FAQ - Uploading your web page

Congratulations! You've worked long and hard and finally your web site is ready for the world to see. What now? - Just follow these easy steps to copy your files from your own PC to the Local Access Web server:

General Guidelines for Both Macs & PC's

1. Send an email message to Webmaster@localaccess.com requesting that a directory be created on the Local Access Web server for your pages. Until you request one, there won't be a place for you to upload your files to. This will usually be done the same day you make your request, but sometimes during weekends and holidays there could be a 1 or 2 day delay in creating your directory.
   


2. Your front Home Page file - the one you want viewers to see first when they visit your web site MUST be called default.htm If you call it anything else, including the commonly used index.html, index.htm or default.html (with its extra "L" at the end) your pages won't work correctly.
   


3. When naming your other .htm or graphics files, use only short "DOS style" filenames, with no more than 8 characters followed by a period, then three more characters. Also use only .htm endings for your web page files and the only valid file types for your graphics files are .gif and .jpg
   
   Also avoid any unusual characters in your filenames, such as &, #, etc. and never put any spaces in your filenames, your URL or any other Internet address.
   


4. When your password is required during the uploading process, remember that it is case sensitive (the correct letters must be capitalized exactly as you requested them when you chose your password at the time you signed up for your Internet account)
   


5. Every place in these instructions where you see the term "USERNAME", substitute your OWN Local Access User Name (It's usually the first part of your E-Mail address - the part before the "@" symbol.
   


6. Users are requested to avoid posting illegal, indecent or copyrighted materials on their pages. By posting information on the Local Access web server, users accept full responsibility for all web page content.

IBM Compatible PC's

1. Follow the General Guidelines above.
   


2. You will need an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program to "upload" your HTML and Graphics files to the Local Access Web Server. We recommend WS_ftp by Ipswitch as being easy-to-use and reliable. These instructions were written for use with WS_ftp. Although other FTP programs will work, if you choose to use a different FTP program, Local Access tech support may be unable to assist you if you have problems, since this is the software they are most familiar with.
   
   A shareware copy of WS_ftp can be downloaded from Ipswitch's WWW site at http://www.ipswitch.com/downloads.html#WS_FTP
   


3. After installing WS_ftp, dial in to your Internet account as though you were planning to send E-Mail or use the World Wide Web, then start WS_ftp.
   


4. You will be presented with a "SESSION PROFILE" window. Fill out the screen as follows, substituting your Local Access USERNAME (or User ID) everwhere in the instructions where the word "USERNAME" appears
   
   * Profile Name: My Web Page
   * Host Name: ftp.localaccess.com
   * Host Type: "Auto Detect"
   * User ID: Put your OWN Local Access USERNAME on this line
   * Password: Put your OWN Local Access PASSWORD on this line
   * Account: Leave this line Blank
   * Remote Host: e:\www\USERNAME
   * Local PC: C:\WebPage (This is just an example. What you should actually put here is the name of the drive and directory on your own PC where your web files are located)
   * UNCHECK the "Anonymous Login" Box
   * CHECK the "Save Password" Box
   * CHECK the "Auto Save Config" Box
   
   Note that there are a couple different versions of WS_ftp out there. Click on these links to find illustrations for the version you have.
   
   WS_ftp Version 4 Session Profile" Screen.
   
   WS_ftpLE (Limited Edition)



5. After finishing the configuration, click "OK" and WS_ftp will connect you to your directory on the Local Access Web Server. The message in small type at the lower left of your screen should read "Transfer Complete".
   


6. Now your screen should be divided with a window on the left side showing all the files on your own computer where your Web Page files are located and a larger white window on the right side which will be essentially blank until you move some files into it.
   


7. Highlight the first file (on the left side of the screen) you want to upload by clicking just once on it. Then click the arrow in the middle of the screen which points from left to right and you will soon see a copy of the file appear in the right hand window. Repeat this step for each file you wish to move. Make certain you upload each file associated with your pages, including every image file.
   


8. In the future, when you want to revise your pages you can simply repeat the above steps. Note that if you transfer a new or revised file of the same name it will automatically overwrite and replace the old one.
   


