SOYOUWANNA DESIGN YOUR OWN WEB PAGE?

7. UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT INTO CYBERSPACE

Since the uploading process will vary depending on what application you use and on the requirements of your service provider, we will cover this process only briefly and generally. The standard method for uploading files is called FTP, or "file transfer protocol." This means what it sounds like, a method for transferring files from your computer out to another server (or vice versa). We'll use WS_FTP as an example, as this is the standard application for uploading files from a Windows system. If you don't have a copy of WS_FTP, you can download it for free from many shareware sites, including www.shareware.com. Uploading from a Mac involves a different application program but is a very similar process. Be forewarned, this whole uploading process can be tricky, so print this step out for quick reference.

You'll first want to make sure that all your documents for uploading are in a common folder or directory. You will have to check up on your service provider's policies as to where and how to upload your files to their server, and whether you must save the files with a particular label or format. Check your documentation, and their web site. If you can't find the information, or it's unclear, call them up and ask them nicely to explain it to you.

You must first login to your service, as you normally do to get online. Then run WS_FTP. This should open a window called Session Profile. If it does not, click on the Connect button to bring up the correct window. Click New for a new session, and then fill in the Profile Name. Call it something that makes sense, like "Web Page Upload." For the Host Name, you'll want to enter the name of your service provider's server (they will have to provide you with this information). Your User ID will be the first part of your email address, before the "@" symbol.You shouldn't need to include your password, since you entered it when you first logged in. In the bottom line, Local PC, you'll enter the path name to the directory containing your document and other material. Since we've saved our directory on the desktop, the correct path in Windows will be:

C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\DirectoryName

When you've finished filling in these lines, click Save -- you'll need to use this connection again later. Then click OK to begin uploading files from the directory.

You should now be looking at a window has at the top the name of the application, WS_FTP, followed by the name of the server you're uploading to.

On the left side of the window, under the phrase Local System, you should be looking at a line containing the name of the directory on your computer, and beneath this line a listing of the files in that directory.

On the right side of the window, under the phrase Remote System, there should be a line containing the name of the directory that represents your space on the server; the name of this directory will probably end in your User Name, for easy identification. Beneath this line will be an empty space, where we're about to stuff some files.

Click on the files you want to transfer, on the left side of the window. If you hold down the mouse button you can select several files at once. Once they're selected, click on the arrow button at the center of the window, the one pointing to the right, since this is the direction we're transferring the files to. A panel will open before each file is sent, asking you if you want to change the file name. If not, just click on OK for each file and it will be on its way.

Once you're finished, you should be able use your browser to visit your web page on the Net, just like any other page. Remember: if you want to make any changes or corrections to your page at this point, you'll have to alter the file on your computer, and then upload the revised file to overwrite the one on the server.

Click here for one last glance at our sample page in all of its glory.

Congratulations, you've just gone public.