Once you’ve specified a local site in Dreamweaver, you can specify a remote server for your site as well. The remote server (often referred to as the web server) is where you publish your site files so that people can view them online.
The remote server is simply another computer like your local computer, with a collection of files and folders on it. You specify a folder for your site on the remote server, just as you specified a folder for your local site on your local computer. Dreamweaver refers to the specified remote folder as your remote site.
When you set up a remote folder, you select a connection method for Dreamweaver to upload files to your web server and download files from your web server. The most typical connection method is FTP, but Dreamweaver also supports local/network, FTPS, SFTP, WebDav, and RDS connection methods.
Connecting to a remote site
Many websites let you publish files through FTP (File Transfer Protocol). You connect to a remote site by using the Site Definition dialog box in Adobe Dreamweaver CS6.
1. Select Site > Manage Sites.
2. Double-click the name of the site you want to connect remotely.
3. Click the Servers category in the left column.
Once you establish an FTP connection, you can use the Get and Put commands to transfer files from the Files panel.
When you transfer a document between a local and remote folder using the Files panel, you have the option of transferring the document’s dependent files. Dependent files are images, external style sheets, and other files referenced in your document that a browser loads when it loads the document.
To upload the entire site for the first time:
1. In the Files panel (Window > Files), select the files to upload.
2. Click the Expand/Collapse button in the Files panel toolbar. The Files panel expands.
3. Click the Connects To Remote Host button in the Files panel toolbar. Dreamweaver connects to the web server.
4. Select the root folder for your site in the Local (right) pane.
5. Click the Put Files button in the Files panel toolbar.
6. You may be presented with a dialog box asking if you wish to put the entire site. Click OK. Dreamweaver uploads the site’s files and opens the Background File Activity dialog box.
