FTP Support

Some ftp programs such as WS-FTP require settings such as -

Hostname: domain.com instead of ftp://domain.com omitting the ftp:// will allow access.

 

For other ftp programs, previously you may have used an ip address to ftp to your account, our network has undergone a complete change of ip block which may cause ftp not to login, using your domain instead will bring JOY!

 

If for any reason you cannot ftp to your account please ensure your using

ftp.yourdomain.com or ftp://yourdomain.com

To ftp to your account please use ftp://yourdomain.com/

 

Username: username

 

When adding extra ftp accounts you may need to use

ftp://username@yourdomain.com or ftp://username.yourdomain.com

Macintosh information -
http://www.colorado.edu/its/docs/authenticate/macsshtunnel/webclient.html

Original Macromedia technote -
http://www.macromedia.com/support/dreamweaver/ts/documents/dw_ftp.htm

Dreamweaver TechNote

 

Setting up Dreamweaver's FTP connection

FTP is the standard protocol for transferring files on the Web.

To transfer via FTP in Dreamweaver MX (DMX) or Dreamweaver 4 (DW4), users enter their remote location information in the Site Definition dialog box. Then in the Site panel or Site window, click Connect and then Put to upload selected files and/or folders. This transfers the selected files or folders to the specified directory at the remote location.

This TechNote addresses setting up Dreamweaver's FTP connection correctly in both DMX and DW4, and is one of several FTP TechNotes that can assist in setting up Dreamweaver's FTP connection and in troubleshooting FTP issues.

 

To define a site or troubleshoot a problem in Dreamweaver follow the steps in the appropriate section below:

Define Sites
Setting up Dreamweaver's FTP connection for the first time.
Possible Errors: Unable to connect to the server or transfer files or folders. 550 errors.

 

Preferences

Setting up Dreamweaver Firewall and FTP Time Out preferences correctly.
Possible Errors: Unable to connect to the server or stay connected. 550 errors.

 

Host Directory
Setting the specific sever folder for your web pages.
Possible Errors: Unable to connect to a server, transfer files or folders, or upload files to the correct folder. Unable to connect or transfer files or folders after upgrading from earlier versions of Dreamweaver to a more recent version. Why settings in another FTP client may not work in Dreamweaver. 550 errors.

A site must be properly defined in Dreamweaver in order to transfer files. Most transfer problems can be solved by entering the correct settings into the Site Definition dialog box.

 

To set up or check the FTP settings in Dreamweaver's Document window, follow the steps below:

1 Choose Site > Edit Sites (DW4:Site > Define Sites).
2 Select the site.
3 Click Edit.
4 Dreamweaver MX provides a choice of methods titled Basic and Advanced: Basic

This method includes explanations of what kind of information belongs in the fields.

Click through the NEXT buttons on the bottom of the dialog boxes until you reach the screen titled Sharing Files.

Advanced
Use this method if you are familiar with the FTP set-up process. These dialog boxes will be familiar to users of earlier versions of Dreamweaver.
Choose Remote Info from the Category field on the left.

 

Click on the tabs in the image below to see the Basic and Advanced dialog boxes for setting up the FTP connection.

 

The FTP Host, Host Directory, Login and Password information must be obtained from the system administrator for the company hosting your site.

No one else has access to this information. Enter the information exactly as your system administrator gives it to you.

 

The following definitions explain the purpose of the entries in the Site Definition dialog box:

• Access is the method of moving files to the remote location, in this case, File Transfer Protocol or FTP.
• FTP Host is the address or IP number of the server that hosts your Web site.
• Host Directory is the folder where your remote site files are stored on the server.You may need to modify the information given to you for the Host Directory, as described in Host Directory below.
• Login and Password provide access to your site and folders and are a common source of trouble. Make sure you are entering the Login and Password correctly.
• Use Passive FTP is a Dreamweaver option because some server security requires you to transfer in passive mode. To determine whether or not this option should be checked, ask your system administrator. However, when troubleshooting, try both checking and unchecking Passive mode.
• Use Firewall should be checked if your computer is behind a Firewall. You will also need to enter the correct Firewall Host and Firewall Port in Dreamweaver Preferences. Preferences are discussed in the next section.
• Use SSH (Secure SHell) encrypted secure login (Dreamweaver MX only). A method of transferring files that encrypts, for security purposes, contents sent over a network. Refer to your server administrator to know if your server is set up this way and if additional passwords are required.
• Check In/Out This feature protects your files from being edited by more than one person at a time. Each member of the web development team enables Check In/Out and Checks out a file to edit it. The file then becomes Read Only for the rest of the team until it is checked back In.
• 550 Error Messages Requested action not taken. File unavailable (e.g., file not found, no access).
  
