How The Heck Do I...

Make the images show up on my website? (Part 2) 

Part 2: Making The Folders on Your Web Host Agree With the Folders on Your Computer

Now it's time to upload your files to the internet.

We're keeping this simple. All I want to do is upload ONE web page (the index.htm page, also known as the home page) and ONE image (my photo: marg.jpg).

This is what those files look like when viewed in WS_FTP, a program that uploads your files to the internet. (If you want to know more about how WS_FTP works, CLICK HERE.)

On the left hand side of the above screen shot you'll see the files that are on your COMPUTER.

Notice that in the FILE PATH shown on "My Computer", you can see that all these files are inside the MargMcAlister website folder.

Now comes the bit where many people get confused. IF your web host uses a directory (folder) called the public_html folder, you MUST put all your website files INSIDE that folder. If you don't, none of your web visitors will be able to see them!

NOTE: Not ALL web hosts have a public_html folder. (For example, GoDaddy do not use one. If you host with GoDaddy you simply upload them to the main directory.)

NOTE 2: If you see a reference to the 'root directory', that simply means the main directory that your files have to go in so people can see them.

All you have to do to open the public_html folder is DOUBLE CLICK on it.

Look at the image above. When you double-click on the public_html folder, you will see that the PATH at the top (under Marg McAlister) shows that the /public_html folder is now open. You can see all the files inside it.

When you first upload your website, the public_html folder will be empty. You need to upload your files and place them inside it.

WS_FTP (and other FTP programs) make this easy. You can either simply drag the files you want across to the screen on the right hand side, or you can HIGHLIGHT the files on your computer (left hand side) of the screen, and click on the green arrow pointing right. The files will be uploaded to the Web.

Your IMAGES folder and your INDEX.HTM page will both go inside the public_html folder. Don't try to upload your images by themselves to the public_html folder. THEY MUST STAY INSIDE THE IMAGES FOLDER. Why? Because this is where they are kept on your computer. Your web page knows to look for them inside the IMAGES folder. If you take them OUT of that folder, the web page can't find them. That's when you get those frustrating little red crosses and empty boxes!

The image below shows you what is INSIDE the IMAGES folder (both on your computer and on the website). For this example, the folder contains only one image - the marg1.jpg photo. Notice the path on the right hand side, circled in red? (This shows your web site.) The path description, /public_html/images, shows you that the public_html folder is open, and that the images folder inside it is also open. Inside the images folder you can see the photo file... marg1.jpg

That's about it.

Just make sure that your image files are stored inside your IMAGES folder, and that you upload the IMAGES folder to the web with the image files still inside it.

Later, if you add more images, you don't have to re-upload the whole folder. Just make sure that you remember to open up your images folder on your computer (double click) AND open your images folder on the website (double click) in your FTP program - then upload all images to the images folder. (As shown in the image above.)

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