You need an FTP software package to upload your files with. It's much quicker than using the CPanel. There are a number out there, but the one I use most is a free FTP called FileZilla available from SourceForge. As a matter of fact, Sourceforge is the place to find a whole slew of really good software packages to help you with managing your site and creating webpages. You can download FileZilla from Sourceforge HERE.
Note: FileZilla is a cross-platform graphical FTP, FTPS and SFTP client a lot of features, supporting Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and more. I've personally been using it for about 8 years.
On the Sourceforge site, choose the FileZilla version that suits your operating system (unless you are familiar with .tar files, choose either .exe or .zip version), and click the download link.
Once you download the file - be sure to remember where you have saved it to - navigate to its location using Windows Explorer. If you've chosen the .exe file, start the setup by double-clicking on it. If you have the .zip extension, unzip it usting Winzip - available HERE and then double-click on the setup file. Follow the instructions in the Setup window to install FileZilla on your computer.
When you open FileZilla, you will see the following elements:
- Across the top, on the bottom of the menubar, the Quickconnect facility. Fill in the information for connecting to your server:- ftp.yourdomain.com in the left-hand box, and your server login and password in the 2nd and 3rd. FileZilla has a default for the Port box. Click Quickconnect button on the far right and the software will connect to your domain on the server.
- Below the top bar is a window displaying the connection activity. Keep an eye on it - it tells you how the connection to the server is progressing and records activity on the connection once established. It reads green when all is well and red if there is no connection.
- Below the connection window are 2 panes. The one on the left is a double panel showing the files on your hard drive. The one on the right shows the files on the server. Below I'll describe in more detail how to upload.
- At the bottom of the window is a panel showing the status of the uploads - you can see the file names as they upload in this part of the window.
- In the lefthand panel, navigate to where your site files are on your hard drive. If you locate the folder in the top box, the files will be displayed down below.
- In the righthand panel, you will see a number of folders on your server. What you are looking for is the public_html folder. Double click on that. FileZilla will navigate into that folder.
- Within it, if there is more than one domain on the server, you need to find the folder for your domain - named with a shortened version of your domain name. Double click on that folder. If you have a single domain, once you get into the public_html folder you should be there.
- Once you are inside your domain's folder on the server, you can upload your files listed in the left-hand panel of FileZilla by dragging and dropping them across to the righthand panel. FileZilla will alert you if you already have a file of the name you are transferring on your server and you have to OK an overwrite. There is a checkbox to allow overwrites by newer files in the current session.
If you are uploading a site from scratch, you will find a cgi-bin folder already installed on the server, and a file named either index.html or default.html, which is the place-holder for your index file. When you upload your own index file, it will overwrite the existing index.html. If there is a default.html file there, delete it when you have uploaded your site by right-clicking on the filename and selecting Delete from the drop-down.
NOTICE: Occasionally - very occasionally - after uploading a file FileZilla will fail to return to the folder you were uploading to. Keep an eye on the location recorded at the top of the right-hand panel to make sure you don't upload stuff where you didn't intend. It's just a matter of keeping on top of the job in hand, but it can cause mayhem if you overlook it.
Patricia Howitt
Webdesign, Graphics, Marketing
1st Class Web.Biz
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market, marketing, business, shoestring budget, advertising, promotion, lead capture, landing page, FTP, FileZilla, uploading files
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