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 Understanding Local Hard Drive C: vs Remote Server Directories
These illustrations should help to understand the relationship between the C:\ local drive directories on your PC in relation to the Web Server Host “WWW” space on the server when uploading using an FTP Client on a Remote Web Server. A well maintained Server Hosting should include an exact “MIRROR” of information from the webserver on your PC's Hard Drive, a complete backup.
Never know when a hosting server may have maintenance problems, Backups are your responsibility!
Understanding your Local Hard Drive - where is C:\ Root Directory?
This illustration should help to understand the location of your C:\ root local drive directory on your PC in comparison to the other possible paths that can list folders and files on your PC. In the illustration below it is shown as the XP_COMPUTER [C:].
Instead of cluttering your DeskTop; you can create folders off the C:\ root on your Hard Drive Directory Tree.
If you start the foldernames with AAAAA_ it will cause the folders to show at the top of the listings, saving you having to scroll down all the time.
Likewise, folders leading with a ZZZZZ_ will keep them listed at the bottom, out of your way.
Understanding your Server Directories - where is my server Root Webspace?
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SERVER UPLOAD via FTP CLIENT - STANDARD REFERENCE CHART
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Do yourself a favor before you start... save yourself a lot of confusion and trouble.
1) Always name directories and files as all lowercase. Including the file extension, .html .jpg etc...
2) Never use spaces in directory or file names. They just look bad: page%20name.html
• Use the underscore in directory names like this: /silver_jewelry/.
• Use the underscore in filenames like this: page_name.html and image_name.jpg.
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Ok, now to begin.
public_html/ or www/home/ means the same thing as www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/
ROOT DIRECTORY means the "Web Accessable Space" of your server.
URL Pathway: http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/index.html
index.html, robots.txt, are about all you want in the "root" directory.
(See /pages/ below. All pages other than your index.html go into /pages/ directory.)
All directories or files must be under this root directory or a sub-directory of this root in order
to be "viewable using the Internet Explorer Browser". Your hosting company may address this root directory a little differently, but the basic concept is always the same on UNIX/Linux based hosting.
All server directories shown and described below are an example
of this proper structure and file management. Examples:
Server Path URL in Browser
public_html/ is same as http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/index.html (home page)
public_html/cgi-bin/ is same as http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/cgi-bin/
public_html/css/ is same as http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/css/
public_html/images/ is same as http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/images/
public_html/pages/ is same as http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/pages/
public_html/workfiles/ is same as http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/workfiles/
(see the descriptions and examples below)
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/cgi-bin/
CGI-BIN DIRECTORY of your server.
URL Pathway: http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/cgi-bin/
All scripts used for your site interactivity, such as Forums, Chatrooms, Contact Forms, etc...
are located in or under this directory.
Recommended that you create a sub-directory for each Perl Script installed
such as /cgi-bin/formmail/ to keep things organized.
/css/
CSS DIRECTORY of your server.
URL Pathway: http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/css/
Any Cascading Style Sheets used to control pages are in this directory.
/images/
IMAGES DIRECTORY of your server.
URL Pathway: http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/images/
All images should be uploaded to this directory. your page code will "load" them from this directory.
EXAMPLE IMAGE LOAD: (to load images into your pages)
<img src="http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/images/welcome.jpg" width="400" height="161" border="0" alt="Welcome">
/pages/ (note: create as many directories like this as you need)
ALL OTHER ADDITIONAL PAGES DIRECTORIES of your server.
URL Pathway: http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/pages/
All other pages of your website will be uploaded to this directory, or one like it.
You may create as many directories like this as needed for proper directory and file management of your site /gallery/, /gallery_02/, /gifts/, /jewelry/, etc...
Even image sub-directories can be created as in /jewelry/images/, etc...
EXAMPLE LINK: (to link to another page)
<a href="http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/pages/return_yesteryear.html" title="Return to Yesteryear">Return to Yesteryear</a>
/workfiles/
WORKFILES DIRECTORY of your server:
URL Pathway: http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/workfiles/
Files being worked on or developed go here. Once they are ready, can be copied to a live accessable directory for the public to view.
WORKPAGE EXAMPLE: (to link to your workpage)
<a href="http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/workfiles/name_of_workpage.html" title="Name Of WorkPage">Name Of WorkPage</a>
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HTML CODING USED IN PAGES FOR LINKING TO OTHER PAGES AND LOADING IMAGES:
<a href=""> links's , <img src=""> image load's etc...
A HREF EXAMPLE: (to link to another page)
<a href="http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/pages/return_yesteryear.html" title="Return to Yesteryear">Return to Yesteryear</a>
IMG SRC EXAMPLE: (to load images into your pages)
<img src="http://www.YOUR_DOMAIN_NAME.com/images/welcome.jpg" width="400" height="161" border="0" alt="Welcome">
We host all our clients with Bluehost and fully recommend their services.
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