Introduction

If you were using Notepad to make a Web site and you changed the name of an image file, you would have to find theS code that displays the image and change it to match the new file name. Dreamweaver makes this much easier becasue it's built-in site manager allows you to rename and move files without breaking local links.  Dreamweaver also has a built-in File Transfer system that allows you to connect to a Web server and transfer your files.

In order to take advantage of the site management features, you must create a site definition for each Web site you create.  The site definition tells Dreamweaver where your files are stored locally (called a local root folder) and where the Web server is.  You also need to specify your user name and password to connect to the web server.

Dreamweaver will not work properly (links will not work, images will not show up) without a site definition.   You must also keep all the files for a Web site in ONE FOLDER. You need to create and use the same folder for other classes that ask you to upload to the studentweb.gcccd.net server. 

In this assignment, you will you will create a site definition that points to your local_root folder and tells Dreamweaver how to connect to a campus web server. Then you will be able to upload files to the web server so anyone can view them online.

brief instructions for CS4

Folder Setup

  1. If you did the HTML assignment properly, you should have folders and files as shown.local_root: 212pprojects:html
  2. If you don't already have a local_root folder, use Windows or MacOS to create a folder named local_root. ON CAMPUS, create your folder on your USB disk or H drive. At home, create your folder on your hard disk.
  3. Within local_root, create a folder called 212projects if you don't already have one.
  4. If you are taking other classes that require you to upload to the studentweb server, your teacher will tell you what folder names to use.

 

Dreamweaver Site Definition

  1. Launch Dreamweaver and select
    Site -> New Site...



  2. With Site selected, enter the local settings as shown below. 

    site settings
    Site Name can be anything and can include spaces.   (I have about 10 sites I work on, so I try to make each of the 10 site definitions descriptive.)
    Local Root Folder is the path and name of YOUR local_root folder.  Click the folder icon on the right of the text box to browse to YOUR folder. 


  3. serverClick Servers and the + to add a new web server.











  4. Enter the FTP information as shown below.  Use YOUR Login name and password (6-digit birthday). When you finish, TEST the connection and SAVE. If you are at home, you may need to change your firewall settings to allow Dreamweaver to FTP.

    server

    filesIf all has been done correctly, you should see your folders & files in the files panel to the right of the screen. Use the local files panel to open, move, rename, and delete files. If you use Windows or MacOS to manage files, you will likely end up confused and frustrated and miserable, so USE DREAMWEAVER for all file management.  The only exception to this is if you need to overwrite files or copy new files to your local root folder or you don't want Dreamweaver to change links.

 

Export your site definition (CAMPUS ONLY)

manageIF YOU ARE ON CAMPUS, select Site -> Manage Sites to EXPORT your site definition after you set it up for the first time or if you make any changes to it. Save the .ste file in a memorable location. Remember where you save the .ste file!!!!




Next time you are in the lab, go to Site -> Manage Sites to IMPORT your site definition (.ste file). Otherwise, you will have to do steps 1-4 every time you use the lab.






File Transfer

After you have opened a file and made changes, you need to save it and upload the changed file to the server.  Here is the process:

    1. open file
    2. make changes in document window
    3. save
    4. upload changed file to server

View the File Transfer video demonstration (5 minutes) in Windows Media Format (1.3 MB) or Flash (2.3 MB).

To upload a file or folder, select it in the Site window and click the blue up arrow. Dreamweaver calls this the "Put" button.  Use the green "Get" button to download from the server.  This will overwrite a selected local file or folder with the one on the server. 

 

 

You can also upload the active file (file you ar working on) by clicking the file mangement buttons at the top of the screen and selecting Put.

 

Sometimes, you need to see what is on the server.  Click the Expand/Collapse button to show side-by-side views of files on the server and local root.  

In the default view, server files are listed on the left and local files are listed on the right.  If you don't see the server files, click the connect button in the toolbar.  Connect Button

Once you have uploaded your site, THE FOLDER STRUCTURE ON THE SERVER SIDE SHOULD MIRROR THE FOLDER & FILES ON THE LOCAL SIDE!  If yours doesn't, check your site definition.

(NOTE: your Remote Site may include an images folder made when your account was created. You may download this folder or delete it.)

To delete files on the Remote Server, select and hit your Delete key.

To get back to the document window, click the Expand/Collapse button again. Expand Button