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== Publishing files (including web pages) on the internet ==
Creating your own website can be a great deal of fun and a good way to share pictures, text and ideas with the whole world. All NCF accounts automatically include web space.
Publishing a web page is easy, just put a file into your personal web space provided by NCF and that is it -- the file will then be visible to the internet.


===Location of your web pages (URL)===
==General==
Your web space is at '''<nowiki>http://web.ncf.ca/youraccountID</nowiki>''', where ''youraccountID'' is replaced by your NCF accountID. If you have an email alias, you can use that too. For example, if your accountID is ab123 and your email alias is 'fred', then your web space would be at:
There is no limit on the size of your web space as long as there is enough space for everybody. If space becomes an issue, NCF will contact the people who use the most space.
 
To create a website you need to do four things:
 
# Create the web pages offline and link them together to form a website
# Test your web pages offline to make sure they work
# Upload them to your space on the NCF web server and then they will be visible to everyone on the internet
# Validate your web pages to identify any errors
 
==Creating web pages==
When someone visits your website their browser will ask the server for the home page first, which is called ''index.html'' or ''index.htm''. If that file does not exist, the web server will display a list of the files in the directory.
 
When you design your website make sure you create a home page and call it ''index.html'', so people visiting your website will start by seeing that page.
 
Web pages are written in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML Hyper Text Markup Language] (HTML). There are basically two ways to write HTML files:
 
# Writing them by hand
# Using a WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) HTML page creator.
 
===Hand coding HTML===
Hand coding HTML requires some skill and practice to learn, but can be quick and rewarding to do, once you have learned how. Most professionally-designed websites these days are hand-written. There are many guides available on the internet, in bookstores and libraries to help you learn to write HTML.
 
HTML is just text, so any plain text editor can be used to write HTML by hand, although the best ones are those that offer syntax highlighting to show mistakes quickly with text colours.  
 
Some good free software text editors with syntax highlighting include:
 
* [http://jedit.org/ jEdit] (for Windows, Mac, Linux and BSD)
* [https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ NotePad++] (for Windows)
 
===WYSIWYG HTML page creators===
There are also many software applications to automate the task of making HTML pages which allow beginners to make beautiful web pages without learning how to hand code HTML. If you are designing a complex web site with many components or want to save the time learning hand coding HTML, these tools can be helpful.
 
Commercial, proprietary web page creation software applications, like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Dreamweaver Adobe Dreamweaver CC], can be purchased or rented by the month, but many office applications, such as word processors, can also produce documents in HTML format. To write a web page just select "save as HTML".


'''<nowiki>http://web.ncf.ca/ab123</nowiki>'''
One word processor that can do this is the free software, cross platform LibreOffice Writer:


and also at:
* [http://www.libreoffice.org/download/libreoffice-fresh/ LibreOffice]


'''<nowiki>http://web.ncf.ca/fred</nowiki>'''
==Testing webpages==
Once you have written your web pages, open them in your [[web browser]] while still offline, to test them and see how they look and make sure that they link together.


===Uploading web files===
==Upload your web pages==
The process of transferring a file from your computer to your web space (on NCF's computer) is called ''uploading''.
The process of transferring a file from your computer to your web space (on NCF's computer) is called ''uploading''.


A file is a ''web page'' if it contains text formated in Hyper Text Mark-up Language (HTML), which can be displayed by a web browser. HTML is just plain text, with formatting that conforms to the rules of HTML. HTML files are given the extension of ''.html'' or ''.htm'' so that browsers know they contain HTML.
=== How to upload files ===
There are several ways to upload files, including:
 
*'''NCF's Web File Manager''' - We suggest using NCF's "Web File Manager" (because it requires no set-up) to upload your files. Go to the [http://start.ncf.ca StartPage] and click on [https://www.ncf.ca/ncf/home/tools/fileManager.jsp Web File Manager] under 'Tools' in the right column. It is kind of basic, but you'll see simple tools for uploading files.  There's an FAQ link on its page that explains how it works.  
 
