Overview

To be a Web page, an HTML file must be on a Web server. Since we don't normally create Web pages directly on the server, we need to move the pages from the workstation where they are created, to the server where they are displayed. There are several ways to do it, outlined in the companion module W54c.

This assignment gives you specific instructions for putting your Web files on the Washtenaw Community College student server, but the process can be generalized to be used between any workstation and any server that can be accessed with the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

The FTP-client software illustrated and explained here is Source Forge's FileZilla, a program that runs on Windows computers. For Macintosh users, other alternatives are available, including Fugu for OS X (http://rsug.itd.umich.edu/software/fugu/) and MacSFTP from MacSSH.com (http://pro.wanadoo.fr/chombier/MacSFTP/SFTP_info.html). This module does not have specific directions for these programs, but the information here can be generalized to any software.

Here is a series of questions and answers to help you get started in the right place.

Every question has an answer of or (or in one case I don't know). Ask yourself each question and go to the appropriate response. Read and follow the response, either by answering another question or by clicking the button.

1. Have you set up a local mirror for your Web site?
   1. I don't know what a local mirror is! Learn about local mirrors.
   2. Congratulations! Continue with B.
   3. Set up your local mirror.
2. Can you get into your WCC student email or server space?
   1. Continue with C.
   2. Go through the Activation Checklist.
3. Are you working at WCC?
   1. Are you in an INP lab?
      1. Start FileZilla from the system toolbar
      2. Start FileZilla from Start menu or NAL
   2. Do you have FileZilla on your (home or office) computer?
      1. Start FileZilla from the desktop icon or Start > Programs menu
      2. Does your computer run Microsoft Windows?
         1. Download FileZilla and install on your computer
         2. Here are the facts you need to configure your FTP software.
4. Are you familiar with FileZilla?
   1. Congratulations! Continue with D.
   2. Learn the basics.
5. Does FileZilla have a site set up for the WCC Student Server?
   1. Does it have your user ID in it?
      1. Aren't you lucky! Continue with F.
      2. Put in your user ID
   2. Set up a site for the WCC Student Server
6. Upload your directory structure or maintain files on the server

In many organizations, one person is in charge of the Web site - or a specific part of it. Since you're reading this, let's assume that person is you! How should you get started with your Web site organization, and how should you maintain it once it's up and running?

A good, practical way to do this is on your own computer is called "mirroring":

1. Create a subdirectory on your hard drive (or for a class, set aside a diskette, Zip disk, or memory device) which will represent your Web site. A good name to use is public_html since it is the name used on many servers.
2. In your Web directory or diskette, create a file called home.htm. This will be your your home page, but will not be the page the Web server brings up by default. This is for learning purposes only, so your instructor can see your file structure from a Web server.
3. If you need other subdirectories on your Web site, create them on your own disk as well. If you have many, you may find it useful to draw a diagram showing the relationships between them.
4. When you are ready to put files on the Web, use your FTP program to create directories and subdirectories with exactly the same names as the ones on your disk - beginning at the level below your main Web directory. Then use the FTP program to transfer files from your disk to the Web server. (If you're using a service like CompuServe or AOL that doesn't give you access to the directory structure of your site, you'll have to keep it very simple: one directory for the whole site. Primitive, but it works as long as the site doesn't get too large!)

The advantage of using exactly the same directory names and file structures in both places is that you can create relative file links and have them work both on your own computer and on the server.

Put files in your public_html directory only when they are ready to go up on the Web. Don't put practice files, or large Photoshop or other graphics files in public_html. Instead, create a separate directory for each class or project outside public_html for files that don't go on the server.

Do it!

Use Windows Explorer to create a Web structure on your own disk space. It should have:

• A folder named public_html
• Inside this, a folder for each class that requires you to put files on the Web.
  For example:
  inp150
  inp152
  inp160
  Remember: Just Say No to Spaces in File Names!
• Move all your existing assignment files (but not practice files) into the appropriate class folder.

Washtenaw Community College has set up a server so that all students can send and receive email and publish Web pages. In order to use this server, you have to activate your account - let the server know you want to be able to send and receive email and create space for your Web pages.

Go through this activation checklist to decide where to begin:

We access our account by means of the World Wide Web browser - that includes activating, sending, and receiving email. To do that, go to this address:

To activate your account, you will need to point with your mouse to the words Activate your student e-mail:

on the Computing @ WCC page. You should soon see an electronic form on your screen, where you can type in your name (as it appears on your student ID card or on a class list), your student ID number, and your date of birth.

Clicking the Activate button on the screen with your mouse will get you to the next step, which is to read about your rights and responsibilities with electronic mail. Please read this carefully: you will need to agree to this document by clicking a button. This is the legal equivalent of signing the document.

