If you still have questions use the Contact Us page and we'll answer them as soon as we can.

Where do I start?

Welcome to the Web! This particular section is designed for those who haven't ventured into the realm of Web Publishing before. We hope that the following information will give you the big picture and make building your web site easier.

Ok. You've signed up for the hosting package of your choice. You've gotten your URL. You know all the codes and passwords needed to fully administer your web site. So now what?

Now you need a few things to get your web site up and running.

Here's the basic software you need to create a web site. You can spend a lot, or very little.

• File Transfer Protocol (FTP) software
  If you're using FrontPage you don't need this, but it's still good to have.

• An E-Mail program

• Web Browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer)

• An HTML editor (Microsoft FrontPage, Adobe PageMill, BBEdit, Hot Dog -- there are dozens to choose from)

• An image editor (Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Image Composer, Paint Shop Pro -- again, there are others)

Now you know what you need, but knowing why you need them is a different story. Here's the scoop on each:

• FTP. This software sends files from your computer to our severs. We have direct links to download this software on the Downloads page. (Note: if you're a FrontPage user, you don't need FTP software. FrontPage has FTP capabilities built-in.)
• E-Mail. This software collects and organizes your email.
• A Web Browser. We're assuming you have one, since you are able to read this document.
• An HTML editor. This is the tool you use to actually create your web pages. Which one you choose will depend on your preferences. The following are links to some of the more well-known programs. We've chosen to link to those pages which describe the program so you can make an informed decision before you download the software. Microsoft FrontPage, Adobe PageMill, BBEdit (Mac only), Hot Dog (Windows only), Home Site (Windows only).
• An image editor. These are the tools that allow you to manipulate graphics and photos. Some of these editors are very complex, others focus on only a few options. Look into Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. (If you're interested in Microsoft Image Composer, it comes bundled with FrontPage.)

Go to these sites and play. Many offer a free 30-day trial download so you can get an idea of how the software works.

Once you've gotten those tools, you can use the rest of this section to get your web site up and running.

 

 

How do I get my home page to load automatically?

You must name your main loading file either "index.htm" or "index.html". Be sure to name everything in lowercase. Also, this file must be located in your home directory, which is the first directory you see when accessing the web server via ftp.

Note: If you are using FrontPage, your main page must be named "index.htm".  Also, if you are testing with Personal Web Server, the main page is named Default.htm.  FrontPage will automatically rename it to index.htm when you publish your site.

 

Do you have FTP software available for download?

Yes.  You can find it on the downloads.

 

I have broken graphics and links that go nowhere all over my page! Help!

Never fear! What you're describing is a common problem that's really quite simple to answer. There could be one of two things wrong in your HTML code.

• You may be referencing the wrong directory in your links. That means that while you think that photo of Jake is at photos/jake.gif, you might have actually uploaded it to the same place you store your documents. That means you would want a call to jake.gif in your HTML code.
• Check the case. Are you sure you spelled that photo Jake.gif or is it jake.gif? The case and spelling of your links has to be exactly the same as the case and spelling of what you uploaded.

 

I read the answer to that last question, but I still don't get it!

Okay, to cut to the chase:

• Did you tell your HTML code to look for your broken link or photo exactly where you put it?
• Did you spell everything in your HTML exactly the way you spelled it when you uploaded it?

Keeping these two things in mind will save you a lot of grief in the world of HTML coding.

How do I transfer files to the web server?

If you were wondering why someone would want to download something called FTP software, this is why. First you need to set up your FTP software to communicate from your computer to the CMDI server. The following are instructions for setting up WS-FTP.

Note: If you are a Microsoft FrontPage user, just use the "Publish" feature in FrontPage. If you're not using FrontPage, use the following instructions.

When you launch the program, you will be given a window. In this window, you will be asked for a few pieces of information.

• In the Profile Name field, type the name of your web site. It can be whatever you want.

• In the Host Name/Address field, type ftp.yourdomain.com.

• In the Host Type field, select Automatic Detect.

• In the User ID field, type your user ID.

• In the Password field, type your password. (And check the save password box to the right of the field).

• Press Apply to save your changes.

Once you enter this information, it is saved as the Profile Name.

Once WS-FTP is set up and you've entered the program you can send your web pages to the server.

