WEB DEVELOPMENT BLOG

May 18, 2008

Uploading files with Dreamweaver (WebDAV)

If you've been using Dreamweaver to upload files to a Web server using FTP, and you're about to start using WebDAV—either because of the Case Web server upgrade or because you're looking for a more secure protocol than FTP—you'll find that using WebDAV with Dreamweaver is quite similar to using FTP. Simply follow the directions below to configure your sites. If you are managing sites you've already configured to use FTP, choose the existing site definition(s), then select "edit" instead of "new" while following the directions below and change your settings accordingly.

Step One: Define your site

Click on image to enlarge

I recommend doing this when you first start working on your site. In doing so you will provide key information to Dreamweaver that will allow it to better manage your links and other information.

1. Under Dreamweaver's site menu, choose "Manage sites."
2. Click the "New" button and select "site" from the drop down menu. This will open the dialogue box pictured on the right of this page.
3. Making sure you have the "advanced" tab selected, enter a name in the "Site name" box. This can be any name of your choosing.
4. In the "Local root folder" box navigate to the folder on your local computer or network where you are storing your files for this Web site.
5. In the "Default images folder" box box navigate to the folder within your site folder where you are storing your main images. (Note: This is optional; you do not have to keep all images in this folder)
6. In the "HTTP: address" box type in the url for your site, such as http://www.case.edu/community/.
7. Check the "enable cache" box.
8. Your site has now been defined, but don't click OK just yet!

Step Two: Define your remote server connection

Click on image to enlarge

This step tells Dreamweaver what protocol to use, the location of your server, and your login and password information.

1. On the left side of the dialogue box select "remote info." This will bring up a different dialogue box.
2. In the "Access" box scroll down and select "WebDAV."
3. In the URL box enter the url for your server. On the new Case server that will be: https://www.case.edu:8000/<your network id>/<your group's Aurora account name>. (Don't type the angle brackets, you want an address that looks something like https://www.case.edu:8000/xyz67/departmentx.)
4. In the "login" box type in your username. For Case users this is your Case user ID, not the Web account name you have used in the past.
5. In the "password" box type your password, for Case users this is your Case network password. Click the "Save password" box.
6. Leaving all the other boxes unchecked, you are now ready to click "OK."
7. This will return you to the first dialogue box. Click Done. When this box is closed the "files" panel will automatically open on either the left or right of your open file.

Uploading ("putting") files to the Web server

1. With the files panel open and set to local view, click the blue button that looks like an electrical plug connecting to an extension cord. This will open your connection to your remote Web server. You may, or may not, also need to click on the round arrow button to the right of the plug to refresh your file list.
2. Select files and folders you would like to upload and push the "Put file(s)" button which is identified as an upward pointing blue arrow.
3. In the drop down menu where it says "Local view," switch to "Remote view" to verify that your files have been uploaded.
4. In your Web browser go to your site to ensure that everything looks right.
5. Note: If you would like to view local and remote files at the same time, simply click the expand collapse button to the far right of the other buttons in the panel screen. It has a blue and green bar on the top and a small right pointing arrow.

Downloading ("getting") files from the Web server

1. Downloading is very similar to uploading. With your connection already open, switch from "local view" to "remote view."
2. Select files and folders you would like to download and push the "Get file(s)" button which is identified as a downward pointing green arrow.

Once you've defined your site, the process is pretty easy. Just upload or download files using the up and down arrows, and you're all set!

Other ways to connect via WebDAV.

If you experience difficulty uploading files with Dreamweaver, you may prefer to use one of the following alternatives (these are what I use).

• Uploading files with the WebDrive WebDAV client for Windows
• Introduction to WebDAV: Connecting on a Macintosh
• How to Access Upgraded Aurora Server: instructions on the Case Wiki

Stumble It!

Posted by: Heidi Cool May 18, 2008 06:23 PM | Category: Heidi's Entries , How-to , Recommendations , webdav

Posted by: hac4 (Heidi Cool) May 18, 2008 06:23 PM | Comments (3) | Trackback

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