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Transfering Files To Your Host Server

Every time you change your source code you must upload it to your server so that when it is accessed on the internet the changes will be reflected. You will also use it to upload your pictures (into the images file) and your e-books or any other .pdf files.

To do this you will use the FTP program you should have already downloaded if you did not already have one. If you need one go to Free Software.

The example below will be with the FTP program Filezilla which is the free software we recommend.

First, open your FTP program and you should see the screen below. The first time you access your server you will have to input the signup information you got when you signed up with Dreamhost (see arrows 1-3). The username and password are self explanatory. The host (arrow 1) requires that you input your ftp address at Dreamhost or any other server you are using. It will look something like this (this is my ftp address at Dreamhost):   ftp://kalamazoo.dreamhost.com/domain name.com. You should not need to input the port information. After you input the information click on the QuickConnect Button.

After you have input and accessed your server the first time you will be able to just click the down arrow on the QuickConnect button and select the server name -- you will not need to input all the information again unless it changes. See Arrow 4 for my example.

When you first sign-on, the left side will be filled with files and folders on your computer and the right side, which holds the files on your server, will be blank. Use the upper portion of the left side to access the folder with your files. Now log into your account by inputting the required Username, Password and Host or FTP address and proceed to the next picture below.

After you log in the screen will look like this. You can see that all the files stored on your server are now shown in the right hand column. I assume you have already registered and set up hosting for your domain name. If not, you can not complete this step because you have nowhere to put your files. You should see your domain name on the right side and it will probably have a few files listed. These are files that Dreamhost puts on saying that your domain is not ready yet. You can eventually delete those if you so choose.

Now lets transfer your files. First select your image folder with your cursor and then drag it across to the right side. The software will setup an image folder and then load all the images in the folder. This only works the first time -- later if you want to add images to the folder, just click on the image folder on the right side to open it, click on the image folder on the left side to open it, and then drag the new images across to the folder one by one.

Next just transfer any other folders you may have and then the individual files one by one. Be sure that you do not drag the files into the image folder by mistake. You drag over the ebook .pdf and .doc files the same way you do any other file. Later, if you are replacing an existing file you will get a window asking you if you want to replace the current file.


That's it -- you're done after you drag over all the files. Now you should actually go online and test your website to make sure it works.