FTP Instructions

• FTP option
• How can you upload files to the web server?
• How will content be published to the UMass Dartmouth campus web server?
• Request a new FTP account

FTP option

Choosing to use FTP to update web pages on the university site is the option is for web developers with this expertise:

• ability to understand and manipulate html code either as text in programs such as NotePad or BBEdit or in a visual html editor such as Macromedia Dreamweaver
• knowledge of how to use an FTP file transfer client (the choice of client and platform are yours). The WDD team can help you set up the process but cannot perform the file transfers for you.
• familiarity with PhotoShop to manipulate images, minimally to crop and re-size them

You must have the means of accessing the programs noted above; the WDD team is not able to supply them to you. (For more information, visit the Service Center.)

NOTE: Although knowledge of Macromedia Flash is helpful, it is not a substitute for knowledge of the items listed above.

FTP option steps

1. Request a new site, if necessary
2. Request an FTP account for the transferring of files
3. Review these instructions
4. Review the UMass Dartmouth Web Development Policies
5. Optionally, review Cold Fusion Development Project for technical information about the new site design, navigation and accessibility issues, and custom tags

How can you upload files to the web server?

1) First, you must disable "Passive Mode" transfers:

• Fetch: Go to Preferences. Look for "Use passive mode transfers (PASV)"; it is under "Firewall" in the latest version, but may be under another tab in earlier versions. Make sure it is unchecked, then click "OK".
  
• WS_FTP: click the "Options" button in the bottom row of buttons (you may need to close the "Session Properties" box first). Select the "Session" tab, and look for "Use Passive Transfer Mode". Make sure it is unchecked. Then click the "Apply" button, then the "OK" button.
• Dreamweaver: In the Site Definition dialog box (see Dreamweaver Help to learn how to get there), click the "Remote Info" section. (In Dreamweaver MX, you may need to click the "Advanced" tab at top.) Look for "Use Passive FTP" in the "Remote Info" section, usually underneath the "Password:" field. Make sure it is unchecked, then click "OK."
  
• For other FTP or web development programs, consult that program's help files.

Not doing this will cause the server to lock you out and will require a member of Web Design and Development to manually set your access again. You should only need to do this once, unless you use another program or another machine.

2 ) Use your UMass Dartmouth email account username and password to log in.

You can connect to the UMassD Web servers from off-campus via FTP if your computer is registered with the UMass Dartmouth campus computer network and has a campus IP address. If you wish to use your FTP account from off-campus, you must first establish your UMass Dartmouth Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection. You can find more information on how to set up your VPN connection at http://www.umassd.edu/cits/wireless/

Accessing email and FTP via VPN from off campus: a brief guide

Note: As this username and password gives you access to a variety of electronic services and online resources, we strongly encourage you not to share your username and/or password with colleagues or students and not to store your password in your FTP client software or your Web browser.

• Fetch: type "dev.www.umassd.edu" into the "Host:" field, your email account username in the "User ID:" field, and your email password in the "Password:" field.
  
• WS_FTP: type "dev.www.umassd.edu" into the "Host Name/Address:" field, your email account username in the "User ID:" field, and your email account password in the "Password:" field. Make sure the "Host Type:" drop menu is set to "Automatic detect" or "UNIX (standard)."
  
• Dreamweaver: In the Site Definition dialog box (see Dreamweaver Help to learn how to get there), click the "Remote Info" section. (In Dreamweaver MX, you may need to click the "Advanced" tab at top.) Select "FTP" from the "Access:" field, then type "dev.www.umassd.edu" in the "FTP Host:" field, your email account username in the "Login:" field, and your email account password in the "Password:" field.
  
• For other FTP or web development programs, consult that program's help files.

3) When you first log in you will see a list of folders that you have access to. Do not upload to this level—you cannot do so, and trying to do so will cause an error. Your files must be uploaded to the appropriate folder on the web server.

You will see the folder or folders that contain all the files for your site. If you had access to the financial aid site, for example, this folder would be called "financialaid," and inside you would see all the files in the financial aid site. This is where you should upload any file or folder you want for your site; only files uploaded here can be seen and referenced in your site. If you maintain more than one site, then you will see more than one of these folders, each one named for the site it holds.

How will content be published to the UMass Dartmouth campus web server?

The http://dev.www.umassd.edu/ server is the UMass Dartmouth development web server. All web content is put here first, to be tested and approved, then it will be moved to the production server: http://www.umassd.edu/.

We have a self-managed system where users can stage content to the production server. The tool offers you the opportunity: (1) to upload immediately to the production server (from the development server) or (2) to request a file or content upload. (Staff members then complete the actual upload to the production server.)

Please consult with Web Design and Development if you have any questions or concerns. There is also a wealth of information about the site, its design and navigation on our team's CF Project site.