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Web Site Update and Management
It is much more efficient and easier to update and maintain Web pages via
FTP (File Transfer Protocol). TurboFTP is an intuitive file transfer software
program, which provides a full set of features for you to upload (Web page,
CGI file, etc) and manage your Web site with just a few clicks and drag-drops.
Now let's go through the basic elements of such a process.
A. Create Web Pages Locally
Use your favorite HTML editor to create your own Web pages.
B. Preparations for Uploading
Consult you ISP (Internet Service Provider or Web hosting service) for the
following information:
- Your userID and password to log on to the server where your Web
site will be running.
- The FTP server address to upload your Web pages.
- In which folder to put your Web pages after you log on to that
FTP server.
This could vary from one ISP to another. Ask them for the instructions.
Here we assume the path to be /www (this is a UNIX full pathname
beginning with a forward slash. You will not get a DOS-style path like drive:\foldername...
)
- What is the URL of your Web page.
Assume your URL to be http://your.website.com, which means that after
you have set up your Web site, people anywhere on the globe can normally
see your Web site by enter "http://your.website.com" and hit return
in their browser's address field. If you are using a free Web hosting service
you will be likely provided with a URL that looks like http://domain_webhosting_company/your_username.
There are many such services out there. For example, Tripod. Go to the relevant
Web site for more details on how to obtain an account.
C. Connect to an FTP Site
Please refer to the topic Connect
to an FTP Server.
D. Upload Your Web Pages and Relevant Files
Now you are ready to upload and publish your Web site! After logon you will
see the listing of your exclusive directory. You might need to change to
the /www directory (Sometimes this directory is not visible after you log
on. In this case you can use Change directory... from context menu
to enter manually, or specify it as the Initial Remote Folder of this site
in the FTP Site Address Book). Normally you would create subfolders for
images and CGI files. For CGI script it is important to follow the service
provider's instructions to place the script in appropriate remote folder.
Sometimes the server might require different type of CGI scripts to be placed
in different locations.
Also ensure remote files have appropriate access attributes, which can be
modified with command [Change Attribute] (CHMOD) in the context menu. Note
that the CHMOD command is usually applicable on Unix hosts. Often CGI scripts
(for instance, written in perl) require all Read and Execute bits to be
set and this can be done by sending the host a CHMOD 755 command. (While
normal HTML files can usually be set with CHMOD 644.)
Fig. Set file attribute (readable to all)
Since UNIX system is case-sensitive, mismatch of file name case causes the
Web server to fail to locate the correct file. Make sure the actual file
name and the one you refer in the HTML file are exactly the same. You can
force all names of uploaded files to be upper or lower case by setting [Options|Advanced|Upload
Filenames].
Don't forget you can upload a whole directory.
E. Test Your Own Web Site
Launch your favorite browser and direct it to the URL of your Web site.
Check all pages and hyperlinks in them, and find out problems that need
to be corrected.
F. Update/Modify Web Page
After you have modified a Web page re-upload the file again.
G. Upload New or Modified Files
For ultimate convenience of synchronizing files including sub-directories
between a local and a remote folder, you would use the Folder
Synchronizer.
For simple and individual file update, simply drag the new or updated files
in the Local Browser Pane to the Remote Browser Pane or to the transfer
queue and start uploading. You can sort files by date so that you can easily
find out which files to upload. TurboFTP monitors changes in the current
local directory and will automatically refresh its listing when changes
occur. For example when you finish modifying a local file listed in
the Local Browser Pane, go back to TurboFTP and can immediately see the
change without manual refresh.
You can also use the Directory Compare utility [Command|Compare directory]
to compare local and remote directories side by side. Different entries
will be highlighted.
Fig. Local/Remote Directory Compare
H. Tips for Promoting Your Web site
You have spent a lot of time and effort building your Web site, and you
want people to visit your site, thus you need to promote it. One of the
traditional ways of Web site promotion is to get listed in the major Web
directories like Yahoo! and Open Directory. On the other hand, obtain a
higher ranking on major search engines or portals like Google and MSN can
bring you high volume of targeted traffic. There are numerous tools out
there to help you optimize your Web pages to obtain higher search engine
rankings. You might also be interested in the so-called Pay For Performance
advertising model offered by some search engines, which means you only pay
a small amount of money when a visitor goes to your Web site by clicking
on a link to your site listed on the search engine.
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