WEB PAGE URL
This is quite similar to getting the URL of a page in freewebs. Actually, it's pretty much
the same. =)
8. Heres an example if you DID NOT place your file in a folder.
Just fill out bits where it's necessary.
Subdomain: http://www.yoursitename.yourhost.org/filename
So for example, if your website was http://www.blahblah.google.com and you wanted to upload
a page that was about you, and you named it ''tiffany.html'' you would have this as the web page
URL:
http://www.blahblahblah.google.com/tiffany.html
Domain: http://www.yoursitename.org/filename
So for example, if your website was http://www.google.com and you wanted to upload
a page that was about you, and you named it ''tiffany.html'' you would have this as the web page
URL:
http://www.google.com/tiffany.html
9. Heres an example if you HAVE placed your file in a folder.
Just fill out bits where it's necessary.
Subdomain: http://www.yoursitename.yourhost.org/foldername/filename
So for example, if your website was http://www.blahblah.google.com and you wanted to upload
a file/page that was called ''icons.html'' in the folder called ''graphics'' you would have this
as the URL:
http://www.blahblah.google.com/graphics/icons.html
Domain: http://www.yoursitename.org/foldername/filename
So for example, if your website was http://www.google.com and you wanted to upload
a file/page that was called ''icons.html'' in the folder called ''graphics'' you would have this
as the URL:
http://www.google.com/graphics/icons.html
NOTE ONE:The extension I have used (.html) is JUST AN EXAMPLE. You may have .php or .htm
or whatever your extension is for the file name at the end.
NOTE TWO: Where I have used .org at the end of the part of the site url, it is
JUST AN EXAMPLE.
You may have .com or .net or .co.uk or .com.au ETC.
DELETING A FILE
This is very easy. All you need to do is click on the file ONCE. Or you can highlight it if you
want, whatever suits you, and press ''DELETE'' on your keyboard.