Publishing

Local Directory

Section 1 - Introduction
Section 2 - Basics
Section 3 - Next Level
Section 4 - Advanced
Section 5 - Publishing
      Local directory
      Clean your code
      Web Hosts
      Uploading files
      You try it
Section 6 - Extras
Appendices

When you first create web pages, you may save them directly on your computer. You can either save your files to a disk or directly onto the hard drive. For most computers, the hard drive is also known as the "C" drive. While it is recommended to save your work several places, there is a problem with having your web pages saved on your computer; it can't be accessed on the Internet.

To have your work accessable, it needs to be on a server. A server is a computer which is always connected to the Internet and does nothing but house information. Your files must be uploaded to a server before it is a part of the web.

Please note that everything that is on your local server must be uploaded to the Internet. This includes pictures, sound files, and anything else that makes your pages work. One of the biggest problems that novice web designers face is links, pictures and files that don't link correctly. Often they'll connect them correctly on the C drive but incorrectly for the Internet. For example, a link might read:

This link will work on your computer, but it won't work on any other. If this link were to work, every user who comes to this page would have to have the index.html file saved in that specific file on the hard drive. A much more accurate, and easier link would simply be: