After I purchase a host and domain, and make my website template and pages, I just upload them to my web host and they automatically get the domain name of mydomainname.com/<the page name?>

If someone could explain how this process works, because a few videos I found are kind of confusing. Thank you.

How it works is that you need to setup an FTP username and password. This is usually done by logging into your hosting account and finding the area that allows you to do this.

Once you have an FTP account, download an FTP program like Filezilla or if you use Firefox, get the FireFTP add-on. I love it! Enter the FTP info that you created at your host and then you can upload your files from your pc to your host. Most hosts require you to upload them to a folder like htdocs or public_html.

An alternate way is to just upload the files right through your hosting account without even using any software. Most hosts have a file manager. But I've found it easier to use an FTP program.

Finally, if you have web software like dreamweaver or even Komposer you can use the same FTP password that you created at your host and save your files right through the software. Again, no FTP software needed this way either.

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a little more, or a little less.

In case you are asking about the beginning point. In your main folder (whatever it is called on your host) you must have your home page. It must always be called "index.html."

This page will load automatically with the mydomainname.com/ in your browser bar (not the title bar).

The other pages will get the name:
mydomainname.com/(page file name) in the browser bar.

This is done "automatically" as you say, except the page name (if there is one in the title bar) must come from somewhere. Each page name comes from the head tag of your code on that page. It is whatever you put in the <title>(page name)</title> tag which must be in the head.

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James
Douglas County Master Gardeners
"We don't always get what we want, but we always get what we expect."

Okay, it makes more sense than it doesn't but I will probably understand more once I actually start doing it, nothing is better than Trial and Error (sometimes)

Thanks!

You will do fine, I'm sure.

Your host should give you the info you need to log on to your site. In particular they will give you three things you need: host, username and ftp password.

If you download and use FileZilla (recommended often, very easy to use), you will have a quick connect bar across the top. You don't need to use much if anything else. Just fill in those three things in the boxes there for them. You do not need to know or fill in the fourth box, labeled Port (at least I never have). Then click the Quickconnect button and you will be connected. It is just that easy.

Down the left half of your screen you will see a folder structure just like Windows Explorer for your computer and another on the right for your web site. You can just drag and drop files/folders to be copied from your computer to the web site. That is all there is to it.

The only other thing you need to know from your host set up is the exact location to place your index.html file and start building your site. You hear it called "public folder" and the like but names vary. My host (Dreamhost) allows unlimited domains to be hosted so they have made a very helpful setup in that when you identify a domain for hosting they just put your root folder for that site up with that domain name on it. For example, this site's index file would go into a folder named "websitebabble.com." The root folder for my Master Gardener site in my signature is dcmg.info (for Douglas County Master Gardeners). But just remember, yours could be labeled anything, your host knows it and will tell you what to look for when you log in.

You can technically put all your files for your site in that folder, but you will probably put additional folders into that one. You will probably put one folder labeled "images." You can add as many folders and sub-folders as you want but don't get to complicated. Keep it simple. Just remember that all of your site goes into this original folder they give you, whatever the name, and all files in there have to be linked to from your original page.

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Good Success!
James
Douglas County Master Gardeners
"We don't always get what we want, but we always get what we expect."

Wow, thank you all for all your help, setting up my website doesn't sound so hard now, haha. I'm going to purchase a domain and the regular host from it by November 1st(hopefully)

Thanks again.

I just got caught out in a big way like that last week. I knew perfectly well that my main folder was at public_html/ but I kept loading my .htaccess file into the root folder, which contained the public_html folder in it.

I spent hours trying to figure out why I got strange results. I even contacted support, but they didn't guess what I stupid thing I was doing either. Eventually I noticed my mistake, and everything started working.

Ian

Hi. Does it also work for joomla web sites. I had many troubled transfering file local to web server.

Thanks.

bsrgds.

Your ftp process should normally be no different, no matter what is on your site.

If you are having trouble, I would do this.

First, keep in mind the fact that your site is just like your computer file folder setup: one folder is the base and everything in it is linked by subfolders.

Use a simple ftp process. FileZilla is quite simple and the folders can be dragged just as you use explorer on your computer.

Make SURE you know the correct root folder on your host for your beginning folder content including the index file.

If your files work on your computer and you follow these simple steps you should have no problems as long as you keep them in the same structure. Also make sure any links are relative and not full links using all of your computers folders (C:\Documents and Settings\...).

HOWEVER, some processes require specific instructions for the hosting such as codes to insert into the .htaccess file. I do not use joomla but with any new process I would check out any special requirements such as that. Nevertheless, the ftp process itself will always be the same.

__________________
Good Success!
James
Douglas County Master Gardeners
"We don't always get what we want, but we always get what we expect."

Thank you very much for quick response.

bsrgds.

Hi, I use a service similar to Joomla that is for members only. Joomla is free, but difficult to understand. I've heard that you can get simple instructions from http://ikmca.com/go/joomla.php but I haven't tried them because I'm using the other service.

Joomla handles the FTP for you, but you have to give them the right login information, and the right root path.

What I usually do with a new site is to put in the login information, then click the button for my service to check the FTP link. If you don't have such a button in Joomla, simply try to send your index file.

Before you can do this test you must have set up your template for the page.

If you get an error message saying something like "cannot log on to ftp site" you know that you have to change something in your login information. Ask your host for FTP details for hostname, username, and password.

You should also have an FTP program such as Filezilla to send your graphics files and other files that don't fit neatly into the Joomla templates. If you have an FTP program, just copy the hostname, username, and password from your FTP program.

Your next problem is with sub-directories.

Prepare a file for a sub-directory, and use Joomla to send it to your site. Now use Filezilla to examine your website to find where your new file has been dumped. If it's in the wrong place, delete it, and work out what path changes you have to make in Joomla to get it in the right place.

Don't worry, it's an extra hassle when you are starting, but once you are all set up you can forget it. Joomla will put everything where you want it without you having to make any changes to your setup.

I'm really describing what I would do in the service that I use, but I've heard only good reports of Joomla, so I would be using it if I wasn't already a member for a similar program.

Thank you. You really gave nice summary on FTP Joomla.

bsrgds.

Also you can use a synchronization tool, when you setup the options the process to update your website is more easy.