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FTP: Getting Started
Want to get started with FTP? First of all, you have to find a host that supports it. Most free webhosts, such as Geocities and Freewebs, do not support it. Private hosts usually do. If you can't find a private host, go to t35.com and sign up for a free account.
To start using FTP after you've found a host, you'll need three things:
- An FTP Address
- An FTP Username
- An FTP Password
Your host should provide you with all three things. If not, ask your host.
After you have all three things, insert the FTP address into the address bar of a browser window. Hit "Enter." If the FTP address is correct, you should come across a screen like the one below.
You will be asked for your FTP username and password. Enter both in.
Now you can start dragging files from your computer into the server. (Select the file you want to upload, keep the cursor down, and then manually drag your cursor over to the FTP browser window and release the mouse). It should start uploading immediately. Usually, it shouldn't take more than a few seconds, but of course it depends on the size of the file you're uploading and the speed of your Internet connection.
Note: Don't know how to make a webpage source code into a file? First open up Notepad (Start > > All Programs > > Accessories > > Notepad). Copy your source code into the Notepad file and save as (yourpage.html). Adding the ".html" to the file name will make it an HTML file. Then, when you upload your Notepad file to the FTP server, your page will be "yourhost.com/sitename/yourpage.html".
I'd strongly recommend you to keep all your files for your site stored on your computer. You'll find it much more convenient. If you want to edit a webpage, simply go to that Notepad file stored on your computer and edit the content. Then upload that edited file to your site.
And by the way, you can make and upload folders using FTP. Let's say that you have a folder called "Folder" in your main directory of FTP. Inside that "Folder", you have "page.html". The URL of that page will be "http://www.yoursite.com/Folder/page.html". Folders basically provide subdirectories to your site and help organize things.
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