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Web site FAQ is available if you prefer.
Connecting to my ISP's FTP server
To connect to your ISP's FTP server you will need to know the correct server address, and you will
need to type this in the New Connection Dialog (see Server... New Connection or click the
toolbar short cut).
This may or may not
be their publicly accessible server which will normally have an address similar to 'ftp.ispname.com'.
It is however common to replace the 'ftp...' part of the address with some prefix to let you
know that it is their FTP server for web pages. If you are in any doubt check with your ISP.
Specifying a username and password
You will have to provide a username and password to access the FTP server. You can type this in the relevant
fields of the New Connection Dialog. You will not be able to connect using the anonymous login
to access your account on the FTP server.
Your username and password is normally the same username and password that you use to connect to the
Internet using your ISP's dial up connection. If in doubt your ISP will be able to tell you.
Navigating around your site
When you login to your ISP's FTP server you will most likely be automatically placed in your
own private web directory. This is normally all that will be visible to you (apart from the root i.e.
the computer icon).Within your own directory you will normally be able to create subdirectories
as required.
Uploading your web site
If your site is small or all your files are contained in one directory on your own computer, then the directory
you will need to upload your site to is the first directory on the remote server (your are normally placed there
automatically).
If your site is made up of a number of subdirectories then you will need to replicate the local directory
structure on the remote server. You can then drag and drop files between the relevant directories. The simplest
way to upload the complete file tree structure is to use the directory drag drop option.
Whether your site has subdirectories or not, in almost all cases your home page should be called
index.html (or index.htm) and must be placed in the first directory on the server.
Uploading using directory drag drop
If your site is quite large or has a number of subdirectories you can drag the complete directory
structure in one operation.
There are two important things to remember. 1) Make sure that the name of the first directory of
your local copy is given exactly the same name as the name of the first directory on your ISP's server.
2) Drag the first directory of your local copy
to the root (i.e. the computer icon). If you do not you will create your web
site one directory down from where it should be. This works in exactly the same way as Windows Explorer so
try some directory drag drop operations on your own computer first if you are unsure.
I've uploaded my pages but I can't view them, why?
If you can see all the files that make up your web site in the remote FTP Site view of Terrapin FTP Browser
then you have successfully uploaded your site. If you still cannot view your pages with a web browser
consult your ISP, but here are four common reasons for this:
1) You have not named your home page index.html, or;
2) index.html has not been put in the first directory on the server.
3) There may be some time delay for the update to take effect.
4) Your ISP may have some special procedure that 'switches on' your web site.
Why don't my images display?
If your image files have been uploaded successfully (i.e. you can see them in the remote FTP Site view
of Terrapin FTP Browser) then assuming your image files are of the correct format, (normally .gif or .bmp)
then the only reason why they will not display is that the URL is incorrect. The first thing to check
is that you have uploaded the graphics to the correct directory.
If you have used relative URL's and could see your images when you viewed the page locally, the most common
reason for them not displaying on the site are CaSe IsSUeS. It is most likely that your web pages are hosted
on a UNIX computer, UNIX is case sensitive. Make sure all the file names and the URL's to the image files
are written in lower case.
Why don't my HyperText links work?
As with image display problems, the only reason for links not to work is incorrect URL's. If you have used
relative links to your other pages and these work when you test your page locally then make sure all the
URL's and the files they link to are written in lower case.
If case is not the issue then there may be a more fundamental inaccuracy in the URL. One other common reason for
links not working is that the page to which the link goes to is not in the correct directory as specified
by the URL. The document "Maintaining a web site" subheading 'Use relative URL's' may help.