Downloading Programs and Data

Downloading & Installing  Front Page Express

For this course, you will be using Front Page Express as your HTML editor.  You may already have it installed on your computer. If you are using the computers in the HELC, it is already installed there and you do not have to download or install it.
If you are working at home you may download both Front Page Express and WS_FTP so that you can do your research project at home.
 

Front Page Express  Downloading WS_FTP  Creating a Page & Using WS_FTP

The instructions for downloading and installing this software are given below in case you are not familiar with this process.  You may want to print them before you begin the download.
Front Page Express
Downloading:
Step 1:
Type the following URL into the Address Bar and then press Enter

http://www.students.wtamu.edu/cis105/download/fpxpress.exe

You may notice that most of that URL already appears in the Address Bar.  So you can just add on to the end of it.

Step 2:
You should then see the following dialog box.

Figure 1.

 

Be sure that the "Save this program to disk" button is selected.  Then Click OK.

 Step 3:
You will then get a "Save As" Dialog Box similar to Figure 2.

Figure 2.

 

If the C: drive is not displayed in the Save in box, click the list arrow and select the C: drive.  Your "Save As" box should be similar to Figure 3  below now.

Figure 3.

 
 

Step 4:
Create a folder named mydownloads on your hard drive by clicking the New Folder button as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4.

You will have a New Folder created as in Figure 5.

Figure 5.

While the text still looks like Figure 5, type the name "mydownloads" to replace the words New Folder. Press Enter.  Double click on the "my downloads" folder, making it the active folder as in Figure 6.

Figure 6.

Step 5:
Click Save & the file fpxpress.exe will be downloaded into the "mydownloads" folder.
After the file has downloaded, you will be ready to uncompress and install the software.

Now your are ready to Uncompress the file & install the software.
 
Step 6.
Double click on the My Computer icon on your desktop.  Double click on the C: drive and then double click on the mydownloads folder.  You should now see a view like Figure 7.

Figure 7.

 

 

 Step 7.
Double click the file fpxpress.exe.  Note that it is a self-extracting compressed file.  Your file extensions may not show if you do not have them set that way.  So yours may only show the name fpxpress.
 

Step 8.
You will then see the dialog box shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8.

 


 
Step 9.
In the window that says Unzip to folder:
Type     C:\fpxpress
and uncheck the box that says Overwrite files without prompting.  You will then get the screen shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9.

 

 Step 10.
Click Unzip.
You then will see the screen shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10.

Click OK.

Then Click Close on the Figure 9 window that will still be showing.

You may now close the "mydownloads folder."

You are now ready to create a shortcut for  Front Page Express (fpxpress.exe)  on the desktop. It does not install automatically into the start menu.
Step 11.
Return  to My Computer Again.
Double click the fpxpress folder.

Step 12.

In My Computer, double click on the bin folder displaying the following.

Figure 12.

Right click on the fpxpress.exe icon and choose Create Shortcut.  This creates an icon in the folder that says Shortcut to fpxpress.exe.  Click and Drag this Shortcut to fpxpress.exe icon to the desktop.  (Click and hold with the left mouse button on the fpxpress icon & drag it to your desktop.)  Be sure that the original copy of fpxpress.exe still shows in that folder shown above after you have dragged the shortcut icon. 
(In some versions of Windows, you can simply drag the original fpxpress.exe icon to the desktop and it will automatically create a shortcut on the desktop.  We have found that Windows ME seems to require that you create the shortcut first & that Windows 95 & 98 allow the direct drag.)

Check that the icon on the desktop will function properly.

Downloading and Installing WS_FTP Limited Edition






WS_FTP (sometimes written WS-FTP) can be downloaded from any download website for free. Be sure that you download the WS_FTP_LE.  This limited edition is free; the full version is not.

Go to a reputable source for downloads such as tucows.cow or download.com.  Search for WS_FTP or sometimes it is given as WS-FTP.  I observed recently at tucows that if you put the underscore you only find the full edition, but if you put the dash you will find the limited edition.  Follow the instructions given at the software site and download the file into the same "mydownloads" folder that you created above.  Again be sure you get the limited edition as the full edition expires and is unusable in a short time span.  Also be sure to get the version that is correct for your version of Windows.

The file that you are downloading is an executable file that is an installer file.
After you have downloaded the file into your "mydownloads" folder, you should scan it for viruses.  If you do not have virus protection software, it is probably safe to go ahead and install the software if you got it from tucows or download.com.

To install the FTP client, double click the icon (ws_ftple.exe) and you will begin the installation process. (Your file extensions may not show if you do not have them set that way.  So yours may only show the name ws_ftple)
During the installation, it is usually advisable to accept the defaults offered.  This program does install automatically into the Start menu.
 

Creating  a Web page from Home using Front Page Express 
1. Create a folder on your drive C:  called homepage.  That is, it will be C:\homepage. 
2. Save all your files in this folder, including pictures.


Relative References in your Web Pages.

All graphics (pictures, images) used in your web pages must have a relative reference.  That is, the image source property of your image must only show a file name as illustrated below.  Be sure this is correct before you FTP your files.

Hint:  When working in Front Page Express, be sure that you save your htm file before you add any kind of a graphic to it.  This usually avoids the problem of having an absolute path reference for your graphics.
 

You will need to change the Image Source Properties of all your pictures (images) from

this (file:///C:/homepage/bbuf-r.gif)...............................................to this (just the file name).
 

You should save all of your files and exit Front Page Express before you publish.  You do not use the publishing that is within Front Page Express.  You will use an FTP program to publish your files.
 
 
 

You will Publish your Web Pages using WS_FTP

How to Use WS-FTP


  1. To start program click on start, programs, applications, Ws-ftp
  2. After program startup, a screen titled session properties will pop up.
  3. Type wtamu in for Profile Name.
  4. Type www.students.wtamu.edu in for the Host Name/Address.
  5. The User ID and Password will be the same used for your login at the computer lab.  

    6. Then click on OK.

The left window is the local system for files on your computer, while the right window is the remote system where your files will need to be transferred in order to post your homepage.

Button Description- these action buttons will perform actions to files that are selected. To select a file click once on the file name. If this is done correctly the file will become highlighted. Please note there are two sets of these buttons, and each set is on the right side of the system they are for.

allows you to view the contents on the file.

allows you to execute (run) the file.

allows you to rename a file.

allows you to delete a file.
 
 
  1. To find your files, you will need to change directories. Do this by double clicking on the green arrow at the top of the left window
  2. Then click on the drive where the files are saved. Therefore, if files are in the homepage folder on your U: drive, double click on [-u-], then double click on the homepage folder   (If you are working at home, your files will be in the homepage folder of the C: drive.)  Make sure that the files you wish to transfer are displayed in the left (Local System) window.

    1. To move files, click once on the file you want. This will highlight your file.
    2. Then click on the arrow  right button.
    3. To move multiple files at once, hold down the Ctrl button on the keyboard and click once on each file you wish to move. Then click on the arrow right button.  Note: All the files connected with your web page must be transferred to the remote system.  That means any graphics that you used on your page must be moved to the server as well as the HTML files.  Be sure that all your graphic references in your pages are relative references.  See above.
    4. To move files to the local system, click on the arrow left button.

    * Please note that everyone must transfer an index.htm file to the remote system.

    Button Description-

    this will close the connection to the host.

    this will allow you to reconnect, using the same info stated above.

    this will close the program.
     

    When you have uploaded all the necessary files, then Exit the WS_FTP program.

     The connection instructions will remain the same whether using at home or at the computer lab.  If you are working at home you will be transferring your files from the homepage folder on your C: drive.


     
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