FTP - Uploading Files
FTP is short for File Transfer Protocol. It's the protocol or "application" you will be using to download and upload files to and from your web site. After we send you the information that contains your IP address, username, and password, you are ready to start uploading files into your account. There are a number of FTP programs on the market that can be used to upload your files, but we suggest using WS_FTP (for PC), or our File Manager in the Virtual Control Panel, and Fetch for Macintosh. When using any type of FTP program there are three essential things to keep in mind when connecting to your account:
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Your host name would be your IP address or domain name.
(no http:// in front, just the IP or domain name as your hostname)
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Your username is the username we provided in the Welcome letter that we sent you.
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Your password is the password we provided in the Welcome letter that we sent you.
Your html files will go in the 'yourname-www' directory via FTP, File Manager, or Fetch. (www folder is the same directory as yourname-www folder)
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Download WS_FTP and install it according to their instructions. In order to install WS_FTP you will need to unzip it using winzip.
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Once you have it installed, start the program and you will see a new session profile.
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Profile Name: Type any name you want to give to this profile (usually your domain name or company name)
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Host Name: Type "ftp.yourdomainname.com" (or .org, .net, .edu). If you are a new customer, your domain name may not have propagated through the Internet yet (this can take up to a week or so). Instead, use the IP address that was provided to you (i.e. 207.213.37.xxx).
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Host Type: Choose automatic detect
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Username: Type the "username" that was provided to you through e-mail.
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Password: Type your "password". A password is initially chosen for you and sent to you along with your username, but you can change the password from this administration panel. Also check the box for "save password", so you won't have to enter it each time you start the program.
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Account: You can leave this blank.
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Remote directory: You can leave this blank.
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Local PC (optional): Type the directory path in which your files are located on your computer.
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Click on "SAVE" to save your preferences for this connection.
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Click on connect, and you are all set. (Note: Make sure anonymous login is not checked.)
Free WS_FTP Client:
Download Now
Other FTP SOFTWARE LINKS
Bulletproof FTP
- Bullet Proof FTP
CuteFTP
- Cute FTP
Vandyke
- Absolute FTP
Ipswitch
- WS_FTP Pro
Below are screen shot examples of how WS_FTP would look if you were to use it.
WS_FTP
This is what the initial login screen looks like:
WS_FTP Web Site
| Fetch Web Site
Home Directory
Once you logon you will be in your home directory. There are many files and folders already sitting in your home directory. Each folder has its own purpose. index.html is generally your homepage, sometimes can be called default.htm or index.htm depending on what program you're using.
SPECIAL NOTE: You should never delete or edit any files or folders that are throughout your home directory initially.
Explanation of each folder once you login.
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your_domain-anonftp - the folder is used for your anonymous users to download public files.
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your_domain-logs - the folder contains all access logs of visitors to your site
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your_domain-mail - the folder holds all POP mail accounts for your domain
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your_domain-www - the folder stores all html files for your domain (same folder as the www folder)
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www - the folder stores all html files for your domain (same folder as the domain-www folder)
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your_domain-secure - the folder stores all secure html files (same folder as www folder and domain-www folder) this is an aliases folder that is secure when the right URL path is called correctly.
Note to Microsoft FrontPage Users
Customers with FrontPage extensions installed on their site should use FrontPage publishing feature to transfer files. Using regular FTP can corrupt the extensions unless you know what you're doing. If FP extensions do become corrupted we can always delete and reinstall them without deleting your site.
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All Macintosh users will want to use Fetch as their FTP application. Download it and install it by double-clicking on the fetch.sit or fetch.sea icon. Fetch will self extract and is ready for use.
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Double click on the FETCH application to start the program. A "New Connection" window will appear.
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Host: Type "ftp.yourdomainname.com" (or .org, .net, .edu). If you are a new customer, your domain name may not have propagated through the Internet yet (this can take up to a week or so). Instead, use the IP address that was provided to you (i.e. 208.56.xx.xxx).
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Username: Type the "username" that was provided to you through e-mail.
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Password: Type your "password". A password is initially chosen for you and sent to you along with your username, but you can change the password from this administration control panel.
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Directory: You can leave this blank.
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Press OK, wait a couple of seconds and you are all done. (Note: you can create shortcuts under the customize menu so you won't have to enter this information ever again.)
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