Coding: Posting Pages: FTP

After you develop your web pages, you'll need a way upload them to a web server. In other words, instead of being saved on your computer, the pages need to be saved on a computer that serves web pages.

File Transfer Protocol is a method used to copy a file from one host to another over the Internet.

MacOS and WindowsXP now have built-in software to FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Dreamweaver, FrontPage, and other web development tools also have built-in software.

If you use some services, they provide an automated FTP system that runs from their website. For instance, the Oncourse course management system has a way to upload files into the system.

In some cases you'll want or need to use stand-alone FTP software. For example, some security systems require special software. You can download shareware or inexpensive software for FTP. It works very similar to the way you copy files from your hard drive to a disk. In the case of the web, you're copying files from the hard drive to the remote web server

Uploading Files

Once you've created your account with a web hosting service, they will email you the directions needed to FTP (upload) your files to your server space. You will need the location, directory, username, and password.

Software Options

Cyberduck is a favorite choice for both platforms.

Fetch is another choice for the Mac OS.

Filezilla, FTP Explorer, and WS_FTP are other choices for the Windows OS.

Learn More

If you want to explore the possibilities for FTP, check them out at Submitting Feeds via FTP at Google.

Go to Teacher Tap: FTP Software for some resources.

 

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