Uploading Your Files with Dreamweaver

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. See Define Sites, the first section of this TechNote, for details.

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.

A list of other FTP TechNotes that are helpful are at the bottom of this TechNote in the Additional information section.

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

Define Sites
A site must be properly defined in Dreamweaver in order to transfer files. See How to define a site in Dreamweaver (TechNote 14028) or refer to the Using Dreamweaver help system under "Dreamweaver Basics/Planning and Setting Up Your Site" (the category in DW4's help system is "Site Management and Collaboration"). Most transfer problems can be solved by entering the correct settings into the Site Definition dialog box.

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 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 informationis email to you one your account has been setup. 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. See Understanding how Check In/Check Out works (TechNote 15447) for a detailed explanation of how this works. 550 Error Messages Requested action not taken. File unavailable (e.g., file not found, no access). Checking the FTP log (TechNote 14536) 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.

Preferences
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.

Host Directory
The host directory is the specific folder on the server where your web pages will reside. The host directory on TeamMediaOnline.com servers is: www

This is the folders where the actual web pages are stored.


Additional information
For help with setting up Dreamweaver's FTP connection and troubleshooting FTP problems or for information regarding other FTP issues, see the following TechNotes:

Overview of FTP issues (Pages all on Macromedia's website)

Dreamweaver FAQ
Server issues (TechNote 14832)
Overview of specific FTP issues (TechNote 14835)
Setting up Dreamweaver's FTP connection to AOL (TechNote 14836)
Troubleshooting FTP issues (TechNote 14834)
FTP Defined by the World 3 Consortium

Specific FTP issues

Dreamweaver freezes during FTP transfer (TechNote 14839)
Error message using Put or Check-in files: Cannot create directory...it already exists (TechNote 14162)
FTP errors and loss of connection: 530,550 (TechNote 14187)
FTP failure to connect or connect only some of the time (TechNote 14838)
Files cannot be transferred or appear twice on the server (TechNote 14841)
Some files upload during transfer while others do not (TechNote 14840)
Synchronize and Select Newer options are not working correctly (TechNote 14413)

Troubleshooting FTP problems

Checking the FTP log (TechNote 14536)
FTP data transfer mode (TechNote 13546)
How to configure Dreamweaver to access a different FTP port (TechNote 14096)
Overview of specific FTP issues (TechNote 14835)
Troubleshooting FTP issues (TechNote 14834)