|
Building
a Website - Part 3
Your
website is completed. Your text and graphics are just
how you want them, and all your pages are linked
together. Now all you need is to get your website
online.
To do
this, you will need three things: the login details
for your hosting company’s FTP server, an FTP
software program, and an active Internet connection.
Let’s look at each of these three things in detail.
FTP is
short for File Transfer Protocol, and is the method
used to move files from your computer to the website
space you have purchased. Your website space is simply
a computer at your hosting company which is linked to
the backbone of the Internet. This computer, called a
server, has a file structure similar to that on your
computer. On your PC you can add files or remove them
using your keyboard and mouse. On a server, you do the
same thing using FTP and an Internet connection.
When
you signed up with your hosting company, they will
have given you some FTP login details. These will have
typically been in the form of ftp.yourdomain.com, plus
a username and password. You will need these details
to access your website server.
The
next thing you will need to transfer your website, is
an FTP software program. This program is designed to
handle the actual task of moving your files from your
computer to your server. One such program which we use
and highly recommend is WS-FTP Pro. WS-FTP Pro is
available as a 30 day, fully functional free trial,
downloadable from the Internet. After the 30 days, a
small fee is payable if you wish to continue using it.
Once
you have your FTP program installed on your PC, you
will need to enter your FTP login details in its
configuration box. This configuration can then be
saved so you don’t need to enter it again.
Once
configured, the FTP program will open up with two
windows side by side. The left window will show you
the files on your computer. The right window will show
you, if you are connected to the Internet, the files
of your website space on your hosting server. In the
left window, double click to navigate to where you
have your website stored on your hard drive. With your
mouse, highlight all the files of your website. Then
in the right window, double click your domain name to
open up your web space.
Now in
between the two windows, you will see an arrow
pointing from left to right. With your website files
still highlighted, click this arrow and your website
files will begin to upload. This may take a while,
depending on the size of your website. Once all files
are uploaded, type your domain name in your web
browser, and your new website should appear.
For more information,
you can contact us on 0419 790 071, email us at info@mcsyarraman.com.au,
or visit our website www.mcsyarraman.com.au. We offer
a full website hosting and design service, with
friendly, professional advice.
|
