Website management for technically challenged rednecks

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #1 06-28-2006, 02:40 PM

Here's the scoop: my web guy sent me an IP address, username and password so that I can manage my site if I want to learn how. Since I seem to have an unusual amount of hay sticking out of my proverbial overalls when it comes to this kind of thing, I could use a few pointers on where to start. What the hell is an IP address, anyway, and where do you paste the cute little number in to get to the place where you can log in and start screwing things up?

Obviously, I'm a total newbie at this stuff, but I'd like to learn. I'm on Mac OS 10.4, and have wanted to get started learning about how to manage a site for some time now. If anyone can suggest links or books that I could check out on the subject, I'd be most greatful. Yeeeee-HAWWW!

NJL · #2 06-28-2006, 02:47 PM

Any of the "Dummy" or "Idiot" books are a great start! I'm being serious.... Dummy.

bpclark · #3 06-28-2006, 05:05 PM

The IP(Internet Protocol) Address is a series of numbers that identifies a computer or server connected to the Internet. You use them all the time in the form of domain names. A domain name (talkbass.com) is a stand in for the site's IP Address (209.59.108.184). When you type in the domain, your computer looks up the IP Address behind the name and then uses that to find the site.

If your site uses web-based management, all you have to do is type http:// and then the IP address into the address bar of your browser.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #4 06-28-2006, 10:17 PM

I've got a program called "Fetch" for FTP management, but I've only used it a time or two, and I cussed a lot. Ray Parker has offered to give me a few tips on the phone, and I might pick up a Dummies book if I get out shopping tomorrow.

Phil Smith · #5 06-29-2006, 12:37 AM

Managing your site means you'll be using a FTP(file transfer protocol) program to upload/download files to/from your site. You could use IE or FireFox to do the same thing by typing in ftp://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx and then entering your credentials i.e. userid and password. Once you have access you can drag and drop like you would any other folder. I'm using the windows world as a reference, haven't tried any of that on a Mac.

James Hart · #6 06-29-2006, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I've got a program called "Fetch" for FTP management, but I've only used it a time or two, and I cussed a lot. Ray Parker has offered to give me a few tips on the phone, and I might pick up a Dummies book if I get out shopping tomorrow.

Ooooo a Mac guy

Fetch is simply "File Transfer Protocol" it's for moving stuff... NOT editing stuff.

PM me if Ray is busy, I'll be home all weekend and have done "phone help desk" for Mac / PC users new to webhosting for years.

I recommend the "For Dummies" books too... the wife and I own at least a dozen different titles.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #7 06-29-2006, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

Managing your site means you'll be using a FTP(file transfer protocol) program to upload/download files to/from your site. You could use IE or FireFox to do the same thing by typing in ftp://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx and then entering your credentials i.e. userid and password. Once you have access you can drag and drop like you would any other folder. I'm using the windows world as a reference, haven't tried any of that on a Mac.

Ooh, that was the magic bullet: "ftp://" instead of "http://". Then once I get there, it's just a bunch of folders and files. Wow! I can tell this is gonna be a real learning curve. A "Dummies" book is looking like a must at this point.

James - got any favorite dummies books? Remember, I'm from Kentucky.

James Hart · #8 06-29-2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

James - got any favorite dummies books? Remember, I'm from Kentucky.

I remember....

as far as updating your site... HTML 4 for Dummies is a great reference.

Favorites...

the wife loves this one

and I bought this for my father-in-law and borrowed it back for a little while. Being a home owner I bought and use this often

christ andronis · #9 06-29-2006, 08:18 AM

Chris, how are you editing your site? Are you using Dreamweaver or something? I know Dreamweaver has its own FTP transfer program built in to it (I'm being very non-technical here...I'm like you), but it makes it alot easier for transferring files back and forth to the host server.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #10 06-29-2006, 09:38 AM

I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to buy some software to manage the sight. The only thing I have is iWeb, and I don't know if that'll work since it's so new. Is Dreamweaver the best choice?

christ andronis · #11 06-29-2006, 09:47 AM

I'm a complete amateur. I took a basic online course on Dreamweaver and it filled in alot of blanks for me. I built a website for a buddy of mine with minimal hassles Check it out: www.robertbaglione.com

The nice thing about Dreamweaver is that it's got a WYSIWYG editor AND an HTML editor. Don't be scared off by HTML, it's very powerful and once you see how it's put together, you can use it, albeit in a very rudimentary way. In any case...have fun with it. It's not as hard as you might think.

James Hart · #12 06-29-2006, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to buy some software to manage the sight. The only thing I have is iWeb, and I don't know if that'll work since it's so new. Is Dreamweaver the best choice?

Dreamweaver is expensive and has a step learning curve IMO

If you are editing the menus and images and graphical layout.... learn how to design sites with a specific tool set. Take a class even! You wouldn't wrestle a washtub bass without schoolin' would ya?

If you are editing just the occational text within your existing layout... you can do it with relative ease in simpletext, fetch and the HTML for dummies book.

or something like this application http://www.barebones.com/products/te...er/index.shtml

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #13 06-29-2006, 05:13 PM

Thanks guys. I just picked up HTML 4 For Dummies, and I'll get started - slowly - with that. I'm sure Dreamweaver is great, and I'd prefer WYSIWYG editing eventually, but I'll start with just editing and adding text for now to get my feet wet. Since the Aebersold workshops are starting Saturday, I may not even get to do much of that for the next couple of weeks. But thanks for the help.

I'm hoping that iWeb might be of some use before all of this is over, especially since I already have it...

**Freddels** · #14 06-29-2006, 05:20 PM

I've seen a few site that were done with iWeb and they looked pretty good. There's another decent Mac program (it's on the other Mac so I'll have to go take a look to get the name of it).

**Freddels** · #15 06-29-2006, 06:21 PM

There's a couple of Mac programs for doing webpages.

Nvu
Pagespinner
Rapidweaver

These are either free or relatively inexpensive. Dreamweaver is very expensive (and overkill for a single user IMHO).