'''Note''': The Web File Manager cannot transfer files larger than 2MB. For large files, use FTP.
 
*'''File Transfer Protocol''' (FTP) - If you are using an FTP program, use the following settings:
**Host Name/Address: ftp.ncf.ca (IP 172.83.172.13)
**User ID: accountID
**If a selection is available then choose "passive mode".
 
===FTP clients===
Some FTP clients that have been tested and work well with NCF web hosting are:
 
;Free software
*[http://filezilla-project.org/ FileZilla] for BSD, Linux, Mac OSX and Windows
*[http://gftp.seul.org/ gFTP] for Linux.
 
Notes:
#Linux users should download these from their distribution repositories.
#gFTP users should set ''FTP&rarr; Preferences&rarr; Preserve File Permissions&rarr; uncheck this box'', or else the uploaded files will not be able to be viewed.
 
==== Secure FTP ====
The NCF FTP server now supports TLS explicit mode. If you previously used NCF FTP to upload to your web space, you may wish to enable TLS in your client, if it is supported.
 
If you are using FileZilla, this is as simple as changing the encryption type from "Use Plain FTP" to "Require explicit FTP over TLS".


=== Default HTML page ===
[[File:Filezilla_explicit_tls.png|400px]]
URLs specify directories and, optionally, file names. For example, if a file abc.html were in the web space of ab123, the URL would be:


'''<nowiki>http://web.ncf.ca/ab123/abc.html</nowiki>'''
If you use the FileZilla Quickconnect bar, just specify "ftpes://ftp.ncf.ca" for the Host: field:


If a file is not specified, eg.,
[[File:Filezilla_explicit_tls_quickconnect.png|400px]]


'''<nowiki>http://web.ncf.ca/ab123</nowiki>'''
Note: If you are using an older FTP client that only supports legacy SSL on port 990, that will not work. You must use a client that understands how to use "Explicit TLS" on port 21.


by default, browsers will look for a file named ''index.html'' (or ''index.htm''). If they find such a file, they will load it. If not, they will display a list of the files in the directory. Because browsers do this typically website designers create a file named ''index.html'' to be their website's ''home page''.
==FTP certificates==
The first time you connect with an FTP client, or when the certificate has been updated, you will receive a warning from your FTP client about an "unknown certificate". If the certificate date is correct and the host is ftp.ncf.ca then you can accept the certificate and continue to upload your files.


=== How to upload files ===
[[File:FileZilla certificate warning.png|400px]]
There are many ways to upload files, including:


==== NCF's Web File Manager ====
==Viewing your website on the internet==
We suggest using NCF's "Web File Manager" (because it requires no set-up) to upload your files.
===Location of your web pages (URL)===
Go to the [http://start.ncf.ca StartPage] and click on 'Web File Manager' under 'Tools' in teh right column.  It's kind of basic, but you'll see simple tools for uploading files. There's an FAQ link on its page that explains how it works.
Your web space is at '''<nowiki>https://web.ncf.ca/youraccountID</nowiki>''', where ''youraccountID'' is replaced by your NCF accountID. If you have an email alias, you can use that too. For example, if your accountID is ab123 and your email alias is 'fred', then your web space would be at:


Web File Manager cannot tranfer files larger than 2MB. For large files, use FTP.
*'''<nowiki>https://web.ncf.ca/ab123</nowiki>'''


==== Using FTP ====
and also at:
If you are using an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program, use the following settings:
* Host Name/Address: ftp.ncf.ca
* User ID: accountID-1 (that's your NCF account ID followed by 'dash one'), e.g. ab123-1


=== About HTML files ===
*'''<nowiki>https://web.ncf.ca/fred</nowiki>'''
There are many guides on the internet and in bookstores and libraries the help with learning HTML.  A simple way to get started is to use NCF's Web File Manager to create a HTML template file.  Do this:
* Start NCF's [http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/home/tools/fileManager.jsp Web File Manager]
* Create a new file called anything.html
* Click the 'edit' link for that file


