Really confused on FTP

[Confuzzeld]

So I'm brand new to creating websites and on my hosting provider, oscommerce is all loaded up so I went through how they install it which involved me creating a MySQL database and a user for that database. Basically my question is, how do I get it to FTP? Whenever I visit my catalog page, I see Warning installation directory exists at: /****/local/home/*****/******.net/catalog/install. Making me think that the directory exists but I've no idea how the heck to find it because there's nothing called catalog or install or anything in the MySQL database.

 

How do I open up something to view all of this in FTP, or how do I make the FTP directories in the first place?

 

If you need me to tell you anything else please let me know, I just don't really know what else to give you.

[lindsayanng]

I was EXACTLY where you were about a year ago.. so dont feel stupid.

 

FTP (file transfer protocol) is the way you get your files and folders to and from your computer to the internet.

So let me explain a thing or two first.

 

Oscommerce is two things, its a website and a database. the website converses with the database to show certain items at the right time. The database holds NO code at all. it ONLY contains data (yep, a DATAbase) so that means that the files in your store contain the code for the layout and functions.. The thing is, you probably cant see your files yet.

 

If you log in to your host and go to your control panel, and then the file manager, you will see www or public_html - click on that.. then you will see a few files and folders and one folder will be called CATALOG - that folder is where EVERYTHING for your store is.

 

You can open that file and look through, but chances are you wont know what you are looking at. I suggest you look in my signature and find the link that says OSCOMMERCE ROADMAP FOR NEWBIES and print it out and have it next to you as you are clicking through the catalog file and learning things.. MAKE NOTES!!!

 

Ok.. so now that you hopefully found your files and such, i can kinda tell you how to set up your FTP.

 

first you have to download one. Go to google and search FREE FTP and you will get a few programs offered. I use FETCH, but that is for MAC, i'm not sure of the popular one for PC, i think its call CUTEFTP

 

So then when you open that, you will have to tell the FTP program you host's name, your domain name, host username, host password.. then you click connect and the FTP will contact your file manager and show you ALL of your files.. you can then download the files so that you can edit them and then put them back up on the site.

 

One note about oscommerce files/pages.. You can not edit them the way you can edit html pages in dreamweaver/frontpage/iWeb. There is no "design" mode because oscommerce uses PHP which is server side, meaning you NEED To have an entire server for it to converse with to show you what the page should look like.

 

I hope this helps.. need more answers, ask away.

 

BTW< if oyu have issues connecting to your FTP, call your host's CS. they will help you.. mine helped me A LOT when i was in your shoes.. ALSO, do you know if your host uses cPanel for your host's admin?

[Confuzzeld]

Wow thanks so much! I actually found it on the oscommerce control pan on the website, and after I read your post I found it in the files icon. If I need anymore help I'll be sure to ask you. Thank you so much!

 

And really, I can't believe how fast you responded xD. People told me the community here was great and you just proved them right. =)

[lindsayanng]

ok.. I'm sorry to burst your bubble. DO NOT USE THAT FILE MANAGER.. i cant exactly tell you why other than it will not save your changes and screw up your files.. Try your host's control panel.. and you still should have an FTP program, it works a LOT faster and is a lot easier for downloading backup files..

 

ANother neat little program to have is a file comparisson tool.. WinMerge for windows and DiffMerge for Mac.. When you get your stuff up and running, you will want to add some features (contributions or addons) and once you have a highly modified site, you will not be able to just replace files, you will have to add code.. this will let you look at two files side by side and let you merge them together so you dont mess anything up.. DEFINITELY GET ONE..

 

i cant say this enough though.. DONT USE THE OSC FILE MANAGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Confuzzeld]

Alright thank you I won't. But also I have another question on the FTP. My hosting sites FTP option allows me to add a virtual host when I put the following info in: Name of the Server, and Email of the administrator. How would I do that? Or do I just use the free one only?

 

If I need to use the free one, it asks me for my sites host address. What do I put for that?

 

edit: i got my host address (hopefully) but it says my password is wrong. I guess I'll try another program?

[lindsayanng]

i would just ignore your host's FTP and download and actual FTP program and use their.. Which host are you using BTW, seems like they make things a little more confusing than they are.

 

Do what i suggest step by step.. get your free FTP program, your free file comparisson, and getthem up and running.. that is the FIRST step..

 

the FTP will ask you for your domain name, your username to log in to your hosting account, and your passowrd to log into your hosting account. if you get an error that you can not connect, call your host to make sure you have their stuff set up right..

[lindsayanng]

I have to go to bed.. I need to wake up early tomorrow.. but i will be back online sometime tomorrow, so if you have more issues.. let me know.. post here. me or someone else will help.

 

But i definitely suggest setting up a REAL ftp, and like i said, if you have any issues, before you come here for help, CALL YOUR HOST - sometimes it is easier for them to walk you through it than for us to post back and forth.. this way you can start asking about more oscommerce relaated things..

