Creating a Web Site :: Plan :: Host :: Layout :: Design :: Upload :: Traffic :: Upkeep

Uploading the Files

• How do I transfer my web page files to the Internet?
  
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
  
• Setting up WS_FTP
  
• Links to web sites with more information on FTP

How do I transfer my web page files to the Internet?

If you are using Shared, Non-Virtual Hosting, such as Geocities or Tripod to host your site, the file transfer may be built into the host's web site. You should be told how to use this when you sign up for the free service.

In most other situations, you will have to upload the files yourself. This is done using File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

File Transfer Protocol, or FTP, is used to transfer a web page to the host location, or server. It can display both the file structure on the remote server (the 'live' site), and the file structure on the local hard drive (the copy of the site the client's own computer). Files can be transferred back and forth between the client and the server quite quickly and easily. Once a file is sent (copied) to the server, it is 'live' (available for viewing) on the internet.

There are 3 pieces of information you'll need to connect to your FTP server. These are: the host site web address, your username, and your password. The CAP web server is http://cap.ic.gc.ca/ , but this server has several aliases (other names that it can be referred to by). These aliases are http://cap-pac.ic.gc.ca/ and http://pac.ic.gc.ca/ (PAC stands for 'Programme D'Access Communautaire'). To request space on the Industry Canada site, you can visit the Industry Canada sign-up site.

There are many FTP programs available on the internet. One of the most common ones is WS_FTP. You can download it through the link on our Links Page. There are other FTP programs that are more fluid, but there are too many different ones to list. I used to use CUTE FTP, but I can only find that as Shareware, not Freeware now. Try a few different ones if you like.

Setting up WS_FTP

There are many FTP programs available on the Internet, as it has been around for a long time. WS-FTP shall be the FTP program learned here. Most of the skills learned here can be applied to almost any FTP program. Any FTP that cannot be learned through knowledge of this particular program should be deleted, and an alternative found (CuteFTP is an excellent FTP program).

The basis of an FTP program is the server. The server usually provides an FTP service to it's users, for transfer of web pages. More often than not, free web pages readily provide their FTP information. The information needed to open an FTP session is the Host Name (i.e. The location on the Internet of the FTP), a username, and a password. Sometimes, a port number is needed, but usually not. If you have all the other information in correctly, and you cannot connect, then worry about the port number.

When WS-FTP is first opened, it has a dialog as shown below:

The information that needs to be input is quite simple. The Profile name is whatever YOU want to refer to the web site as. The Host name goes in its box, etc. When you have the information filled in, click OK, and the next box will appear:

This dialog has two sides to it. On the left, the local Hard Drive is shown. On the right, the server is shown (or, it would be, if a connection was active).

There are two buttons between the file lists, each has an arrow pointing to either the left or right. When a connection is established, these arrow buttons are used to transfer files from one side to the other. It is quite simple to use.

The file lists are manipulated just like any other file list, using double clicks on directory names, using the .. directory to move up a directory level, etc.

The other options of this program are simple enough to be picked up on your own, through experimentation and usage.

If you have any questions or comments, please Email the Webmaster

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