Web Support

This guide to setting up an Iona College web site using Macromedia Dreamweaver uses the Department of Mass Communication as an example. You will be given instructions on how to set up a working directory for your web files and how to download and upload the files to the web server.

Help is always available by clicking on Help on the menu bar in Dreamweaver. Help gives detailed instructions on how to set up a site and how to update your site. An introductory tutorial gives you a overview of the functions available to you.

For help updating your pages, please contact the Library Web Team. For help with design, please email the webmaster at webmaster@iona.edu. You can also find additional information on the Iona website at our Web Support site.

Creating a Working Directory

The first step is to set up a local working directory for your web files that will correspond to the root directory of the Iona web site. You can create the Iona Web directory using Windows Explorer or via the Dreamweaver Define Site dialogue.

Site Setup

In Dreamweaver open the Sites window and click on Define Sites in the Sites drop-down menu. Select New in the Define Sites dialog and fill in the Site Definition dialog as follows:

Click on the folder icon next to the Local Root Folder: box and navigate or create the Iona Web directory.

FTP Setup

If you have been given FTP access to the web server and have an ID and password issued to you by the web master, you will need to enter information to access the Web Server. To do this, click on Web Server Info under Category, then select FTP in the Server Access box and type in www.iona.edu in the FTP Host box.

Type in the FTP ID in the Login box, leave the password box empty. When you connect to the server, you will be prompted for the password. This security feature limits unauthorized access to your files on the web server.

Directory Setup

Create a mirror image of the directory structure by creating new folders from the root directory (Iona Web.) via File/New Folder.

If you do not know the path for your pages, look at your main page (deptofmasscomm.htm) in a browser and recreate the structure from the address in the location box:

Example:

http://www.iona.edu/academic/arts_sci/departments/mass_com/

root: www.iona.edu

Folders: academic arts_SCI departments mass_com

Download Current Files

Your next step is to download your files and directories from the web server to Iona Web directory. You will do you work in the Iona Web directory and upload the changed files when you have finished your changes and checked your work in both Internet Explorer and Netscape. Don't forget to check links.

To make changes you need some additional files in your local directory. These will be supplied to you when you receive your FTP ID and password. The following shows the finished setup:

The additional directories and files are:

• The images directory with the files shim.gif and bgseal.gif
• The templates directory with inside.dwt and inwide.dwt files.
• The ionastyle.css file should also be placed in the root directory.

Using Dreamweaver's FTP Client

To connect to the web server click on the Connect button and you will be prompted to enter your password. The FTP client will connect to the server and show the file structure in the left side (Remote Site) of the Dreamweaver Site window as above.

To Download files to work on, choose the file or directory by selecting it on the left side (Remote Site) window and click on the Get button. A dialog will pop up asking if you want to Include dependent files? Select "No." Dreamweaver will copy the file you selected from the webserver and put it in the corresponding directory on your local drive.

To Upload finished files, choose the file by selecting it on the right side (Local Folder) of the Site window and click on Put. Dreamweaver will upload the selected file to the webserver. Please select "No" from the Include Dependent Files dialog.