Step One: Define your site

Click on image to enlarge

I recommend doing this when you first start working on your site. In doing so you will provide key information to Dreamweaver that will allow it to better manage your links and other information.

1. Under Dreamweaver's site menu, choose "Manage sites."
2. Click the "New" button and select "site" from the drop down menu. This will open the dialogue box pictured on the right of this page.
3. Making sure you have the "advanced" tab selected, enter a name in the "Site name" box. This can be any name of your choosing.
4. In the "Local root folder" box navigate to the folder on your local computer or network where you are storing your files for this Web site.
5. In the "Default images folder" box box navigate to the folder within your site folder where you are storing your main images. (Note: This is optional; you do not have to keep all images in this folder)
6. In the "HTTP: address" box type in the url for your site, such as http://www.case.edu/community/.
7. Check the "enable cache" box.
8. Your site has now been defined, but don't click OK just yet!

Step Two: Define your remote server connection

Click on image to enlarge

This step tells Dreamweaver what protocol to use, the location of your server, and your login and password information.

1. On the left side of the dialogue box select "remote info." This will bring up a different dialogue box.
2. In the "Access" box scroll down and select "WebDAV."
3. In the URL box enter the url for your server. On the new Case server that will be: https://www.case.edu:8000/<your network id>/<your group's Aurora account name>. (Don't type the angle brackets, you want an address that looks something like https://www.case.edu:8000/xyz67/departmentx.)
4. In the "login" box type in your username. For Case users this is your Case user ID, not the Web account name you have used in the past.
5. In the "password" box type your password, for Case users this is your Case network password. Click the "Save password" box.
6. Leaving all the other boxes unchecked, you are now ready to click "OK."
7. This will return you to the first dialogue box. Click Done. When this box is closed the "files" panel will automatically open on either the left or right of your open file.

Uploading ("putting") files to the Web server

1. With the files panel open and set to local view, click the blue button that looks like an electrical plug connecting to an extension cord. This will open your connection to your remote Web server. You may, or may not, also need to click on the round arrow button to the right of the plug to refresh your file list.
2. Select files and folders you would like to upload and push the "Put file(s)" button which is identified as an upward pointing blue arrow.
3. In the drop down menu where it says "Local view," switch to "Remote view" to verify that your files have been uploaded.
4. In your Web browser go to your site to ensure that everything looks right.
5. Note: If you would like to view local and remote files at the same time, simply click the expand collapse button to the far right of the other buttons in the panel screen. It has a blue and green bar on the top and a small right pointing arrow.

Downloading ("getting") files from the Web server

1. Downloading is very similar to uploading. With your connection already open, switch from "local view" to "remote view."
2. Select files and folders you would like to download and push the "Get file(s)" button which is identified as a downward pointing green arrow.

Once you've defined your site, the process is pretty easy. Just upload or download files using the up and down arrows, and you're all set!

Other ways to connect via WebDAV.

If you experience difficulty uploading files with Dreamweaver, you may prefer to use one of the following alternatives (these are what I use).

• Uploading files with the WebDrive WebDAV client for Windows
• Introduction to WebDAV: Connecting on a Macintosh
• How to Access Upgraded Aurora Server: instructions on the Case Wiki

If, like me, you develop sites on multiple servers, running different prototocols, you'll also be happy to know that WebDrive supports many of the more popular protocols including:

• FTP
• WebDav
• SFTP
• GroupDrive^®
• FrontPage^®
• Amazon-S3^®

Where in the past I've been using WS_FTP for sites using FTP and WinSCP for sites using SFTP, I can now use WebDrive for both those and WebDAV, conveniently keeping all of my accounts in one place.

Getting started with WebDrive

Web maintainers at Case can download WebDrive from the software center. After downloading the program you will be e-mailed a registration code. Non-case users may download a trial copy of the program from the manufacturer, South River Technologies. After downloading the program simply double click on it to start the installation process and paste in the registration code you've been provided at the appropriate prompt. Once the program has been installed you can begin defining your site(s).

Configuring sites on WebDrive

Configuring sites on WebDrive is a simple process, similar to what you've done in the past to define sites on WS_FTP or Dreamweaver. The following steps will guide you through the process—as also shown in the animation below.