When you have agreed, your name and student ID will be checked by the computer to make sure you are a registered student.

Be sure to STOP and get your account number and password. Without both of these, you will not be able to use your account!

Either use the Tip below, or be very careful to print CAPITAL and lowercase letters exactly as they appear on the screen! In order to use your email account, you must have everything exactly the same - even the capitalization.

You now have an email address at WCC! It's your user code followed by @stu.wccnet.org. For example:

Sarah Strong might have a user code of sstrong12
Her email address would be sstrong12@stu.wccnet.org

For a quick download of the Windows setup file, click this link:   DOWNLOAD
This links to the University of Minnesota and points to FileZilla version 2.2.8d. The file is about 4.4 Mb. Be sure to notice what folder the file was downloaded to on your computer.

• If you have trouble with this link, choose another site:  Site List
• To check for the latest version of FileZilla, or to learn more about it: FileZilla Project Home

Where Next?  Continue with Installing FileZilla.

The Windows executable setup file makes it very simple to install FileZilla.

1. Using Windows Explorer (or My Computer) find the file in the folder it was downloaded to.
2. Double-click the file name.
3. After a moment, you will be asked to choose the language your prefer to work in. Use the drop-down list to select a language, or click OK to select English.
4. Read and agree to the end-user licence.
5. Click Next to do the Standard installation.
6. Click Next to install in the default directory.
7. Click Next to install in the default Start Menu location.
8. In the General Settings window, read the information and decide whether to use "Secure Mode" or not. Secure Mode requires you to enter your password every time you make a connection, so it takes longer but is better if you share the computer with others. Click Install.

Once you click Install, the process takes only 5-10 seconds!

Where Next?  Continue with Starting FileZilla at Home.

In the INP labs, start FileZilla by clicking the small icon in the System Toolbar at the bottom of the screen.

In other WCC labs, FileZilla is not on the system toolbar. Depending on the lab you're using, you may have to look in other places:

1. Use the Start menu's (All) Programs option and select FileZilla > FileZilla in the list of programs.
   If FileZilla is not in the list of programs...
2. Log in as INP and use the Novell Deilvered Applications Launcher window. Double click the FileZilla icon. (This is slower.)

When FileZilla is installed, it automatically puts a shortcut icon on your desktop. Double-click this icon to start FileZilla.

FileZilla is a GUI FTP client. This means you can use it much the way you wold use a Windows file utility, except that FileZilla can deal with files both on your own computer and on any remote computer that accepts FTP connections. When you first run FileZilla, here's what you see:

Documentation for FileZilla is fairly easy to understand. Click the Question mark in the toolbar to get the documentation.

Where Next?  Continue with Starting FileZilla at Home.

Here are the facts about the WCC server. Use this to connect if you're familiar with FTP programs, or if you have a different FTP client (for example, on a Macintosh).

Click the Site Manager button, and click the New Site button at the bottom of the window. Fill in the blanks as shown in this illustration (substituting your own user ID for sstrong):

Click Connect when you're done.

An alternative to creating a site is to use Quick Connect. This is useful in the lab, where you won't be saving a password anyway. Fill in the QuickConnect bar as shown here, with your user ID instead of sstrong:

When you're done, click the Quickconnect button.

Use the left-hand panel to navigate through your folders and files, as you would with Windows Explorer.

To upload your entire Local Mirror, find your public_html folder on the left-hand side of FileZilla. Right-click it, and select Upload from the pop-up menu.

The entire structure you created should be uploaded. Watch the Message Log Window for error messages (red).

Individual files can be uploaded by right-clicking the file's name in FileZilla's left-hand window.

These are the most frequent maintenance operations:

• Correcting a file that isn't working right:
  • Edit the file on your workstation
  • Upload the file by right-clicking its name in the left-hand window and selecting Upload from the pop-up menu.
• Renaming a file whose name does not work right:
  • Right-click on the file's name in the right-hand window
  • Select Rename
  • Enter the corrected name and click OK
  • Right-click on the file's name in the left-hand window
  • Select Rename
  • Enter the corrected name and click OK
• Deleting a file
  • Right-click on the file's name in the right-hand window
  • Select Delete
  • Double-check that you picked the right file; then click OK or Cancel

With the browser of your choice, browse to your Web site by typing the URI in the browser's address/location window. When you see your files listed (or your index.htm page, if you instructor wants you to use one):

• Click in the browser's address/location window
• Copy the address, using either:
  • Ctrl+C
  • Right-click and select Copy from the pop-up menu

Send email to the instructor with the URI. Paste in the URI you copied from the browser. Do not attempt to type the address in directly!

Be sure your email meets the formal requirements: name, class, section and exercise (W55h), and that it follows standard business-email practice.