How to Upload Files |
Once you have built your web site, the next step is to
upload it to your hosting account web space. By completing this step, your web site becomes
publicly viewable on the Internet.
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To upload your files, you need a program to provide a link between the web server which hosts your site and the computer upon which you have built your website. The 2 most common programs used to upload your web site onto your web space are:
1. An FTP program.
2. Your web site design program.
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| FTP Program |
Using an FTP program is the most common method for uploading file to your web space. The following three steps will provide you with a walkthrough of the entire uploading process.
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| 1. Getting Your Log-in Information |
Before logging into your hosting account via FTP you need to know
three key pieces of information:
1. Your FTP username
2. Your FTP password
3. The host address for your web site
This information can be found by logging into the control panel of your web host. To do this,
visit the web site of your web host and click the account login button on their home page. From
the control panel there will a page where you can configure FTP usernames and passwords. The host
address for your web site is simply yourdomainname.com.
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| 2. Getting an FTP Program |
The next step in uploading your web site is to get an FTP program.
Some web hosts have FTP programs available for download on their web site. If your host doesn’t
have any software for download you can go to a software portal web site such as www.download.com
and search for FTP software. There are several free or shareware FTP programs available, one of
the more popular ones being CuteFTP.
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| 3. Uploading Your Files |
After downloading and installing your FTP software you will need to
configure it with your login information. Usually, when you first launch the program, you will be
prompted for your FTP account information. After entering your FTP username, password and the host
address for your website, you can connect to your FTP account using the connect button.
Once logged in, you are ready to upload your web site. Depending on the FTP program you are using,
there will be an interface similar to the Windows explorer, with the left pane of the window showing
the files on your computer and right pane showing the files on the web server. From the left pane,
you should browse to the folder where you have stored your web site files. Then, you can drag all
of these files into the right pane. After completing this step, your web site has been successfully
uploaded and your web site is immediately viewable at www.yourdomainname.com.
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| 4. Browser Based FTP Program |
Some Web hosts provide their customers with a browser based FTP program that is
available through their control panel. These programs function very similarly to an FTP program
that you download however the login step is usually automatic. The downside of using this method
for uploading your web site is that it becomes inconvenient if you update your site frequently.
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| Publishing from a Design Program |
Some web site design programs such as Microsoft FrontPage have a built-in
publishing feature. This feature lets you upload your web site files directly to your web space
after you have finished building your web site. To do this, you can select the “Publish” option
from the menu bar of the program. You will then be prompted for your account login information.
After logging in, the design program functions like an FTP program, letting you upload the files
for your web site.
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