ftp vs. a hosting company - Page 2

pathfinder · #11 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital321

i'm confused... why (or when) would you need to upload your 'files' to an ftp site, and which files are you uploading... versus using your hosting company? is ftp designed for something else other than your website content, i.e. pictures, flash, etc. for uploading? i guess i'm asking when would you use an ftp site for upload... and when would you use your hosting company for uploads... and what content do you upload for both, whew!

thanks!!

im not sure what you mean.. but, FTP client is used to upload your local files to your remote space which is what you are paying for your hosting company. you might mean a sort of uploading page you have from sortta Control Panel...

I prefer to use a FTP program since it is more convenient for me

marketingmama · #12 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 09:13 AM

FTP is not a "site" that you upload your pages to, it's a piece of software that you use to upload your pages quickly and securely to your host company. That's it, that's all it is but you do need it. Don't use the "upload file" thing in your control panel at your host company.

Sheree

digital321 · #13 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:18 PM

ok, now i get it. but marketingmama, that's a good point you brought up... why shouldn't i use the host's upload ftp software? i have Dreamweaver and i think it comes with an ftp capability and i think internet explorer does too. what do you guys think of these two?

thanks for the advice!

lisa · #14 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital321

ok, now i get it. but marketingmama, that's a good point you brought up... why shouldn't i use the host's upload ftp software? i have Dreamweaver and i think it comes with an ftp capability and i think internet explorer does too. what do you guys think of these two?

thanks for the advice!

I use 2 different FTP programs because it depends on what I'm doing. If I'm installing a new script that has a lot of files to upload, I like to use an external program like Filezilla.

For example, when I installed this vbulletin forum there are tons of files and several directories are created on my server so it's easier to use Filezilla. Plus if you need to change permissions (CHMOD) to files or monitor ASCII/Binary transmissions, it's best to use an external program rather than your host's control panel or HTML editor like Dreamweaver.

But if I'm working on my site and am just uploading basic image and/or .HTML files then I just use Dreamweaver's built-in FTP feature. I hardly ever use my host's control panel.

digital321 · #15 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

Plus if you need to change permissions (CHMOD) to files or monitor ASCII/Binary transmissions, it's best to use an external program rather than your host's control panel or HTML editor like Dreamweaver.

omg lisa... what are those?? what types of permissions are you changing and do i need to monitor my websites ASCII/Binary transmissions too??

also, do you guys know of one place where i can learn to understand these terms?? thanks!

but overall, in a nutshell... you recommend filezilla as a good choice? does it cost? thanks again!

lisa · #16 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital321

omg lisa... what are those?? what types of permissions are you changing and do i need to monitor my websites ASCII/Binary transmissions too??

also, do you guys know of one place where i can learn to understand these terms?? thanks!

but overall, in a nutshell... you recommend filezilla as a good choice? does it cost? thanks again!

Sorry didn't mean to startle you. lol When you're uploading files using an FTP program you must upload graphic files as Binary and text files as ASCII. Most FTP programs have an "Auto" feature which uploads the files in the proper format without you having to worry about it so it's generally no big deal. I just keep Filezilla on "Auto" and have never had to manually change anything.

As far as changing permissions (CHMOD), unless you're uploading a script that tells you to change permissions then don't worry about it. Some scripts require you to give certain files read/write permissions in order for them to execute properly. But don't let that stuff scare you. Cross that bridge when you get there.

For basic site updates you won't need to mess with any of that. But you should still become familiar with basic FTP-ing no matter what you use. It's not hard to learn at all. Bookmark the following link as it explains what I just mentioned. It's easy to understand and they recommend FileZilla...

http://www.interspire.com/content/ar...le-Permissions

Rob · #17 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 04:23 PM

Frontpage and Dreamweaver both come with capable basic ftp plugins which function fine and help me remember to upload my files instead of keeping them just locally (on my machine)

As lisa said FileZilla is probably the best out there and for a typical webmaster you wont need to chmod anything unless your installing a CMS or a forum etc which has its own installation paths.

I have officially switched to fire ftp thanks to the person who sent me the link its great a functions just as well as Filezilla.

Oh and depending on what host you use they some times have a built in ftp uploader which runs of Java and is completely free and can change permissions etc so that's also another option at your finger tips

digital321 · #18 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 02:49 AM

wow... you guys are super smart. i'm not going to lie. and lisa... thanks for that link, it has alot of useful info. well actually, you're just jam-packed with alot of info yourself! by the way, i love your blog. i just can't read it at work, cause i'd probably get caught and fired. i've purchased some tutorials on html and dreamweaver and i'm trying to catch up with you guys, but.. uh, well, i've got ALOT of work to do. but it's all step by step.

one dilema i'm having is applying CSS to websites through DW... any links to how to create those darn menus on the side? the nice ones? (i know this section is on FTP, but just a link would be great... plz!)

also do you guys recommend that i just try to get content up and running and update as i'm going along, or just wait and try to perfect my site then go live?

pathfinder · #19 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital321

omg lisa... what are those?? what types of permissions are you changing and do i need to monitor my websites ASCII/Binary transmissions too??

also, do you guys know of one place where i can learn to understand these terms?? thanks!

but overall, in a nutshell... you recommend filezilla as a good choice? does it cost? thanks again!

see www.download.com to which you can download filezilla for free (not sure if that's for trial though.. )

Rob · #20 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 08:32 AM

Digital : Select the tab view then go down to 'Style Rendering' then click 'Screen media type' and the CSS box comes up. I must say this is when adobe is truly beaten by the new Frontpage or expression web the amount of CSS features that prog has is unreal, you don't have to any knowledge on CSS they give you the tags for you and everything.

You cant apply CSS to html or xml as such but you cad sync it with another you just have to link it together with a simple code at the top, if you do this DW will infact automatically bring up all the toolbars you need.

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