WordPress - Configuring An FTP Client
In an earlier Hub I'd written about how to download and install FTP client software on your local computer. Just in case you are interested in reading about how to do this, simply click the link in this paragraph, to hop across there first.
Do not worry, this hub will open on another Browser tab so you will not actually navigate away from this page.
If you have already downloaded and installed the FileZilla FTP client software on your local computer, its time to configure FileZilla to be able to locate and connect to your Web server on which your WordPress CMS has been installed. To configure Filezilla it has to be running on your local computer. To do this go to your desktop and locate the FileZilla icon as shown in diagram 1 and click it.
This will invoke the FileZilla program you installed earlier and get it running on your computer's memory ready to be configured.
When the FileZilla program loads in your computers memory it displays its Graphic User Interface ( GUI ) as shown in diagram 2.
You could click the maximise icon at the top right hand corner as shown in diagram 2 to have the FileZilla FTP client fill your screen or simply leave it as it is and click the textual menu item File. In the sticky menu that opens up select the link Site Manager, as shown in diagram 3.
In the data capture form that appears, while the FileZilla FTP configure form normally loads with the General tab active. You can click on the General tab ensure it is activated, if necessary.
The following user information needs to be added in their appropriate places in the FileZilla configure form:
- Under the My Sites heading enter the name of the site to which you are connecting using FTP
- In the textbox adjacent to the label Host enter the URL of the website.eg. www.mysite.com
- In the textbox adjacent to the label Port enter 21 or leave it empty. NOTE: If FileZilla is not connecting to your website check to ensure that the Port does not display 80. If it does delete this and leave the Port value empty.
- From the drop down list box adjacent to the label Server Type, select FTP - File Transfer Protocol
- From the drop down list box adjacent to the label Logon Type, select Normal. Please do not let it be Anonymous.
- In the text box adjacent to the label Username please enter your FTP user name. You will normally get this from your hosting company when you ask them for it.
- In the text box adjacent to the label Password please enter your FTP password. You will normally get this from your hosting company when you ask them for it.
- In the Comments type in any comments that you'd like you'd like to make. I normally keep the FTP password there in plain text so that I can remember it. Having said that I'm the only one who uses my computer no one else does. Hence, the security risk of displaying the FTP password in plain text is contained.
Please take a quick look at diagram 5.
On click of Connect, the FileZilla FTP client will immediately connect to your Web server and display the files and folders of your WordPress CMS to you as shown in diagram 6.
You are now ready to create new folders where you want them within your WordPress CMS installation.
Next you can copy images from you local computer to this folder you've created. These images that can be used within any of the WordPress pages you choose to create.
Now that you can upload images to your WordPress CMS website, from your local computer for use in WordPress pages, my next Hub is going to explain exactly how to do this. Do stay tuned to this Hub group.
If you feel like asking me any questions about WordPress, please ask away. I'd be really happy to share whatever WordPress skills I have with you.
By the way the WordPress editor permits you to upload images to your WordPress website and use these images in your WordPress pages as well. I chose to go the FTP way because a lot of website developers prefer to use this technique rather than use the image upload functionality of the WordPress editor.
I shall soon create a Hub explaining how to use the WordPress Editor to upload and insert images in your WordPress pages. Then you are free to use whichever technique make you feel comfortable.
Ivan Bayross
Open Source Tutorials