cPanel, FTP, HTML,????

Hi Charlie. Assuming you have cpanel, you can log in to the admin area by typing in http://www.example.com/cpanel and then login with the username and password you were given when you set up the site with your hosting company.

Once you are in cpanel, just look for File Manager and click on it. From there, you are looking for a directory called "public_html" or "www". Then just look for the specific html page you want to edit.

The other way is to use a ftp program like FileZilla or CuteFTP and, of course, you'll need to know the ftp directory (usually ftp.example.com) and it should be the same username and password as the cpanel example above. Most ftp clients that I have worked with have the local directory (that's your computer) on the left side and the ftp directory (your website) on the right hand side. And, it's just as easily as dragging and dropping from one side to the other to transfer files (uploading and downloading).

Hope this helps.

Hi Charlie,

It is easy to use FileZilla to managed your file in the server.Alternatively, if you are using Firefox, you may also donwload FireFTP add-on on Firefox. It is one of the useful and handy add on which is very convenient to use.

By the way, I am offering Unlimited, Premium Lifetime support to customer of my new service expected to be launching the next 1-2 weeks time. Cost wise, it's insanely low which will be below $8/month. If you are interested, you may keep an eye to the site located at Create Your Own Website.

Anyone interested may also drop me PM..

Regards
Jinmin

Aloha Charlie

It sounds to me like you need to get some clarification on a few things here, you've got some great answers already so you're on the way. Here is my input, please forgive me if I'm stating something obvious to you but I want to cover all of the bases:

- Your web page is probably built with HTML. I say "probably" because it could also be built with PHP and/or it could be on a content management system like Joomla or WordPress. I will assume that it is HTML, a good (but not infallible) indicator of this would be that your main page is named "index.html".

- HTML files are actually just text files, you could edit one with Notepad but I would not recommend it. An HTML editor is a much better tool, it allows you to use an interface similar to MS Word to design and modify pages. It also makes editing the raw HTML (like you will need to do to insert your PayPal buttons) much easier. There are a few good free HTML editors, KompoZer would probably work nicely for you.
KompoZer - Easy web authoring

- To edit your file you have two choices - edit it "live" on the site (not the best idea but doable) or download it to your computer and work on it there. I would recommend the second method, if it's just HTML you can edit it and test it locally on your computer before uploading it back to the site.

- To download and upload the files from your site you will need an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program. A few respondents have suggested FileZilla, this is an excellent free FTP program that is quite user-friendly.
FileZilla - The free FTP solution

- I would suggest that you get some basic HTML knowledge before you attempt to edit your file. A very good source of this is the W3 Schools - they have a beginners level HTML course that you could follow at your own pace.
HTML Tutorial

I hope this is of some help and doesn't just add to your confusion! Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Best of luck...

Bill

Hi,

I am a fellow new webmaster. So, I don't claim to know much aside from my own experience at overcoming similar hurdles.

Maybe I am missing something, but thus far I have found that CPnel works for me as the main place to go to manage what is on my server.

In CPanel I personally use the File Manager to Upload, Download files. I use that instead of ftp. There is also a WYSIWYG editor there which allows editing and/or creation of pages. But if I need tp spend time using the editor I do use a Free html editor because I prefer being on the server (CPanel) the least amount of time possible just in case something goes wrong while online. That way there is less chance that some harm will be done while on the server.

That's my .02 in my limited experience up till now. In summary, I found that all those things, html, ftp can be handled from CPanel anyway so keeping it simple has meant I only need to use CPanel for all of the foregoing.

Hope this helps.

alright... things are starting to clear up little by little. everyone's advice has been REALLY REALLY helpful. i love this forum.....

If you can login to your hosting accounts C-Panel you may
find you have C-Panel X3, which has integrated videos that
show you around. I don't use it myself because I became
accustomed to Cpanel X but if X3 is available to YOU I recommend
you go through the help section in it.