When you open WS-FTP, the program shows you two small windows. The window on the left is your local drive. The window on the right is the Hostess server.

To upload a file, simply choose the file you wish to upload in the left window by clicking on it once. Then, in the right window, choose the location on the Hostess server you want the file to appear. With the file on the left highlighted, and the correct location on the Hostess server in the right window, press the right-pointing arrow between the two windows.

That action will send the file from your directory on the left to the server on the right. Your file is now uploaded and can be accessed by anyone on the Internet. Be sure to immediately test your work by opening your browser and viewing the document you just uploaded. Test that you are able to get to the page the way you intended, and make sure that all the links on the page work.

For Mac users:

The program Fetch works in much the same way as WS-FTP. Fetch, however, gives Mac users the chance to drag and drop files from their desktop to the server. As with WS-FTP, be sure you have the correct location on your server before you drop a new file into it.

 

How do I register with search engines?

Each search engine has its own requirements for you to register. To take the worry (and time) out of the process, we recommend Traffic Boost. or Register-It. With these services all you have to do is fill out one simple form and your site will be registered with 500 or 400 directories and search engines, respectively. These services will save you several hours you otherwise would have to spend surfing to find each of these sites.  Or, if that's still too much work, you can get us to do it for a reasonable fee.

 

Are there any rules I should be aware of?

Once the InterNIC announces that your domain name has been registered (or transferred, if applicable), it usually takes about 72 hours before it is accessible from anywhere on the Internet. All Internet providers must update their records to reflect new site locations.

 

What is the InterNIC fee for domain registration?

We do have an Acceptable Use Policy that you should review.   You should have received a copy of this with your new account information.

 

I've worked on this site for months and I can't tell if it's well-designed anymore. Are there any tools to analyze web sites out there?

You bet! Just type your URL below, hit go, and find out lots of interesting info about how others view your web site. You'll get great tips on shrinking your graphics, dead links, and even spelling!

 

Do you offer detailed site statistics?

Yes. We use the leading statistics software to deliver useful information to you about what works, and doesn't, on your website. Our software generates a weekly report with charts and tables full of data you can use to build a better website. Click here if you'd like to see an example of what your site statistics could look like.

Tune Up Your Web Site Free:

 

How do I add a counter to my web page?

It's easy! You're just two steps away from having a counter that you've customized to look great on your web site.

Rename your web page so it has a file extension of .html-ssi

Add the following to your web page's HTML text:

You are visitor number <!--#totcnt--> since <!--#lastzero-->

The counter will then look like this:

You are visitor number 4366 since Sunday, June 14, 1998 15:10:18

Now, how can you make this simple line of text look more exciting? Take a look at some of the following examples:

You are visitor number 4367 since Sunday, June 14, 1998 15:10:18

You are visitor number 4368 since Sunday, June 14, 1998 15:10:18

You are visitor number 4369 since Sunday, June 14, 1998 15:10:18

You can even just use the number without the date:

4370

In the first example, we've simply made the entire counter bold. In the second, we've made only the number bold, italic, and given it a bright red font color. The third counter is an example of a counter in a table with a colored background and colored font. The fourth example uses just the <!--#totcnt--> code alone in a single-celled table. We've also added a font color in bold and a background color. Use your imagination! All you need to do is customize your counter using your existing HTML look and feel.

 

How do I add forms processing to my web page?

Let's face it: interactive web sites are cool. And by interactive, we here at CMDI don't mean just being able to point and click willy-nilly. Interactive web sites let visitors talk back to the people behind the computer screen by using forms. Your visitor fills a form out, and just like that, you receive that information in your email box.

If you're a CMDI customer, we provide you with the code for sending information from forms. For Microsoft FrontPage users, make sure to use their forms processing feature. Like everything in FrontPage, it should be a snap. For the rest of you out there, however, keep reading to find out how to add forms processing to your website.

The following files named form.html and mailto.cfm contain the two basic building blocks for adding forms processing to your web site. Form.html is the code for the actual form itself. Mailto.cfm is the code for two very important parts: the email message which is sent to you and the page that person will receive telling them their message has been sent.

Click here to download the form. Then choose Save As from the File menu and save the file on your hard drive.

