How Do I Test My Earthlink Server With Dreamweaver 8?

Connecting Dreamweaver 8 with your Earthlink server is quick and easy.

Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 is a visual development application that makes it simple for both novice and experienced designers to create websites. In addition to providing basic design features, Dreamweaver incorporates support for both browser-side scripting languages (e.g., Cascading Style Sheets, JavaScript) and server-side scripting languages (e.g., ASP, PHP). The program also allows for simple integration with remote web servers by automating the file transfer process.

Instructions

1. Define a new Dreamweaver website. Click "Site" from the top menu bar and choose "New Site." On the first "Site Definition" screen, give your website a name and provide the URL of your Earthlink website. Click "Next."

2. Set additional server options. Select the button labeled "No, I do not want to use a server technology," then click "Next." Select the button labeled "Edit local copies on my machine..." on the following screen. Click the folder icon on the same screen to select a location to store the website files on your local computer. Click "Next" after doing so.

3. Define file transfer settings. Click the drop-down menu and select the "FTP" option. Enter "ftp-www.earthlink.net" (without quotation marks) in the hostname field. Leave the folder field blank. Enter your Earthlink username in the FTP login box. Enter your Earthlink password in the FTP password box. Leave the "Use Secure FTP" box unchecked. Click the "Test Connection" button to confirm the connection, then click "Next."

4. Complete the connection setup. Unless more than one person will be working with your website at the same time, leave the default "No" option selected on the file check-out settings screen. Click "Next." Click "Done" on the following screen to complete the setup process.

5. Connect to your Earthlink server. Ensure the "Files" panel is open by clicking "Window" in the menu bar near the top of the screen, then selecting "Files." Find the icon in the "Files" panel represented by two nested windows; when you move your mouse over the icon its label reads "Expand to show local and remote sites." Click the icon. Your Earthlink server files now appear on the left-hand side of your screen, while your local Dreamweaver website files appear on the right. You can work with your Earthlink server by transferring files directly from Dreamweaver.

References

• Adobe TechNote: How to Define a Site in Dreamweaver
• Rick Matthews: FTP Setup in Dreamweaver
• Earthlink: Server Settings