9. Check to see if your pages work properly by starting your Web Browser (Probably Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer) and typing your URL (Uniform Resource Locator) in the "Location" or "Address" bar near the top of your Browser screen, then hitting your "Enter" key. The URL is your World Wide Web address and Internet users from anywhere in the world will be able to view your page using this address.. Your URL is: http://www.localaccess.com/USERNAME/
   
   There may be some exceptions to this rule (about determining your URL address) for some businesses who have requested a different name for their directory than their logon user ID, but most Local Access members can use this method to determine their URL address.) If you are in doubt about what your Web address is, E-Mail Webmaster@localaccess.com or phone 330-5535
   
   Important! Make sure you include the trailing forward slash ( / ) at the end of your address exactly as above or some browsers will not find your page.
   


10. Once you are satisfied with your page, you can email Webmaster@localaccess.com to request a link on either our Local Users page or Local Business page so that Internet users in our area can easily find your page. You can also register your URL with most of the Internet Search Engines and Directories (such as Yahoo!, Web Crawler, Alta Vista, Lycos, etc) if you like so that users anywhere in the world can find your page. Once again, it is important when registering with search sites that you include the full address including the trailing forward slash ( / ) at the end of your address or the link to your page probably won't work.
    
    That's all there is to it! Thanks for your contribution to the World Wide Web.

MacIntosh Computers

1. Follow the General Guidelines at the top of this document.
   


2. To upload your web page files from a Mac, first you need a copy of "Fetch"... an FTP program for MacIntosh. If you don't have it, it's available for download from any good Internet shareware archive site. Try http://www.shareware.com or http://www.download.com or http://www.tucows.com
   
   Although other FTP programs will work, if you choose to use a different FTP program, Local Access tech support may be unable to assist you if you have problems, since this is the software they are most familiar with.
   


3. When you first start "Fetch" you'll be presented with a window labeled "New Connection". Fill in the screen as follows:
   
   * Host: ftp.localaccess.com
   * User Id: Put your Local Access USERNAME on this line
   * Password: Put your logon password here
   * Directory: e:\www\USERNAME
   


4. After filling in this screen click "OK"
   


5. To make sure any graphics files are uploaded intact make the following configuration changes:
   * Click on "Customize", then on "Preferences", then on "Upload".
   * Make sure this screen is set with the Default text format as "Text" and the Default Non-text Format as "Raw Data". Click "OK".
   * Now in "Customize", "Preferences", "Download" UNCHECK the box for "Automatic Defaults to Text". Click "OK".
   


6. To Upload your HTM and graphics files just click on "Put File", then you'll be presented with a file browser window which you can use to locate the files on your hard drive that you want to upload. Once you locate the files you want to upload, just Double-click on each file name and it will be transferred to your directory on the Local Access web server.
   


7. In the future when you want to revise your pages you can simply repeat the above steps. Note that if you transfer a new file of the same name it will automatically overwrite and replace the old one.
   


8. Check to see if your pages work properly by starting your Web Browser (Probably Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer) and typing your URL (Uniform Resource Locator) in the "Location" or "Address" bar near the top of your Browser screen, then hitting your "Return" key. The URL is your World Wide Web address and Internet users from anywhere in the world can use it to find your Home Page. Your URL is: http://www.localaccess.com/USERNAME/
   
   There may be some exceptions to this rule (about determining your URL address) for some businesses who have requested a different name for their directory than their logon user ID but most Local Access members can use this method to determine their URL address. If you are in doubt, send E-Mail to Webmaster@localaccess.com or call 330-5535)
   
   Important! Make sure you include the trailing forward slash ( / ) at the end of your address, exactly as above or some browsers will not find your page.
   


9. Once you are satisfied with your page you can email Webmaster@localaccess.com to request a link on either our Local Users page or Local Business page so that Internet users in our area can easily find your page. You can also register your URL with most of the Internet Search Engines and Directories (such as Yahoo!, Web Crawler, Alta Vista, Lycos, etc) if you like so that users anywhere in the world can find your page. Once again, it is important when registering with search sites that you include the full address, including the trailing forward slash ( / ) at the end of your address or the link to your page probably won't work.
   
   That's all there is to it! Thanks for your contribution to the World Wide Web.

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"Upload FAQ" by Mark Carrier

Send your questions or comments to techsupport@localaccess.com 

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