Editing Web Page

Generally it is good practice to only change things once. If you develop your files locally, make the changes there and upload. Most programs like DW & FP allow you to change your site 'live' on the web. I personally don't do this but many do. I usually make my changes locally and upload.

I always make the changes locally on my pc so that it's on my hard drive then re-upload to the server.

I change mine both ways. HTML-Kit allows you to tie into your site via FTP access and edit from there, just like being on the server. Once you do a change and click save, it is automatically on the server. And then when your finished with the whole thing, click save-as to save it locally for a copy.
Professionaly speaking, if your going to do great web designs, get away from FrontPage now while you can. The extensions will be a hinderence once you get into CGI, PHP, ASP, and so on. The only time I use it is to visually design a table or DIV.

I change things on my pc. In my opinion it works better and then I have a copy of the changes. From there I upload the changes.

Brooke

Yes, it's probably not a good idea to have different versions of your site in each place. That just gets confusing, and it's always good to have a back-up of your site just in case something goes wrong on the server.

It is even more of a challenge when your site is database driven. Then you have to keep the DB and pages synched.

I have database driven sites and the only thing to keep in synched there are the tables. The data itself, by nature, is dynamic.

My only problem with this at all is the host-username-password thing. I quess my Apache and/or MySQL isn't set up to match that of my host's. Never could get that right, even after all the research. So, I test it locally with one configuration and then have to change that part of the code before uploading. Good thing it's in only one place.

Quote: Originally posted by theprofessional
I have database driven sites and the only thing to keep in synched there are the tables. The data itself, by nature, is dynamic.

The data is dynamic but there is still page structure and layout that have to be changed. It is not much of a problem just dumping a db and importing it.

Correct. So when I need to know how it will look and how to make the data display according to its size and etc. I insert enough bogus input to give it a "this is what it will do with a lot of data" senerio. It's pretty easy using Excel to import to your tables to get some data in them. Then I just keep this structure recorded with the site's archive just in case. And in the meantime I have the site's database running locally as it would if the site was busy.

I develop on my local PC and then upload to the server.

I simply change one line in my application.cfm file which sets the base href attribute and away it goes!

For the day to day stuff like editing resources, etc I have a custom control panel that interacts with the database wher I can create table, edit exsisting ones and all the rest...Just saves me downloading the DB each time.

Two things I would recommend though:

1) Once a month do a complete sync of you local site and your server to make sure there are no pages on your local that are not on your server and vice versa.

2) As reguarly as you feel necessary back up BOTH local AND server versions of your site to a CD or whatever so if you get a failure you still got a copy...Learnt that one by bitter experience

Thank you for all your replies. I do get what some of you are saying, but not all the points. As i am not great with web design, would it be possible for someone to design a site layout for me on their computer, and then somehow send it to me so i can add my own main parts on my computer? So i would basically then have the site layout on my site. I hope you understand my point, it might not be that clear!

Soooooo....What you want is the site designed for you, sent to you and then you add the content.

Hmmmm...

This may sound harsh but you would be much better off learning how to design the site yourself for many reasons:

1) Satisfaction that you did it
2) Not having to rely on a third party to make changes when you need them
3) Satisfaction that you did it
4) Learning a new skill
5) Satisfaction that you did it
6) Impress your friends, colleagues, family, pets, etc

Did I mention the satisfaction part??

What I'm getting at here is that I learnt from scratch and I'd bet that the vast number of pros at TWF learnt from scratch too.

If you totally stuck click here for a list of tutorials aimed specifically at helping out the beginner.

And just ask these guys at TWF too! There is not one amongst them who would not be willing to help you out. No question is too simple or too complicated in this place!!

For most of my code, I change on my local server then upload. But I also have lots of information that comes from a database. so about every week or so, I make backups of my databases.

Flipper i think what your saying is right. Im sure you do get satisfaction knowing you made it yourself, and i wish i could! The only reason i started this topic was because i don't have the software i need to build a website. Most of you on here are professinals, but my site is just for a hobbie. I had a friend offer to help me with anything i needed which is why i needed the answer to my question at the start! Is it possible for someone else to build a site for me? I know it makes me seem like i don't want to try but i do, i just cant afford all the tools to build one. Thanks for your advice anyway

London_Girl,

The tools to build a simple website, when you add all their costs together cost... absolutely nothing.

Sure, somebody could build you a simple template... but I guarantee you that it would still be confusing to you (not a reflection on your intelligence). Best for you to start with a very simple design and gradually build on it as you learn new things. Truth is, we're all learning from the last mistake we made.

Yeah but what would i use to build it, i mean i don't have anything! To build one i thought you'd need something like Dreamweaver etc.

Just go to Downloads.com, type free html editor and you will get a lsit of about 30 freeware/shareare editors. Download a couple and just play around!

I started by using FrontPage Express which comes with IE...

Fairly basic but it doesn't cost a penny!

Oh right, thanks, that helps! Ok well i will try what you said, thank you once again

Quote: Originally posted by London_Girl
...i just cant afford all the tools to build one...

umm, what do you mean? all you need is a browser, text editor (notepad), and a local server (for serverside languages)
to get a good development server, go over to phpgeek.com and downlaod php-Triad...

i built newbie-developer.com, and it didn't cost me anything to develope, only the host and the domain name.

You might want to check out 1stPage...is evrsoft.com/1stpage

its a VERY good editor, AND you can get it for FREE. It also has a built in FTP...i use it to do locally and then i upload...very efficent...check it out

Quote: Originally posted by Eskater05
You might want to check out 1stPage...is evrsoft.com/1stpage

its a VERY good editor, AND you can get it for FREE. It also has a built in FTP...i use it to do locally and then i upload...very efficent...check it out

i use to use 1st page, but now i use macromedia homesite.
i do agree, 1st page is a very good editor. the only thing about it that i didn't like is that it slowed down my computer... but all in all, it is a great editor.