[Guest]

Download and use filezilla.

 

It was recommended by my (soon to be ex) web host.

[lindsayanng]

just wanted to see how you made out last night...

[Guest]

just wanted to see how you made out last night...

The wife said no. :blink:

[Confuzzeld]

Ok well I got it working but sometimes none of the images load or I get a random 404 error when trying to view/edit it.

 

Also I have no idea how to get it onto the navigator on my website. How do I fix these random no images/some images/404 errors?

 

Could it be my host? Should I try switching? I'm not to happy with them right now. Sometimes their control panel works sooo slow or not at all.

 

Also could it be the fact that I only purchased it yesterday (domain name and all) or should that not be a problem?

 

I just want to know if this is bad hosting or something I'm doing. (Although I can't think of what because I haven't done anything to it yet).

 

If it's bad hosting, can you recommend a good hosting site?

[lindsayanng]

Ok.. ihave no clue what you are talking about now.. It dont know what error you are even talking about. You should not be actually viewing any pages on your site with this..

 

Just follow my instructions.. Download the FTP program and then come back here and tell me which one you downloaded.. once you get there, i will tell you the next step.. you seem to be really not paying attention to my instructions.. that or you are not speaking clearly..

 

What host are you ussing?

[Confuzzeld]

I downloaded filezilla, and I'm using websitesource.

[lindsayanng]

ok.. well, your host is DEFINITELY one issue here from what i read.. First off the control panel that it uses is poor, and they have gotten nothing but horrible reviews on their customer service.. They are considered ok for advanced users because they have a decent up time (although when they go have a crash, you cant contact customer support) but the lack of cPanel and back customer service, you might have a bunch of issues.. If you want, i can definitely suggest the best web host that i found for newbies.. I signed up before i knew what FTP was and they completely walked me through setting me up on it..

PM me if you're interested in getting the link form me..

 

On the other note.. Lets start by opening filezilla.. Click SITE MANAGER to open a window if it doesnt already open..

 

then under host, type ftp.yourdomain.com

 

then type in your username for your host, and your password..

 

click connect.. when you get there, let me know

[Confuzzeld]

Ok I'm at the point where I can connect and view my files. And thank you for the comment about my hosting, I'm going to see if I can do the 30-money back guarantee.

[lindsayanng]

YEA!! if you can get a money back guarantee (Which you should FIGHT for) then you can get a really good host thats probably close to the same price..

 

I just read more reviews, and there wasnt too much good that was said about them, especially from a customer service standpoint..

 

So i am happy that now you can view your files.. I would hold off making any changes until you decide which host you are going to use.. it will make everything easier.

[Confuzzeld]

Yeah hopefully I can get it. It just sucks that I had to pay for the domain name when it looks like the hosting you showed me gives you a free one. Oh well, lesson learned to ask around first =)

[lindsayanng]

ew.. they made you PAY for your domain when you signed up.. JERKS.. well, the one i gave you will transfer everything over for free (some places charge) OR you might want to create a new domain name with their free one AND transfer over the one you purchased, this way you can have a second domain on the same host.. that might be neat if your site is commonly misspelled, or you have an idea for a second site..

 

just a thought..

[Confuzzeld]

Oh cool, so I can put 2 domains on there for free? I don't really have anything to transfer but the domain name. And yeah they are a really bad site. I had to call myself to even get started because they couldn't be bothered calling me.

 

Also I THINK I got my money back. I can't login to their site anymore, but they never even emailed me back or called me. Guess I have to wait a day or two for the bank history ^^.

 

Either that or I'll probably have to call them myself again to get the money T.T.

[lindsayanng]

well, you can put the one you already paid for on there, and then you might still be able to get the free one with your purchase of the hosting.. you can call to be sure.. I THINK that they would do that though..

 

when you canceled, did you make sure that you still had ownership of the domain name?? you SHOULD. in that case, you can move the domain to your new servers (did oyu sign up yet?) and then get the one that it comes with.. HOPEFULLY..

 

The other awesome thing is you can do the ONE CLICK oscommerce install that will set everything up for you.. its AMAZING - and unlike other hosts, they use the most up to day version of oscommerce..

[Confuzzeld]

Well I want to make sure I get my refund first. But I'll let you know how things turn out and when I get my new hosting.

[lindsayanng]

make sure to check your PMs. use the link i sent you.. it would help me out a tad!

 

I would TRY and cal your existing host and double check on the ownership of the domain.. Since you paid for it separately, that SHOUDL be yours..

[Confuzzeld]

Okay, I have the new hosting now. Hopefully you got the credit for referring you needed, I used the link you gave me but I'm not sure if it worked.

 

I'm just waiting for my old domain to become live with the new hosting. About 24-48 hours.

 

Also can you tell me if you got the ref credit? I'll feel really bad if you didn't =( Firefox is always redirecting D: