File Locations

The first thing to remember is that HTML documents are just text files. You can create and edit them with any text editor, such as Notepad. So, to get started you need to know where to create your files and what to create.

Where are the files for your site?

Most web site makers have two copies of the site:

1. A local copy, on your local computer (home or office) or USB memory stick. This is not visible to the world but it is the site location where you do your edits. You can only edit a site on a local computer unless your host has a web interface which lets you modify pages on your browser.
   
   Often the local-copy machine is also running local web server software which allows the web developer to fully preview how the web server on the host (remote) machine will work when uploaded to the web. For this course you will not need to install the web server on your computer. Most of the edits can work with just a browser.
   
   For a personal site on UMKC which you are developing off campus it is easier to place your local files on a USB drive. That way you can edit the files at home, at your office and also on campus. When on campus you can copy from the USB drive to the N: drive and when off campus you can still use one of the FTP methods to copy files.
   
   
2. The remote copy. This is the actual website visible on the world wide web. This copy is located on a computer at the host's location. This can be anywhere the World Wide Web goes to. The computer at the host is called a server and it can be in the same room or on the other side of the world. Normally you copy (upload) files from your local copy to this remote copy using an FTP program.

Having two copies also gives you backup in case either one gets wiped.

Special Note: When you are working from on campus at UMKC, you are able to work directly on the actual website, as a file on the network just as if it were a local file. This changes the way you get to it. This also means that if you edit entirely on the UMKC network location that you have only one copy. You should back it up, preferably to a USB drive.

The Local Copy *Exercise

This, for most of you, is any chosen location on your computer. Start by creating a folder (directory) in which to put your website files.

Create a folder named "WebUMKC" in "My Documents" on Windows XP. For windows Vista create "WebUMKC" in the "C:" drive. Alternately create this folder on a USB drive plugged into your computer.

Then create three sub-folders to duplicate the sub-folders in your web site space at UMKC. Create these sub-folders:
1 - Images
2 - Media
3 - Output

• We will be putting our pictures in the "Images" folder
• Our video or audio files in the "Media" folder and
• Any database files go into the "Output" folder
  • The "Output" folder has a special use on the UMKC web servers.
  • Unlike the the other folders in your website area
  • The "Output" folder is used when programs on your site create or write files to the site area and/or database changes are made. File creations and updates cannot be done by programs in any other directory in your site.

For now, don't put any files in the folders (unlike the image above showing a large list of files.

The Remote Copy

The remote files, on the host's server, can be anywhere in the world. We will get access to that space using an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program. FileZilla is an FTP program you can download for free and can run in portable mode, such as on a USB memory stick.

Using FileZilla to access your files from home

Click here ../Common/FIleZilla_FTP.asp for instructions on using FileZilla FTP to access your files at UMKC from your home computer..

From any computer on the UMKC Campus

At UMKC you will find your web site space on the N: drive by using either "MyComputer" on a Windows XP machine or "Computer" on a Windows Vista machine. Your web site space is located on the UMKC network's N: drive based on your UMKC username. The full path is:

Path on the UMKC network to your web site space
Network Drive	N:		N:
Folder	Web		N:\Web
sub folder #1	u	the first letter of your username	N:\Web\u
sub folder #2	username		N:\Web\u\username
Example: if the username were cae123 the breakdown is like this
Network Drive	N:		N:
Folder	Web		N:\Web
sub folder #1	c	"c" is the first letter in "cae123"	N:\Web\c
sub folder #2	cae123	This folder is the full username	N:\Web\c\cae123
Resulting Full Path	N:\Web\c\cae123

Directions: To locate 1) the N: drive (use either "MyComputer" in Windows XP or "Computer" in Windows Vista or Windows 7), then 2) the folder "Web" followed by 3) the first letter of your UMKC username and finally 4) the folder with your UMKC username.

Video Example of Finding Your Folder From a UMKC Campus Computer

In this example - which plays and repeats - I show myself navigating to my own personal web space at umkc. My username (as you know from emailing me) is strongm. Your navigation will differ in terms of the folder names you look for. Otherwise the method is exactly the same.

Remember, this can only be done this way when you are on campus at one of the campus computers (hooked into the campus network).