Using WebDAV from Dreamweaver
When editing your course pages you will want to transfer the files from the
“Remote Site” (UCF’s servers) to the “Local Folder”
(your computer), edit them, and then upload them back to the server. To do this
in Dreamweaver, you will first need to perform a task called “Defining”
your site.
Before you Begin:
Create a folder on your local computer to store working copies of your files.
How to create a new folder:
In Windows (Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP):
- Select the drive and folder in which you wish to create a new folder. You
may also create folders on the desktop.
- Select File, then New, then Folder. A folder called New Folder will appear.
- Click in the highlighted cell next to the new folder and enter a name for
the folder.
Or on the desktop:
- Right-click the desktop (i.e., any part of the screen not occupied by a
window).
- Select New, then Folder. A new folder will appear on the desktop. Enter
a name for the folder.
Defining Site:
- Open Dreamweaver software.
- In Dreamweaver, choose Site > New Site from the menu bar. The Site Definition
dialog box appears.
- If the wizard (basic tab) is showing, click the Advanced tab.
- Then select Local Info from the Category list (it should be the default).
- In the Site Name box, enter a descriptive name for your Dreamweaver site.
Note: You will need to identify whether this is for your
Reach files or your WebCT files. You must define a site for each.
- In the Local Root Folder box, specify the folder you created from the Before
you Begin section.
Note: You can enter a path or click the folder icon to browse
to and select the folder.
- Select Remote Info from the Category list. The Remote Info dialog box appears.
- In the Access pop-up menu, choose WebDAV.
- Click the “Settings” button.
- In the URL text box, enter the appropriate URL:
http://webct.ucf.edu:80/dav/abc1234/reach/ (abc1234 stands for your course
name)
- This URL should be entered if you wish to edit your accessible (Reach)
pages.
http://webct.ucf.edu:80/dav/abc1234/ (abc1234 stands for your course name)
- This URL should be entered if you wish to edit your password protected
(WebCT) pages.
Note: This is NOT your course URL. This is the URL to connect
to WebDAV and edit your pages. This information can be obtained by visiting
the WebDAV tab from your "My WebCT" home page. Visit http://webct.ucf.edu
to login.
- Enter your user name (NID) and password in the appropriate text boxes.
- In the Email text box, enter your e-mail address.
- Click the Save Password checkbox if you want Dreamweaver to remember your
password each time you start a new session.
- Click “OK” to return to the Site Definition dialog box.
Downloading, Editing and Uploading Pages
Downloading
- From the Dreamweaver workspace, choose “Site” tab and scroll
the mouse to highlight your course name from the drop down menu.
- From the “Site” workspace, click the “Connect”
button.
- To view both the files you have on your computer and those files on the
server select the “Expand/Collapse” icon from the site work space.
- On the “Remote Site” you will see your pages appear. Select
the pages you wish to edit from the “Remote Site” by clicking
on the filename with your mouse.
Note: If you wish to move more than one file, hold the “Shift”
key down while selecting files with your mouse.
!! WindowsXP Users !!
Do NOT move folders from your remote site to your local site.
Always select files only when moving content. Selecting a
folder for transfer will lock your computer!
- Click the “Get” arrow from the menu bar. This will move the
files to your “Local Folder” on the right.
Note: When downloading, Dreamweaver may ask if you wish to
include “Dependent Files”. Click “Yes” if you will
be editing images and other content added to the page. Click “No”
if you will only be editing the file. Dependent Files are files that are dependent
on the file you are downloading (images, linked pages, video, etc.).
- Click the “Disconnect” button.
Editing Your Reach Pages
- From the “Local Folder” double click the file (page) you wish
to edit.
- Your page will open and you can edit your content. (The editing window
in Dreamweaver is similar to that of MS Word.)
- When finished editing, make sure you “File>Save” your work
and close the window.
Upload Pages to your Course Account
- From the Dreamweaver workspace, choose “Site” tab and scroll
the mouse to highlight your course name from the drop down menu.
- In the “Site” window, click the “Connect” button.
- To view both the files you have on your computer and those files on the
server select the “Expand/Collapse” icon from the site work space.
- Select the pages you wish to upload from the “Local Site” by
clicking on the filename with your mouse.
Note: If you wish to move more than one file, hold the “Shift”
key down while selecting files with your mouse.
- Click the “Put” arrow from the menu bar. This will move the
files to your “Remote Server” on the right.
- Dreamweaver will again ask you if you wish to include “Dependent
files”. Click “Yes.”
- Click the “Disconnect” button.
- Now you may visit your course web site (e.g. http://reach.ucf.edu/~idl6543)
to insure changes have taken place.
