How to Upload Content to Our Web Server

Ralph L. Vinciguerra
http://vinci.org/rlv/
2003-11-03

Introduction

The Joshua Eaton Web server is maintained by LAN Bear Technologies and all content that we publish must be transferred to a computer at their site. Fortunately, this can be accomplished from any computer with access to an intenet connection.

There are many software programs you can use to transfer information to our server, but for expediency I'm going to describe three of them:

• Using Web Folders on Win98
• Using Web Folders on Win2000/WinXP
• Using Web Folders on Macintosh OSX
• plain old ftp - for Linux, UNIX, and Windows

General Information

This information is common no matter what solution you decide to use. We must make a few assumptions for your particular case, so we will designate a few place holders for pieces of information you will need. In the following instructions you should substitude the value of the place holder exactly as shown, with spaces capitals, etc preserved.

When you are preparing your web materials, each WEB_DIRECTORY should have an entry page (file) named "index.html". This contains the first page people see for your section, and the web master will expect this to be the place they can link in from the larger web site.

Once your content is uploaded as detailed below, you should immediately verify it's integrity by using a web browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, Opera, etc) to connect to the school's server.

Also, please alert the web master that your new content is present, so they can add you to the "What's New listing" and verify your content.

Use this kind of web address:
http://reading.k12.ma.us/WEB_DIRECTORY
Replaceing WEB_DIRECTORY with your assigned area.

Using Web folders on Win98

First, open the "My Computer" desktop icon, then open the "Web Folders" icon.

Next, open the "Add Web Folder" icon.

Now, fill in the "location" as:
http://reading.k12.ma.us/WEB_DIRECTORY
You will substitute your assigned area (such as eaton/jepe, eaton/library, etc), for the WEB_DIRECTORY. Please note the use of "forward slashes" (/), not back slashes!

Once you click the "Next" button, you we be queried for your WEB_ID and WEB_PASSWORD as provided by the network administrator. A new icon will appear that you can open. You can "copy and paste" files into this space, your you can "drag and drop them here", just as if it is any other folder on your computer. The files placed in this folder will be auotmatically transferred to

Please Note: If you do not correctly set your folder to the specific WEB_DIRECTORY assigned to you, the entire web site or other sections can be easily erased. So make sure the web folder is set correctly. Once this is true, you'll be assured that only your area can be modifed.

Using Web Folders For Win2000/WinXP

1. Click on "Start"
2. Click on "My Computer"
3. Click on "My Network Places"
4. Click on "Add a Network Place"
5. Select "choose another network location"
6. For network location enter "http://reading.k12.ma.us/WEB_DIRECTORY"
7. When prompted for a User Name and Password enter your WEB_ID and WEB_PASSWORD
8. Finally, give the "Network Place" a name of your choosing.

Using Web Folders on the Mac OSX

Web Folders are supported only on Mac OsX Jaguar and later (version 10.2).

1. On the Go Menu of the Finder, select "Connect to Server"
2. You will be prompted for a location. This will be:
   http://reading.k12.ma.us/WEB_DIRECTORY
3. Click Next
4. You will be prompted for a username (use WEB_ID) and password (use WEB_PASSWORD). Enter this and click OK.
5. A "Network disk" will display on the desktop, with your username. Click on this to access the folder. You may need to enter your username and password.

Using plain old FTP

NOTE: Plain old FTP won't work on Windows anymore. LANBear requires that a special "port number" be used, and the Win98 FTP can't accept that information. If you are using ftp on Linux (or UNIX), you can connect just file on port 1430.

This option is always a classic to include since it works on many computers and does not require the installation of any software. It's disadvantages are the lack of a graphical interface, and somewhat cryptic commands (although any seasoned UNIX computer user would feel right at home). Feel free to skip this option and use another one that's easier to use!

The letters FTP actually represent a protocol (a language computers speak to each other) named File Transfer Protocol. In this case the program you are running is named "ftp" and is run from a command shell. On windows, open up a "DOS Prompt", or "command window". On Linux/UNIX, open an "xterm", or "shell". On the Mac, seek another technique.

If we presume you have prepared web content and are ready to publish it with ftp here is an example session:

cd LOCAL_DIRECTORY
ftp WEB_SERVER 1430
WEB_ID
WEB_PASSWORD
cd WEB_DIRECTORY {This step is critical!}
prompt  {stops the program from asking for verification for each file}
bin     {makes transfers that are exact and work for images and text}
mput *  {puts all the files in the current directory onto the server}
ls      {lists the files currently present on the web server}
quit

It's only a few commands, but it takes some experience. I haven't shown any responses to the commands, since they vary for difference types of machines. Also, if your content is organized into sub-folders as well, you'll have to do the uploaded for each subfolder, using command pairs of "cd" and "lcd" to move to the sub folders on the web server and your local computer, respectively.

On Linux, a program named "lftp" works extremely well, and have a command "mirror -R" that can automatically compare what's changed and only upload the files that are needed! See the network administrator if you could benefit from this program.