Because the file is named with an extension of '.hmtl' and is empty, Web File Manager will open with template text of a basic HTML file, which you can modify (or discard).
==Validating your pages==
Newly uploaded pages should be validated to make sure the coding on them is correct and will display correctly in reader's browsers. You can do this using a free online tool at:


HTML is just text, so any plain text editor can be used. There are also many software packages to automate the task.  If you have a complex web site with many components, these tools can be helpful.  Otherwise, a text editor is usually adequate.
*[https://validator.w3.org/nu/ W3C validator]


Many office tools can produce output in HTML format that aims to produce web pages that appear identical or similar to their native output formats. Thus an easy way to prepare web pages is to simply 'save as HTML' in office tools that support that.
Just copy your page's URL into the box, hit "return" and it will test your page and list any errors that need correcting. If there are errors, fix them on the original file and then upload the newly corrected version.


== Organizational Accounts at NCF ==
== Organizational Accounts at NCF ==
To transfer files to your organization web space, use the following settings on your FTP program:
To transfer files to your organization web space, use the following settings on your FTP program:
* Host Name/Address: ftp.ncf.ca
* Host Name/Address: ftp.ncf.ca
* User ID: accountID-n ('n' is a letter code assigned to the  
* User ID: accountID-n ('n' is a letter code assigned to the organization, usually the first letter of the directory name)
organization, usually the first letter of the directory name)


Your web site is at
Your web site will be found at:
  http://yourOrg.ncf.ca
   
*'''<nowiki>https://yourOrg.ncf.ca</nowiki>'''


== Tools for web page authors ==
== Tools for web page authors ==
NCF's "comment-taker" utility provides a way for readers of your web page to send you
NCF's "comment-taker" utility provides a way for readers of your web page to send you email without you having to expose your email address to spammers.  Have a look at the [http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/support/faqMaker.jsp?faq=7 Comment-Taker FAQ] for more information.
email without you having to expose your email address to spammers.  Have a look at the
 
[http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/support/faqMaker.jsp?faq=7 Comment-Taker FAQ] for more information.
==See also==
*[[Website Statistics]]


== How much space do I get? ==
==External links==
There is no limit on the size of your web space as long as there is enough space
*[http://www.techsoup.org/support/articles-and-how-tos/nonprofits-guide-to-building-simple-low-cost-websites A Nonprofit's Guide to Building Simple, Low-Cost Websites]
for everybody. If space becomes an issue, we will contact the people who use
*[http://www.websitesthatsuck.com/ Websites That Suck] - a guide a what to avoid in website design
the most space.


[[Category: Web space]]
[[Category: Web space]]

Latest revision as of 23:34, 6 September 2020

Creating your own website can be a great deal of fun and a good way to share pictures, text and ideas with the whole world. All NCF accounts automatically include web space.

General

There is no limit on the size of your web space as long as there is enough space for everybody. If space becomes an issue, NCF will contact the people who use the most space.

To create a website you need to do four things:

  1. Create the web pages offline and link them together to form a website
  2. Test your web pages offline to make sure they work
  3. Upload them to your space on the NCF web server and then they will be visible to everyone on the internet
  4. Validate your web pages to identify any errors

Creating web pages

When someone visits your website their browser will ask the server for the home page first, which is called index.html or index.htm. If that file does not exist, the web server will display a list of the files in the directory.

When you design your website make sure you create a home page and call it index.html, so people visiting your website will start by seeing that page.

Web pages are written in Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). There are basically two ways to write HTML files:

  1. Writing them by hand
  2. Using a WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) HTML page creator.

Hand coding HTML

Hand coding HTML requires some skill and practice to learn, but can be quick and rewarding to do, once you have learned how. Most professionally-designed websites these days are hand-written. There are many guides available on the internet, in bookstores and libraries to help you learn to write HTML.

HTML is just text, so any plain text editor can be used to write HTML by hand, although the best ones are those that offer syntax highlighting to show mistakes quickly with text colours.

