Complete Noob question

Im having my website built for me...but in the meantime i would like a page to appear on the homepage to let people know its under construction.
Ive got the page designed, but where do i uplaoad it to? In my old site it was to a folder called, HTDOCS, but i dont seem to have that in my ftp area. Anyone able to point me in the right direction here?
thanks
Dan

Dan, just upload it to the folder that is named the same as your domain name (if your setup is the DreamHost default).

You can also confirm this folder name from the Control Panel -> Domains -> Manage Domains screen, by clicking "Edit" under the "Web Hosting" column for your domain and inspecting the value there for what directory your domain is served from.

--rlparker

thanks for that.
i looked where you said, but i ust be stupid or something, it still makes no sense.
It says on the page:
Specify your web directory: /home/username/pureportraits.net

Does that mean when i go into the FTP programme and log into the server...there needs to be a folder named: "home" and then another folder named: "username" (in my case, danpureportraits) and then the website files need to go in there?

thanks for your help riparker

In reply to:

---

Does that mean when i go into the FTP programme and log into the server...there needs to be a folder named: "home" and then another folder named: "username" (in my case, danpureportraits) and then the website files need to go in there?

---

Well not really; I'll try to explain a little more clearly.

There actually *is* a directory ("folder") named "home" and one named ""username", but they are laid out like this:

/home
    /username (in your case - danpureportraits)
        /other_directories (pureportraits.net for example)

So, the "username" directory is *within* (under) the /home directory, and "other_directories" (including the one that will hold your website content) are *within* (under/beneath) the "username" directory, in a "tree-like" fashion. This is described by the *nix path description of:

/home/username/other_directories

When you log in with your FTP program, you are "automagically" deposited in the "username" directory - so you will not see *it* (you are already *in* it), or "home" (it is "above" your location in the directory tree).

In your case, where you actually *are* when you log in, is in the "/home/danpureportraits/" directory. The directory that your Control panel shows as being where your website is served from is "/home/danpureportraits/pureportraits.net so, from your ftp client's display, you should see a directory called "pureportraits.net", and *that* is where you should upload content you want to be displayed on your site.

This makes it particularly nice in the event that you want to host several websites, which you can do on DH for no additional *hosting* charges (you still need to pay for domain registration), as when you log in you can see each of your sites in their own directory, and upload to any of them by just changing the remote directory to the one appropriate for the web site.

If that doesn't make it any clearer - post back, and I'll make another attempt at explaining it.

--rlparker

ok cool well thanks for that.

So when i log in, i shoud see a folder named "pureportraits.net" which i do.( Well, ive actually changed the name to HTDOCS via the control panel and created a folder manually called htdocs.)
So when i log in i should see the folder names HTDOCS, and in theory if i upload a webpage named index.html that should come up when i type in pureportraits.net. But unfortunatley it doesnt.
hmmm confusion...maybe im missing something here and i do apoligise for being stupid.
If all else fails maybe you can have a look in the ftp server if i email you relevent details...?

regards
Dan

Dan:

rlparker has explained the file structures in DH clearly. I think you are confused during the uploading process.

If you upload files via

No problem... it's strange, I checked out http://pureportraits.net/ a while ago, and an index.html loaded (with a broken image - the "images" subdirectory did not exist), but now, all I see is a blank directory listing.

It looked like you actually had it "working" except for your image ink.

If you want me to take a look at your directory structure, send me the necessary credentials via this forum's PM system (you can change the password after I've checked it out).

--rlparker

That is a good point you make about where you "end up" when using FTP depends upon whether you are using a standalone FTP client, or the browser from the control panel, or webFTP! Thanks!

I keep forgetting that people use other methods for FTP besides a full FTP client.

--rlparker

Poor dan. Hope he will solve his "simple" problem soon.

Dan, please put your files inside the right folder