1. Select WebDrive from the Windows program menu.
2. In the configuration box click on "new site" to begin using the site wizard.
3. Type in the name of the site. This is purely for your reference, so name it anything that aptly describes the site. Click Next.
4. From the scrolldown menu select the protocol you will be using for this account. For the Case Web server this will be WebDAV, but for other accounts you may use FTP, SFTP or whatever that server requires. Click Next.
5. Enter the url for your server. On the new Case server that will be: https://www.case.edu:8000/<your network id>/<your group's Aurora account name>. (Don't type the angle brackets, you want an address that looks something like https://www.case.edu:8000/xyz67/departmentx.)
6. Check the box marked "Connect securely" then click Next.
7. Choose a drive letter that you would like to assign to this account. This will map the account to that drive so you should pick a letter that is not already in use by your computer's other drives. Click Next.
8. Enter your account information. For Case users this is your Case user ID and password, not the Web account name and password you have used in the past. Click Next.
9. Check "Connect to site now" and click the Finish button.
10. A window will open showing all of the files on your site.
11. You may now edit those files directly, or open the directory in which you store the local copy of your site to copy files back and forth. I would recommend that you continue to edit locally, then drag the files to the site when ready.

Once your site has been defined you may connect to again in the future by choosing it from the site list is WebDrive and clicking connect. To add additional sites simply repeat the process described above. Additional information on connecting via WebDAV is available on the Case Wiki.

WebDAV programs and resources for Windows

To learn more about using WebDAV with Windows XP or Vista, visit the following sites.

• Accessing a shared (WebDAV) webfolder from Windows XP or 2000
• Using WebDAV with IIS
• Uploading files to Resources using WebDAV with Windows XP or Vista
• Web Folders/WebDAV Support
• WebDrive User's Guide

In my next and final article on WebDAV I'll walk you through the procedures to connect using Dreamweaver.

Here at Case Western Reserve University, we're about to upgrade our primary Web server. Part of this upgrade involves changing the way we upload content to the server. Where in the past we've been using FTP, beginning Monday, May 19, 2008, we'll be using WebDAV. WebDAV has been growing in popularity over the last few years and is now provided as an option by many Web hosting providers. Those of you using FTP on Case or other Web servers may wish to check with your network administrator or Web hosting provider to see if other protocols such as WebDAV are available.

What is WebDAV?

According to WebDAV Resources, "WebDAV stands for "Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning". It is a set of extensions to the HTTP protocol which allows users to collaboratively edit and manage files on remote web servers."

This sounds complicated, but for the typical user WebDAV simply provides a more efficient way of writing your content to a Web server. WebDAV is more secure than FTP, allows one to transfer multiple files in one connection, can lock files so that they can only be accessed by one person at a time and let's you view and access your files on your computer the way you would any regular drive.

If you've been using FTP, you've been editing local copies of your files on your computer then putting/uploading them to the server. If multiple users work on the site, you will get/download the latest version from the server before making additional edits and hope that you're not all editing the files at the same time. When you connect to your server using WebDAV you can look at your files the way you would look at any file directory. You can write to the server by dragging/copying from your local directory to the server directory, or you can edit the files on the server directly—just remember that you are editing live files; you may find it prudent to keep a prior version on your local computer in case you need to revert back to it.

How do I connect to a site using WebDAV?

Those of you using Macintosh or Linux computers have it easy. WebDAV is built into the operating system. To connect on a Macintosh simply:

1. Go to the "Go" menu in the Finder
2. Select "Connect to Server"
3. Type or paste the address of your server. On the new Case server that will be: https://www.case.edu:8000/<your network id>/<your group's Aurora account name>. (Don't type the angle brackets, you want an address that looks something like https://www.case.edu:8000/xyz67/departmentx)
4. Login at the prompt and save the password in your keychain

At this point your server directory will open up as a folder on your computer and you can work with it as you would any other directory. The video below shows the process in action.

Case users with accounts on http://filer.case.edu or http://blog.case.edu can also use WebDAV. To connect to filer using WebDAV use: https://filer.case.edu/dav/<your network id>/. To connect to the Blog server use: https://blog.case.edu/<your blog name>/.

View at full size on Vimeo.

