FTP Instructions for Virtual Domains

1. Download PKZIP if it's not already on your machine. This can be found at http://www.pkware.com. You will need this to extract your WS_FTP application.
2. Download WS_FTP or another FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program from our UserServices area. Select your operating system and then select 'FTP Clients' to make your selection for download. Extract the program's files using PKUNZIP then run the setup program to install it on your machine.
3. A sample FTP profile shown from WS_FTP is as follows:
   
4. Click on "Apply"
5. When you connect using WS_FTP, you will see the files on your local drive on the left hand side, and the files on Rosenet's server on the right hand side. Click here to see a sample screen shot.
6. Select the files on your local drive that you would like to send to the server. You can select multiple files by holding the 'Ctrl' key down and clicking on the files you want to send.
7. Click on the "-->" arrow in the middle of the screen. This should send the files to Rosenet's server.

**NOTE** Your "home page" file should be named "index.html". This is the file our WebServer will automatically serve when a visitor types in your web address!

If there are any problems with uploading, please check the status at the bottom of the WS_FTP transfer screen. This will provide an indication of the type of error you are having.

Other notes to consider:

1. CASE SENSITIVITY: in UNIX (our server's operating system) capital letters count! That means when you're creating your pages, it may find it best to keep everything in lowercase to prevent any possible descrepancies. If you refer a link to "Mypage.HTM" and the file is named "mypage.htm", it won't be found. All filenames and references should be created appropriately.
2. LONG FILENAMES / SPACES: UNIX will read long filenames as used in later operating systems. You have to be careful that these files don't get "truncated" (or shortened to the standard 8 character filenames) somewhere in the transition. My point? If you want to use the long filenames, be sure to track them through the complete process- authoring, testing, transferring, testing on the server. It is best to create filenames without spaces in them as well. This will better insure that your references will remain in tact.
3. YOUR HOME PAGE: As mentioned above, our server automatically looks in each directory for a file called index.html to serve up as the "home page". You will want to name your home page "index.html" and, of course, all of the appropriate links back to the home page should reflect this filename.
4. PATHS: ***VERY IMPORTANT***- when you design your pages, try to use what is called "relative paths". That would mean if you create your pages on a floppy disk, you can copy them to your hard drive, or our server's hard drive and they would function in all environments. For example, if you create your site on a floppy drive and the home page refers to a file A:\mypic.gif, what happens if you copy it to your hard drive? When you call on homepage.htm it still looks to A:\mypic.gif. What happens when you copy it to our server? The same thing- it looks for A:\mypic.gif and it won't be found. Simply refer to the file in a relative manner like "mypic.gif".