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Ever wish you could
publish your web
pages to a server as easily as you drag and drop files
from one folder to another on your Windows desktop? Internet Explorer versions 5 through 9 allow you to do so.. Microsoft programmed the
FTP function into
Explorer.exe,
allowing you to use most Windows compatible
browsers to FTP using this method.
Unfortunately, Microsoft made changes starting with version 10, so
the function is not available in current versions of Internet Explorer.
Not all servers accept this type of file transfer, but RootsWeb
does.
If you're
a Macintosh user, see Wes Groleau's instructions
for OS9.
Instructions for Internet Explorer v5 thru v9:
- Open Internet Explorer. From the Tools
Menu
select
Internet Options,
then the
Advanced
tab.
Under the section headed
Browsing,
check the box to "Enable folder view
for FTP
sites".
If this option is not listed, just go to step 2.
- Log on to your Internet Service Provider. Enter
your userid and the
server URL in the address box of your browser window. For FreePages,
you will
enter
ftp://userid@users.freepages.rootsweb.com
where "userid"' is the userid/account name you were assigned when your
account
was created.
Now is a good time to add this to your
"Favorites"
list so you can come back to it easily in the
future.
- A dialogue box will pop up asking for
your User Name and password. If you use
this method for more than one account or server,
be sure the correct User Name appears in the box. Enter your password
exactly as it was sent to you in your Welcome Letter from
FreePages. Your password is case sensitive, so you must copy it
eXacTLy.
You can check the box to
save/remember
password
so
you won't have to fill these in the next time you log on,
but be sure to consider the security risk before you
do so. Click Login.
The browser window will change slightly, adding the
Copy, Paste,
and
Delete
icons to the Tool Bar. After searching
your Freepages account, it will list all of the
community/directory folders in your root directory.
Open the folder where you want to upload your files. Any
files that have already been uploaded to this folder will
be listed. If you are using Windows Vista and IE7 or IE8, you will need to click Page, then click Open FTP site in Windows Explorer.
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WARNING: Do NOT rename, move or delete any of the
community folders in the root directory of your account. The FreePages
server
has been set up so each of the xxxx_html directories maps to a
unique URL. They must
NOT
be changed or deleted.
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- Open
My Computer
or
Windows Explorer
in a new window, and navigate to
the directory where the files you want to publish are
located on your computer.
- Tile or resize both the browser window
and the MyComputer
window so both are visible on your desk top.
- Drag and drop or copy and paste the
file(s) or folder(s) you want to publish from the MyComputer
window to the browser window. Your
original files will remain right where they are on your
computer, but they will be copied to your chosen
directory/URL at FreePages.
Using your browser, you can
view, download, upload, rename (move), and delete files and
folders in your FreePages account. This method piggybacks on http:// so
can be somewhat slower than file transfers using a stand-alone FTP
client;
but the familiarity and convenience of the interface will offset this
for many users.
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