  This is a common error message found in the FTP log after an unsuccessful file transfer. The FTP log is found here:
  
  DMX WIN: Site Files > View > Site FTP Log
  DMX/DW4 MAC: Site Files > Site > FTP Log
  DW4 WIN: Site Files > Window > Site FTP Log
  
  The message encompasses a variety of ills, from a corrupted file to insufficient security clarence. However, the most common culprit is the level of permission assigned to the user.
  
  Note: An FTP log is generated upon connection to server. When there is an FTP log you know that you connected, however briefly. The next step is to find out why you were disconnected.
  

• Test Connection DMX provides the opportunity to test the connection from the Site Definition setup. Click the Test Connection button. If the connection fails, review and adjust settings as advised in this TechNote.

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In addition to the Site Definition dialog box, Dreamweaver provides the Preferences dialog box for entering FTP settings. Unlike site definitions, which must be set for each site, users do not need to change the default Site FTP Preferences in most cases. However, when troubleshooting, it is useful to try other settings.

To access the Preferences dialog box, choose Edit > Preferences > Site (Dreamweaver > Preferences > Site on Macintosh OSX).

The Category in the DW4 preferences is Site FTP.

The critical settings in the Site FTP Preferences dialog box are:

• FTP Connection: and Disconnect After. . .Minutes Idle
  When troubleshooting, it is best to leave this option unchecked.
• FTP Time Out (Default = 60)
  When an FTP command is sent to the Server, the Client expects a confirmation message back, or the command is canceled. FTP Time Out establishes how long Dreamweaver waits for a response from the server before giving up on a command. Too high a setting causes Dreamweaver to idle and seem 'frozen' if the server doesn't respond. Too low a setting causes commands to abort prematurely. 60-120 seconds handles most situations properly. A common troubleshooting technique is to increase the FTP Time Out from 60 to 120 seconds.
• Firewall Host: and Firewall Port:
  If your computer is behind a Firewall, you may have to enter the Firewall Host server name and Firewall Port (Default=21) in Preferences, then check Use Firewall in the Site Definition dialog box. A shortcut to the Site Definition dialog box is provided with the Edit Sites button at the bottom of the Preferences dialog box.
  
  Check with your network administrator for the Firewall settings.
  

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The host directory is the specific folder on the server where your web pages will reside. Depending on the server set-up, a host directory may or may not need to be specified.

 

Your ISP or system administrator will usually give you this information. While Remote information such as Login and Password are obtained from the server administrators and entered into the Site Definition dialog box exactly as given, Host Directory information must sometimes be entered differently than as provided by the ISP. Dreamweaver adheres quite strictly to the newest FTP standards. This explains why entering Host Directory as given may work in another client but not in Dreamweaver. It also explains why it is sometimes necessary to change the way you enter the Host Directory when upgrading from earlier versions of Dreamweaver.

 

If you can connect without a Host Directory specified:
It is usually best to put in the host directory after you have successfully connected to your remote server. Once connected, a list of folders will usually be displayed on the Remote Site. If no folders are showing when connected, most likely you are in the web root and can put directly to this folder. If folders are listed when connected, look for a folder such as:

• www
• htdocs
• public
• web

These are usually the folders where the actual web pages are stored. Go back to the Site Definition and enter the folder name into the host directory.

 

If you cannot connect with a Host Directory specified:
Try the following approaches to entering Host Directory information when troubleshooting:

• Add a forward slash (/) directly after the Host Directory name.
• Add a forward slash (/) directly before the Host Directory name, without any spaces.
• If you already had a slash entered, remove it.
• Leave Host Directory blank and append the Host Directory name to the remote host, preceded by a slash, such as: ftp.domain.com/hostdir.

The approach that will work depends on the server's setup. Try all four.

Another good method of troubleshooting Host Directory issues is to try to drag and drop a file instead of using Put or synchronizing.