Connection and FTP Instructions to the HSTA Server

The webpages you have created and linked together in your root folder form a local site that is stored on your hard drive or disk. In order for your site to be accessible on the Net, you need to copy them to a remote site, in this case the HSTA Server. The remote site could also be a local network like the your school network. This process is called FTP or file transfer protocol. You can ftp from within Dreamweaver using the following instructions.

Setting up a connection to the HSTA Server (remote site): This procedure is required for the first-time connection only and should be done after you have defined your site (IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DEFINED YOUR SITE, CLICK HERE TO FIND THE INSTRUCTIONS TO DO SO; THEN COME BACK TO THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW IN ORDER TO CONTINUE SETTING UP YOUR CONNECTION AND UPLOADING YOUR SITE). Once the site has been defined and the connection parameters set, you will be able to access and connect to the HSTA server simply by following the steps described below under Reconnecting to the HSTA Server.

  1. Choose Site from the toolbar and select Define Sites from the menu.

The Define Site dialog box appears.

  1. Select (highlight) the desired site from the list and click Edit.

The Site Definition diapog box opens.

  1. Select Remote Info. from the Category List on the left. .
  2. Select ftp from the Access menu.
  3. Type the following information into the text boxes in the Site Definition dialog box:
    • FTP Host - www.wv-hsta.org
    • Host Directory - LEAVE THIS BLANK
    • Login - [your first initial and last name, no spaces, goes here]
    • Password - [password provided to you via email goes here]

    NOTE: Leaving the Save password checked will allow anyone using your computer to access the server. Uncheck the Save password box. You will be asked to re-enter your password later in the ftp'ing process.

    • Choose Use Passive FTP
  4. Click OK.
  5. Click Done on the Define Site dialog box.

Connecting to the Server:

  1. Choose Site from the toolbar and select Open Site.

The Site window appears.

  1. Either select Connect from Site on the tool bar or click on the Connects to remote host tool icon.

  1. Enter your password in the dialog box.

  1. Click OK. Your computer will search for and establish a connection to the HSTA server and open your folder.

When you initially connect to the server and open your folder, it will be empty or it will have your current portfolio. Once you have uploaded the folder and all of its files it will open with a full display of all the files in it. Your local site files are on the right and the remote site files are on the left.

Uploading your Local Site to the HSTA Server:

Uploading is accomplished by simply selecting your root folder on the right and clicking and dragging it into the remote site on the left OR by highlighting (single click) your folder and then clicking the (blue) up arrow on the Site tool bar.

Uploading of your entire may take some time so be patient.

As you make changes to your web pages, you may wish to switch to uploading specifc files.

The hardest part of uploading your site files to the server is making sure that what you want to upload gets uploaded and that you don't miss any additional files you have created or changes that you have made. To prevent any confusion, I strongly suggest using the Select Newer Files option from Edit on the Site window.Using this option causes Dreamweaver to compare the modification dates on all local files to the dates of the files on the remote site and selects only the newer local files.

  1. Choose Edit from the Site window tool bar.
  2. Select Newer Local. Your newer files will be highlighted on the local site list.
  3. Choose Site from the Site window tool bar.
  4. Select Put. OR

    Click the blue arrow on the toolbar
    .

  5. Select Yes in the Dependent Files dialog box.

Dreamweaver will upload all the highlighted files from your local site to the remote site including any image or other files that are linked to or embedded in your the newer versions of your pages. Just be sure that you transfer all the files that you want and that they are placed in the correct folders in the remote site.

There are other ways to upload changes to your pages. As you become more familiar with uploading, you may want to explore these options. For information on other options, see your Dreamweaver manual.

Downloading files from the HSTA Server:

You can download your entire site or specfic files from the remote site by simply clicking and dragging the desired files from the remote on the left of the Site window or by using the green down arrow.

A variety of dialog boxes will appear asking about overwriting existing files. The "Yes to All" option will allow the process to proceed in the fastest way, but limits your control over the overwriting process.