So, I thought it would be quite easy!

posiview

In was asked to take over the designing of a very simple club website...after the designer vanished.

I managed to get hold of the control panel login details and have accessed this.

I thought, and please forgive my ignorance, that I would be able to go to the control panel and in there open our site then add text, graphics, etc..

I can't see anyway do access my site from the control panel...

Any suggestions would be gratefully received...

Thanks..

dangergeek

Hard to say without more info. How much do you know about web design?

The control panel is probably for doing back end type things. Look for something in the control related to FTP and make note of all the details.

Go to http://filezilla-project.org/ and download and install the filezilla client. The with this new program add a new site and enter your FTP details. That should show you the 'insides' of your website. You can download these files, change them, then re-upload them with your new changes.

__________________
http://www.topwebdesigner.co.uk

posiview

I know very little about web design. Having had a look around the control panel, I don't think I'll be using many of the programmes.

I was unable to download the filezilla; are there similar downloads.

All we want on the site is a front page, a few buttons to access an event diary, a 'who are we' section and similar items...

Thanks for any assistance offered...

unitedcraig

Filezilla is an FTP client, what this is is basically a way to transfer your files online to your site.

There is a list here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTP_clients, in my opinion filezilla is the best, i would try and get this again

so basically what you need a good front page to grab the visitors attention, a few other pages and a diary?

I reccommend learning HTML and CSS for you pages, i do not think that you will need to learn php or anything like that, here are a few links for you

http://www.webforumz.com/html-forum/

http://www.webforumz.com/css-forum/

As for your diary i would recommend a CMS, (content management system), this is an easy way to add text to your website without messing around with the code, here is a link explaining this in more detail

Allowing people to edit text without accessing the HTML Code.

Hope this helps

Craig

__________________
http://www.justgiving.com/craigmoran | http://www.craigmoran.co.uk

posiview

Thanks for that.

OK, so I managed to download FireFTP.

My hosting company is 3ix and when I click on a link in an e-mail they sent me that says "Once you have uploaded your files to our server you can view them using the IP address together with your username, for example:"

When I do this I'm presented with this screen:



Is this just a template that I can edit?

This is not what I get when I enter our web name: www.leedssamuraimartialarts.co.uk.

OK, as far as I can see, I have access to the control panel, I have a FTP account, which I use to transfer data to our website.

Now do I need some software to design the website??

Apologies if you're sat there rubbing your head and saying "What IS he doing!?".

I thought I'd be able to open some software, type/cut/paste/edit the site content, press a button and....heypresto...the site would be there.

Any more assistance would be appreciated..

Are there any recommended books on this subject or free online tutorial?

Thanks.

unitedcraig

Firstly what you will need to do is contact your hosting company asking for your ftp details, these may also be available when you log in.

When you have got these then enter them into your ftp client, you should then be able to see a list of files online on your sever.


As for the actually making the site, i recommend you look at the links below for learning HTML, (this is the language used in all web pages for content etc), and CSS, (this is what is used for the layout and appearance of the site).

When you have got the design of the site right i would maybe take a look at a CMS, (see below), but concentrate on the design first

Is there anything you didn't understand here?

Craig

__________________
http://www.justgiving.com/craigmoran | http://www.craigmoran.co.uk

BigFoot

I just built a site with the help from some internet consultants based out of Lansing, MI. I knew I could do it on my own, but getting help from a company who specializes in online marketing, functionality of sites, SEO AND site design was a great. The guys at Spartan Internet developed a really thorough internet strategy for my company. I'd recommend getting an outside perspective.

posiview

Thanks, Craig.

I downloaded: http://nvudev.com/index.php

after reading: http://www.thesitewizard.com/getting...twebsite.shtml

I followed everything and clicked on 'Publish' and was presented with these three screens:




However, when I clicked on a link in the e-mail from 3ix that:

Once you have uploaded your files to our server you can view them
using the IP address together with your username, for example:

XXXHowever, I'm still presented with this screenshot.


In Nvu these are in my Nvu site manager field:



These aren't the same ones that are in the screenshot XXX above.

I've emailed my host and asked if the data I've published in Nvu has been recieved by them.

Hope someone will resolve this...and thank again for your assistance.

Otherwise, I might have to take Bigfoot's advise and get professional help!!

unitedcraig

Well firstly i would remove the spaces in your file names, this can cause problems, replace them with - or _ if necessary.

Also, does your host support php, you may need to check this?

have your host got back to you yet?

__________________
http://www.justgiving.com/craigmoran | http://www.craigmoran.co.uk

posiview

Thanks, Craig. I'll change the file names and await a reply from my host..