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Web Books
HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide |
© 2000 by David Karlins. All Rights Reserved.
When you are satisfied with your site design and construction, you are ready to post it on your server. But first, final preparation will make that uploading process smooth, and ensure that your site works at your server the way it does on your own computer.
A few final tasks are needed to complete the job. Rare indeed is the web site that is perfect upon completion of its basic construction. Be prepared to do some testing, tweaking, and fine-tuning to get it just right.
Once you have your pages saved as HTML files, make sure they are in your site folder along with all the graphics and media files for your site. An important consideration is that you definitely want the links you have created to take visitors where you want them to go. If you have moved graphic files to another folder, or perhaps renamed them since you first created links for them, you will have to re-link.
It is important to preserve file structure when you upload files to a server. Why? If you mess up your folder structure in the upload process, your site will fall apart. Embedded images (which are in effect links) and other media won't be found by your page HTML code, and other your internal (relative) links won't work.
Most web design programs come with some sort of site management software. For example, Dreamweaver's Site Window organizes your files, and provides a folder structure that preservers links within your site when you transfer files to a Web server. FrontPage, as well, keeps your file folder structure intact when you upload files - provided you use FrontPage's Publish feature.
There are also programs designed specifically for site management, which you may want to get, depending on how long and complex your web site is (or will become as it grows), and if you plan on designing many sites. Site management software lets you know if links aren't working, and also tells you if graphics are properly located. This software does simplify the potentially tedious and time-consuming task of re-linking, and also aids your control of the site as it develops and more pages and connections are added.
Finally, make sure all your files are properly named, and that all the files you need are in the folder you're sending to your server. Properly named mainly means that you have the correct extension with each file - HTML or HTM, GIF, JPEG, and the right extensions for any video or audio file you have. You also should check to make sure that files you don't need for your site are not included in your web folder before you upload it to the server.
Step 1 in this series outlines what you should look for when you choose a server. Once you have made that decision and are ready to publish, you need to examine the requirements and limits of your server a little more closely.
You need to find out the directory path and address where your site will be stored. In other words, you need to know the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the directory holding your files. This includes the server name, and the path to and name of your directory. Then, you will have your own address at http://www.myserver/mysite.
You need to find out how much disc space you're allowed. Most corporate and university systems provide a certain amount of space for each site, and the price of most commercial servers depends on the size of the site. It's not hard to determine site size. Go to Windows Explorer, and, in the left side window, click on the folder for your site. The files, and their size, will be shown in the right window. You can select all the files, then right click on the collective selection and choose Properties from the dialog box to get the total.
If your site has forms or interactivity that require scripts, you may have to make sure that your server supports the type of script you have. It probably will, but check anyway. Also, scripts - which often require special security procedures - have specific upload procedures different from the rest of the page. Your server should let you know, and be sure to check in advance.
Software - called an ftp (file transfer protocol) client - is available for uploading files. Your server will recommend ftp software, and in many cases provide you with a package. Windows users can use a basic ftp client such as Cute FTP or Windows WS_FTP95. Mac users can get Fetch.
Cute FTP, for example, provides a Site Manager. You enter your FTP Host Address (Cute FTP helps you figure this out), and the username and password supplied by your site provider.
Cute FTP then allows you to transfer files from your local computer to your web site by simply clicking and dragging files from one side of the screen to the other - as shown above.
Usually your Web server provider will recommend or provide software to upload your site. Your provider will give you the information needed to access your site through your upload program. This information will always include the site URL, your username, and a password. Some sites and software require additional information to connect to your site, and again, your site provider will give you this information when you contract for site space.
Here's some obvious advice: When you get a username and password from your server provider, write down these, and all other pertinent information relating to your web site, and store them somewhere safe.
After you upload your site, make sure everything you want to be on the site is actually there. Take an overview of the site and make sure everything is not only there, but where it's supposed to be, too. Look at the site through different browsers, to get a sense of how it will look to different visitors. The vast majority of web surfers use versions of either Internet Explorer or Netscape to browse, but this doesn't necessarily mean that people have the latest version. A relatively small proportion of people use other browsers, and if you think your site is aimed at this audience you should test the site in them.
Check all your links, on every page of your site. This means the links that connect to different parts of your site, including such things as thumbnail images that take visitors to larger images and links to external media. If you have alternate labels on your graphics, make sure they are working properly. Check and see that you can return home from the bottom of each page, and in general can navigate through the site easily.
The link-checking software Netmechanic provides a free testing service at their site for up to 20 pages (after that, you are supposed to pay for the software).
Sometimes small changes to the HTML code occur during the transfer from a personal computer to the server. Or, if you added some HTML yourself, there may be some errors. Take some precautions against this by using an HTML validator, which examines your site to check that the code is properly written. You can browse to web sites such as Web Techs, submit your URL and answer a brief questionnaire, and follow the instructions on the site. Their software will indicate what, if any changes it recommends, and you can decide if they are worth implementing.
Test and examine your entire site, going over each page of your site with a fine tooth comb. I find it helpful to go over a new site several times, each time with a different purpose. Make sure the colors, logos, and basic design are exactly the way you want them. Be certain that email addresses and forms are functioning properly. If you have animation, you want to make that that it is moving, and if you have audio, check to see that it can be heard.
Try to look at the site as a first time visitor. As soon as the page opens, is it obvious what the purpose of the page is? Can people readily get to the places they want to go, and find out the information they need from your site?
A good idea is to have a friend or co-worker look over the site for you, with a critical eye. Often others will notice things that are overlooked by the author of a site, obvious though they may seem in retrospect.
Proofread once again, to make absolutely certain that everything is spelled and written exactly the way that you want it to be. As you do all this scrutiny of your new web site, write down on a pad everything you want to change, no matter how small.
You have two basic options for editing site content after it has been published to a server - you can edit it online, or you can edit on your own computer, and upload changes.
Normally it is faster and easier to change the content of your site at your own computer, and then just upload changes. Upload software, or the upload features that come with programs like Dreamweaver and FrontPage, allow you to upload only pages that have changed.
If you have a fast enough connection to your server, you can open pages and edit site content directly on the server. The advantage to this method is that you don't need to upload changed content, you've already made your changes directly on the server.
After you revise your site, check your changed files in a browser to make sure they are updated, and looking like you intended them to. Usually you have to "reload" or "refresh" the pages (the terminology varies depending on which browser you're in), to ensure that the new ones are what a visitor will see.
Discuss the articles with David in the Graphics Unleashed Discussion Forums
Choosing a Web Authoring Tool · Eight Steps to Implementing a Web Site · Step 1: Grabbing a Domain Name · Step 2: Publishing Your Web Content - Finding a Web Server Provider · Step 3: Develop Your Web Strategy · Step 4: Design and Create Your Site · Step 5: Publish and Test Your Site · Step 6: Promoting Your Site · Part I: From CorelDRAW to the Web · Part II: Creating Web Page Background JPEG Files · Part III: Creating a Hover Button in CorelDRAW
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