FileZilla, My New Friend

[david13]

Except he could be more friendly.
I am able to connect, but the boxes don't populate with the site info. I am using my own ftp account to log in.
Do I need to log in using file manager or owners account? I have not been able to do that as yet.
Then that should take me to the file manager.
Does FileZilla work with Linux? Maybe that is what is holding up the endeavor.
Anyway, it's a learning process, particularly for us old folks.
Any ideas?
dc

[Old and In the Way]

1. I use it quite a bit

It's pretty solid...never have had an issue accessing and manipulating files.

You need to click on site manager in the file menu. Once there, fill in the host site just the site name and ext (ie .com)
Server type: FTP Logon On type: I use normal, but it could be anonymous...User name and password. That should be all you need to do...save it and that should show up in the site manager...double click and it should take you there. I'm no FTP guru, but it works really well. If you use Firefox, FireFTP also is slick...Filezilla is a stand-alone application...FireFTP is integrated into the browser. Both use drag and drop functionality. In Filezilla, the left pane is your local PC, right pane is the ftp site. Drag files into the lower pane and right click to process (move the file up to the ftp site.

You say you connect, but see nothing in the boxes...how do you know you are connected? Is there a password screen that prompts you to put your user name and password? If so, it won't connect until you do that and the site accepts the name/password. You can avoid that step by entering the info into the file manager.

How this helps.

[david13]

2. I connect with password and user name, but get no population.

The message box near the top reads directory listing, but there is nothing in the directory box to the right where it says remote site.
Is this because I am in the user file and not the account manager file, or portal?
dc

[RoyGBiv]

3. Yes ...

The word(s) you're looking for is "directory" or "folder."

The account holder or manager or anyone given the proper permissions will end up seeing something like this:



Logging in as a user means you have restricted permissions and will end up in your own user directory.



Both of these images are screencaps of FileZilla while logged into the same website account. However, in the first I logged in as the administrator, and in the second I logged in as a user who, obviously, has never uploaded anything to his directory.

[david13]

4. Roy that has solved it. At least for the moment. Thanks. I have

gone to the host and got the correct acct. which was the admn account, not the owner nor the user. Then I changed the password, which I could do as owner. Hoster said it will take 1/2 hour til password change is effective, which I have noticed on other changes there.
Then I ought to be able to see the files. Then my issue will be downloading and editing which may or may not be easy, then uploading, and finally, getting the uploaded to take effect.
So a lot of steps to go but not bad for doing it blind, except for remote vision advice.
Thanks.
dc

[david13]

5. Now I can't seem to edit more than what I already did edit, which

was the email addresses. I want to edit the names and titles, and I can't seem to do that.
dc

[david13]

6. I have set up as default editor. But it doesn't go to editor. It just

goes to the site as the site looks. I can hilight text, but not do anything with it.
dc

[EvolveOrConvolve]

7. Did you download the contactus.html file to your local computer?

That's the one you want to edit. Then, upload it back to the server with FileZilla to update the public page.

[david13]

8. I am connecting fine and finding my file, but download does not

light up, in other words, it won't let me download.
dc

[david13]

9. It shows sucessful transfer and I can open it with edit/ but it only opens

in the page itself, it doesn't open in code, with anywhere I can change the text.
dc

[EvolveOrConvolve]

10. Right click the .html file

And select Open With... Choose Notepad, and you'll be able to edit the source.

[david13]

11. It doesn't give me that option. Only edit, but then I can only see

the page as it is, no code, and I can't edit beyond the email addresses on the page, which I already did.
dc

[EvolveOrConvolve]

12. Hmmm.

When I right click an HTML document, I have both an "Open" and an "Open With" option.

Try this:

1. Open Notepad
2. Click File->Open
3. Select 'All File Types' at the bottom of the Open window
4. Browse to the HTML file.

Does that work?

[david13]

13. It is showing as a sucessful transfer, but I cannot get it to Notepad.

Notepad doesn't go to filezilla.
dc

[EvolveOrConvolve]

14. You'll have to do it from within Windows Explorer

The easiest would be to use FileZilla to transfer the file from the server to your local computer's desktop and work on it from there.

[david13]

15. I show it in the local box on filezilla, but all I can get on notepad is

then entire filezilla file.
dc

[david13]

16. I use FireFox. How can I get it from FileZilla to the desktop? dc

[david13]

17. I got it onto notepad, I edited the changes, now how do I get it onto

FileZilla to upload?
dc

[canetoad]

18. The left hand pane of Filezilla

Shows a folder tree of your own computer. Find the folder that contains the file you just edited.

Then open the remote site and find the folder the file came from on the right hand pane. Now drag the file from the left pane to the correct folder on the right, allowing it to overwrite the old file.

[david13]

19. I did but it didn't overwrite. How do I get it to overwrite? And, how

can I save the old so that if anything goes wrong, it is still there?
dc

[canetoad]

20. You need to be supremely organised

when working with web files as you end up with lots of versions that look the same!

Make a folder on your own computer for the website and then make a couple of sub folders called - Old, New/Original, Edited - anything you like, but essentially you will use one folder to keep a copy of the original file, another folder to store the files with your edits.

When you drag a file from your computer to the server, Filezilla should ask you if you wish to overwrite. If it doesn't, you need to check that you have the same filename. Are you trying to drag a file called 'something.txt' to Filezilla? When you save the edited text file make sure the file extension is .html (or .htm). Either way, to force overwrite, it needs to be EXACTLY THE SAME FILE NAME AND EXTENSION as the original.

[david13]

21. Ah, yeah, that is why it did not overwrite. I named it with a 1 so I

could distinguish it.
Supremely organized? That sounds like it may take weeks. But you are right about that. I need to study the whole thing a lot more before I go any further, so that I don't goof up what we have.
Like you say, old, new, etc.
It's a learning experience, and then I can take on a new website, which we need/want.
I may also get a local character to do at least some coaching, maybe a small fee.
Thanks for your help.
dc

[canetoad]

22. Before you pay anyone

Do some googling. There are a brazillion free tutorials on websites, html around. Start by searching for Beginner tutorial html/website etc and work through the very basics.

Glad you got your edits done. Once they are successfully uploaded and they are correct, make sure you delete or archive the old files or confusion will reign.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

24. I agree with Mr. Toad

Since it's just vanilla flavored HTML, you could teach yourself using the Google. And who knows, maybe it will earn you a raise at work.

[david13]

23. Thanks again Toad, and Evolve. That is good advice. I need

more general education before I try to go further.
The site has sat unchanged for, well since the inception, but since August or September when the first personnel changes occurred. So there is no rush and I have made good progress in a few days.
Thanks
dc