How To Define Your Site in Dreamweaver MX

The first step in building your website is defining your site. In this mini tutorial we will be working with Dreamweaver MX. The steps for other versions of this software will be slightly different.

1. Open Dreamweaver MX. In the tool bar select Site > New Site. (In this tutorial I will be using the basic site definition, so make sure you have clicked on the basic tab or you will not be seeing what I am talking about.) Here you will see a space for the site name. I always use the company or name of the person that I am designs the for. Click Next.

2. The next screen will ask you if you want to use server technology. Most often you will choose No. Click Next.

3. On the next screen you will be asked, "How do you want to work with your files during development?" You will want to choose Edit local copies on my machine, then upload to server when ready. Then you are asked, "Where on your computer do you want to store your files?" By default you will see something like this:C:\Documents and Settings\Ann\My Documents\Unnamed Site 2. You would want to change it to something like this C:\Documents and Settings\Ann\My Documents\BasicAnn\. The last part would be the company or person you are doing the site for. If you leave the default location: Unnamed Site2, Unnamed Site3, ect it will get very confusing. Click the Next button.

3. On the next screen you will be asked the following:

How do you want to connect to your remote server? Select FTP from the drop down box.

What is the host name or FTP address of you website? Enter the hostname (example: www.yourwebsite.com) or IP address (Example: 256.000.256.000)

What folder on the server do you want to store your files in? Your hosting service may or may not have folder assigned here, you will need to check with them.

What is your FTP Login/Password? Enter the information that your hosting service gave you.

What is your FTP Password? Enter the information that your hosting service gave you.

Then Test the connection. This will let you know if you have entered the right information. After the test is successful, click next. If the test is not successful, go back over the information above for accuracy.

4. On the next screen you will be asked if you want to use Check In/Out. Normally you will not unless you are working on the site with others. Click Next.

5. This last screen is an overview of the information that you just filled in. Click Finish.

Dreamweaver has a FTP client built right into it, which makes it easy to publish to the web. However, by default, FTP is set to disconnect at 30 minutes. If you have dial up you will most likey have to change this. You can change this setting by going to Edit > Preferences > Site.

// posted by BasicAnn on 6/27/2005 10:21:00 AM / Permanent Link