Using WS_FTP LE to upload your web pages

WS_FTP LE is an application (freeware) that allows you to transfer files between a client computer (e.g. your PC) and a host computer (e.g. your Internet Service Provider) using the File Transfer Protocol. WS_FTP LE is available to download at http://www.tucows.com/ftp95.html. You will need WinZip or similar to extract the file. Save the application to disk and install.

Note: For most of this section, we will deal only with Eircom accounts. The procedure for uploading to an Ireland-on-Line account is similar, with the following exceptions:

• Host Name/ Address is iol.ie
• You have to create the public_html folder the first time you connect.
• Your home page URL is http://ireland.iol.ie/~username/

 Launch WS_FTP LE

Connect to the Internet in the normal way.

Launch WS_FTP LE.

 Enter Session Properies

The Session Properties window opens automatically.

Although WS_FTP LE is pre-configured to connect to a number of servers, there is no entry for the Eircom Internet web pages server, so you'll have to create it. Click on New and enter the following details:

Note: Ensure that Anonymous is NOT selected.

When you have entered the details, click on Apply to save these settings for future use. Enter your password and then click on OK to connect to the server. On subsequent occasions you only need to select your Profile Name from the list, enter your password and click OK.

 Organise files and directories

The WS_FTP screen is split, with your own computer (Local System) on the left and the host computer (Remote System) on the right.

The buttons on each side allow you to manipulate the files and directories. Click MkDir to make a directory, RmDir to remove a directory, Delete to delete a selected file, Rename to rename a file. To enter a directory double click on it, and to exit a directory (move up a level) double click on the green arrow on top.

Locate the folder containing your web site files on the left side.

On the right side you should see a directory called public_html. If it is not there you must create it. To do this click on MkDir on the right side (Remote System), type in public_html and click OK.

Then double click on this directory (public_html) to enter it. This is where you will store your web site. Delete any unwanted files by selecting the files and clicking Delete.

 Upload your files

To transfer your files to the homepage.eircom.net server, select the files on the left then click on the right arrow button .

The files are then copied from your computer to the server. How long this takes depends mainly on the size of the files you are transferring.

When finished, you will notice that all the files are now visible on the right side of the window.

Click Close and then Exit.

Point your browser at http://homepage.eircom.net/~username/ and your school web site is available for the entire world to see!

 Maintain/ Update Your Pages

Use WS_FTP LE to connect to the server in the normal way. Open public_html and Delete the older versions of the updated files. Then upload the new versions in the usual way, Close and Exit.