Some good free software text editors with syntax highlighting include:

WYSIWYG HTML page creators

There are also many software applications to automate the task of making HTML pages which allow beginners to make beautiful web pages without learning how to hand code HTML. If you are designing a complex web site with many components or want to save the time learning hand coding HTML, these tools can be helpful.

Commercial, proprietary web page creation software applications, like Adobe Dreamweaver CC, can be purchased or rented by the month, but many office applications, such as word processors, can also produce documents in HTML format. To write a web page just select "save as HTML".

One word processor that can do this is the free software, cross platform LibreOffice Writer:

Testing webpages

Once you have written your web pages, open them in your web browser while still offline, to test them and see how they look and make sure that they link together.

Upload your web pages

The process of transferring a file from your computer to your web space (on NCF's computer) is called uploading.

How to upload files

There are several ways to upload files, including:

  • NCF's Web File Manager - We suggest using NCF's "Web File Manager" (because it requires no set-up) to upload your files. Go to the StartPage and click on Web File Manager under 'Tools' in the right column. It is kind of basic, but you'll see simple tools for uploading files. There's an FAQ link on its page that explains how it works.

Note: The Web File Manager cannot transfer files larger than 2MB. For large files, use FTP.

  • File Transfer Protocol (FTP) - If you are using an FTP program, use the following settings:
    • Host Name/Address: ftp.ncf.ca (IP 172.83.172.13)
    • User ID: accountID
    • If a selection is available then choose "passive mode".

FTP clients

Some FTP clients that have been tested and work well with NCF web hosting are:

Free software

Notes:

  1. Linux users should download these from their distribution repositories.
  2. gFTP users should set FTP→ Preferences→ Preserve File Permissions→ uncheck this box, or else the uploaded files will not be able to be viewed.

Secure FTP

The NCF FTP server now supports TLS explicit mode. If you previously used NCF FTP to upload to your web space, you may wish to enable TLS in your client, if it is supported.

If you are using FileZilla, this is as simple as changing the encryption type from "Use Plain FTP" to "Require explicit FTP over TLS".

Filezilla explicit tls.png

If you use the FileZilla Quickconnect bar, just specify "ftpes://ftp.ncf.ca" for the Host: field:

Filezilla explicit tls quickconnect.png

Note: If you are using an older FTP client that only supports legacy SSL on port 990, that will not work. You must use a client that understands how to use "Explicit TLS" on port 21.

FTP certificates

The first time you connect with an FTP client, or when the certificate has been updated, you will receive a warning from your FTP client about an "unknown certificate". If the certificate date is correct and the host is ftp.ncf.ca then you can accept the certificate and continue to upload your files.

FileZilla certificate warning.png

Viewing your website on the internet

Location of your web pages (URL)

Your web space is at https://web.ncf.ca/youraccountID, where youraccountID is replaced by your NCF accountID. If you have an email alias, you can use that too. For example, if your accountID is ab123 and your email alias is 'fred', then your web space would be at:

  • https://web.ncf.ca/ab123

and also at:

  • https://web.ncf.ca/fred

Validating your pages

Newly uploaded pages should be validated to make sure the coding on them is correct and will display correctly in reader's browsers. You can do this using a free online tool at:

Just copy your page's URL into the box, hit "return" and it will test your page and list any errors that need correcting. If there are errors, fix them on the original file and then upload the newly corrected version.

Organizational Accounts at NCF

To transfer files to your organization web space, use the following settings on your FTP program:

  • Host Name/Address: ftp.ncf.ca
  • User ID: accountID-n ('n' is a letter code assigned to the organization, usually the first letter of the directory name)

Your web site will be found at:

  • https://yourOrg.ncf.ca

Tools for web page authors

NCF's "comment-taker" utility provides a way for readers of your web page to send you email without you having to expose your email address to spammers. Have a look at the Comment-Taker FAQ for more information.

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://help.ncf.ca/index.php?title=Publishing_Web_Pages&oldid=7208"