Connecting via WebDAV on older Macintosh machines running OS 8 or 9

If you've got an older Macintosh that you are still using in your Web development work, you can still connect via WebDAV using Goliath. Visit the Goliath Web site to download the software and read the FAQs and help files. Versions for OS X are also available.

Connecting with WebDrive or Dreamweaver on Macintosh and Windows

• Uploading files with the WebDrive WebDAV client for Windows
• Uploading files with Dreamweaver (WebDAV)

The ITS Web group has also provided detailed instructions on the Case Wiki.

WebDAV resources for those who want more technical details

• Apache based WebDAV Server with LDAP and SSL
• IETF WEBDAV Working Group
• WebDAV: A Web-Writing Protocol and More
• WebDAV Resources
• WEB-DAV Linux File System(davfs)
• Wikipedia: WebDAV

Once you've planned your site and organized your files, it is time to start building and uploading your pages. If your site is hosted on Case's main Web server you will do this via FTP (File Transfer Protocol). There are a variety of good inexpensive FTP programs* available, but if you are using Dreamweaver—provided through the software center as part of Macromedia Studio—you can simply use its built-in FTP functionality.

Note: If your site is hosted on a different server, you may be required to transfer files using a different protocol such as WebDav or Secure FTP (SFTP). Check with your administrator for details.

Step One: Define your site

Click on image to enlarge

I recommend doing this when you first start working on your site. In doing so you will provide key information to Dreamweaver that will allow it to better manage your links and other information.

1. Under Dreamweaver's site menu, choose "Manage sites."
2. Click the "New" button and select "site" from the drop down menu. This will open the dialogue box pictured on the right of this page.
3. Making sure you have the "advanced" tab selected, enter a name in the "Site name" box. This can be any name of your choosing.
4. In the "Local root folder" box navigate to the folder on your local computer or network where you are storing your files for this Web site.
5. Check "refresh local file list automatically.
6. In the "Default images folder" box box navigate to the folder within your site folder where you are storing your main images. (Note: You do not have to keep all images in this folder)
7. In the "HTTP: address" box type in the url for your site, such as http://www.case.edu/community/.
8. Check the "enable cache" box.
9. Your site has now been defined, but don't click OK just yet!

Step Two: Define your remote server connection

Click on image to enlarge

This step tells Dreamweaver what protocol to use, the location of your server, and your login and password information.

1. On the left side of the dialogue box select "remote info." This will bring up a different dialogue box.
2. In the "Access" box scroll down and select "FTP."
3. In the "FTP host" box type: wwwftp.case.edu.
4. Leave the "Host Directory" blank unless you are maintaining multiple sites within the same account.
5. In the "login" box type the account name that was assigned to you for this Web account.
6. In the "password" box type the password that was assigned to you for this Web account. Click the "Save password" box.
7. Leaving all the other boxes unchecked, you are now ready to click "OK."
8. This will return you to the first dialogue box. Click Done. When this box is closed the "files" panel will automatically open on either the left or right of your open file.

Uploading ("putting") files to the Web server

1. With the files panel open and set to local view, click the blue button that looks like an electrical plug connecting to an extension cord. This will open your connection to your remote Web server.
2. Select files and folders you would like to upload and push the "Put file(s)" button which is identified as an upward pointing blue arrow.
3. In the drop down menu where it says "Local view," switch to "Remote view" to verify that your files have been uploaded.
4. In your Web browser go to your site to ensure that everything looks right.
5. Note: If you would like to view local and remote files at the same time, simply click the expand collapse button to the far right of the other buttons in the panel screen. It has a blue and green bar on the top and a small right pointing arrow.

Downloading ("getting") files from the Web server

1. Downloading is very similar to uploading. With your connection already open, switch from "local view" to "remote view."
2. Select files and folders you would like to download and push the "Get file(s)" button which is identified as a downward pointing green arrow.

Once you've defined your site, the process is pretty easy. Just upload or download files using the up and down arrows, and you're all set!

*Other popular FTP and related programs

I have used each of the following with good results. If you would like to consider more options, Tucows lists a variety of FTP and related programs that are available either as Freeware or Shareware.

• Fetch (Macintosh FTP client)
• Fugu (Macintosh SFTP, SCP and SSH client)
• Transmit 3 (Macintosh SFTP and FTP client)
• WinSCP (Windows SFTP/SCP client)
• WS_FTP (Windows FTP client)