Contents:
A. The Html Editor / UNIX Method
B. The HTML Editor / FTP Method
C. Picture Usage Tips

There are a couple ways to build your homepage. One is through an HTML editor (such as Netscape Composer) with UNIX and another is through an HTML editor with FTP.
 

A. The HTML Editor / UNIX Method

Step 1) Login to your UNIX account :

1. Go into Shell (type !)

2. Type chmod o+x . (Make sure there is a space after chmod and between x and the period)

3. Type mkdir public_html

--This makes a directory called public_html for you to store your webpage files in.

--You only need to do this step once.

-- To access this directory for future use: type ! to go into Shell, type cd public_html after the $, hit Enter, and type the letter l to see a list of your files.
 

Step 2) Work on your webpage in Netscape Composer: (stay logged-in to UNIX)

1. Open Netscape, then choose File, select either Edit Page or Open - Page in Composer.

2. Create/edit your webpage

3. Save your webpage under a filename with the extension .html to a disk or to the hard drive. If it is your main page make sure to save it as index.html

4. Publish - select this option to transfer your webpage file to your UNIX accoount.

With Mac computers make sure to include the filename in the publishing address.

For example, if your webpage filename is temp.html make sure the address is:

Note: When publishing make sure you use ftp (which stands for File Transfer Protocol) in the address not http which is used for regular web links.

Another Note: The address being published is known as the absolute address. When accessing this address in Netscape it is abbreviated with a ~ symbol (called a tilde). Thus, in Netscape my address is seen as:
http://www.dordt.edu/~jnmss

5. Next in Publishing, type in your username and password, hit OK and wait for your file(s) to be transferred to your account.
 

Step 3) Go back to Shell in your UNIX account:

1.Change the permissions of the webpage file.

Type: chmod o+rx * filename     (Make sure there is a space before and after * )

Note: You only need to do this step for new webpages or when adding pictures to webpages. You can skip this step when editing existing webpages.

Another Note: To Trash your webpage type: o-rx * filename

2. Go back to Netscape, hit Reload and view your webpage.

For more info on file permissions visit http://www.dordt.edu/services/comserv/webstuff.shtml
 

B. The HTML Editor / FTP Method

Working with the HTML Editor in this method is the same. The difference between the two methods starts when you are ready to publish and change the permissions on your html files. Instead of choosing the publish command, save your html file in a temporary folder on the computer's hard drive (which is the C: drive for most people). Next, open the WS_FTP application on your computer:

1. Click on the connect command and find the UNIX name of your remote account in the Profile Name window. In my case it would be Dordt.

2.. Make sure the ftp address is correct in the Host Name/Address window. For me the correct ftp address is: cc.dordt.edu.

3. Enter your user ID and password. These should be the same as your account username and password.

4. When you have successfully logged in, you will see a list of your account files in the right window. In the left window, find the html file you saved on the hard drive.

5. In the Remote System window (right side), open your public_html folder. Next, click on the arrow pointing to the Remote System window. This will transfer the file to your remote account.  Note: The other arrow will transfer any files from your remote account to the hard drive.

6. In the Remote System window, right click on the file you just transferred and select Chmod.

7. Check the following permissions:
        For the Owner group select READ, WRITE, and EXECUTE.
        For the Group group make just READ is selected or select nothing at all. I prefer the former.
        For the Other group select READ and EXECUTE. Make sure you don't select WRITE or visitors will be able to make changes to your webpage.

8. Close FTP, go back to Netscape, hit Reload and view your webpage.

Note on chmod in FTP: "This option only appears when one or more files or directories are selected. You are presented with a dialog box allowing you to specify the most common UNIX file attributes. You must have write permission on the remote system and the system must support the "SITE chmod" command. This is normally only valid on UNIX-based systems. The checked items do not reflect the current permissions of the file".
-- WSFTP Help
 

C. Picture Usage Tips

-- Pictures should be saved as either a .gif or a .jpeg (the best way) and between 50 - 80K for thumbnail size/low-detail pictures and 500-800K for larger size/higher detailed pictures. Remember the larger = longer rule: The larger the size of the picture file you put on your webpage the longer it will take for that picture to load when someone is accessing your site.

-- Keep in mind that website pictures accessed over a modem will not load as fast as those accessed over computer networks (ex. campus or company computers).

-- Color pictures created in Mac Photoshop must be saved in RGB mode not CMYK mode to show up properly on a webpage.

jnmss@yahoo.com