Click here to download the script. Then choose Save As from the File menu and save the file on your hard drive.

The directions for using the code are at the top of the mailto.cfm file.

 

What directory and file names are acceptable?

The Web is case sensitive. In other words, the file name "faq.html" is NOT the same as "FAQ.html". If your HTML code references a faq.html, but the actual file name is in uppercase, this will result in a File Not Found error. This applies to directory names as well.

To prevent errors, we suggest naming all files in lowercase. Spaces and special control characters are generally not a good idea. The underscore character ("_") is acceptable. You should not use special characters (e.g. ! @ # $ % ^ & * : ') in file names. We suggest that you keep the length of file names to a minimum. The tilde (~) cannot be used in directory or file names.

 

How do I create sub-directories within my website?

We recommend using the "make directory" (Mk Dir) feature in your FTP client software.  With FrontPage right click in the right pane of the FrontPage explorer and choose New Folder.  Or choose New, Folder from the File menu.  (Make sure you're in the folder view.)

 

What is Cold Fusion and why do you support it?

Straight from the folks at Allaire, creators of Cold Fusion:

"Cold Fusion Professional 3 gives you the power to quickly and easily create dynamic-page Web applications. If you're new to Web application development, Cold Fusion's easy-to-learn server-side markup language and extensive documentation get you started quickly. If you're an experienced developer, Cold Fusion's advanced functions and sophisticated application framework give you unparalleled productivity."

Or in the words of Bill Ho from C/NET:

"If your ultimate goal is to create Web applications rather than mere Web pages, you need to give Cold Fusion a home in your toolbox."

To learn more about how to use Cold Fusion, check this page out.

 

What is Active Server Pages and why do you support it?

Straight from the folks at Microsoft, creators of Active Server Pages:

"Active Server Pages is an open, compile-free application environment in which you can combine HTML, scripts, and reusable ActiveX server components to create dynamic and powerful Web-based business solutions. Active Server Pages enables server side scripting for IIS with native support for both VBScript and Jscript.

ASP runs as a service of the Web server and is optimized for multiple threads and multiple users. This means that it's fast, and it's easy to implement. If you use ASP, you can separate the design of your Web page from the nitty-gritty details of programming access to databases and applications. This frees up the programmer to do what she does best--code like crazy--and, conversely, frees the designer to worry about just the design rather than the database."

In other words, ASP is another option for our customers to link their web sites into the power of databases.

To learn more about how to use Active Server Pages, check out this page.

 

What is Microsoft FrontPage and why do you support it?

Because it's darn popular. Lots and lots of folks, those new to the web and those more experienced, like Microsoft FrontPage because it allows you to create web pages and manage your web site quickly and easily.

If you came here looking for some help with using FrontPage, might I suggest you try this section of our support area.

 

How do I setup my server statistics?

Once you have your site setup, use the Contact Us page to let us know. Your site needs to be uploaded before we setup your statistics because we need to know the file name of your homepage. All in all, it's a pretty simple process to bring you some very powerful information about what works, and doesn't, on your website.

 

Can I use my account for commercial purposes?

Yes, you can use your account for commercial purposes. The World Wide Web has become an efficient and cost-effective means of making information available to the users of the Internet community. If desired, secure processing is included in all plans. That way, your products can be selling themselves 24 hours per day.

 

The web pages I created take forever to load. I'm afraid I'm losing my audience, what do I do?

Here are some helpful hints to successful web page creation:

• Keep your pages small. That's overall. Completely. Small graphics, small amount of text, just plain small. The smaller the pages, the faster they are to load (and for your audience to see).
• Specify the height and width of all images. Many HTML editors do that for you automatically, but many Web authors forget this simple step. You'll be amazed at how much faster your pages load with this simple step.
• Keep the special effects to a minimum. You may love the spinning globe and the folding mail envelope equally, but having both of them on one page may be too much of a good thing.
• Check your work on a different computer than your own. See your site as your audience sees it. Once you start working on the site, you'll probably have most of the material in your computer's cache, which allows your computer to call up images and text faster than if you had never visited the site. If you go to another computer and access your site from a machine that's never called it up, you'll get a truer picture of your audience's experience visiting your site.

Simple steps, but they can add up to better audience response to your web site.