Managing site from a computer without FTP app?

[alexf]

Hi Everyone,

Is there a good way to manage a Web site from a computer without an FTP program?

For example, if I am out of the country and want to upload something onto my site from an Internet café...

Thanks for any advice.

[Josh]

Depends on thesystem you are on.

In Windows, you can turn on ftp view and use Explorer to drag-n-drop.

Same w/ Safari on Mac.

In OS X you could also use the terminal, but youd have to know the commands.

[alexf]

I am on a Mac... What is FTP view in Safari? I can't seem to find it anywhere?

Also, what about from System 9 (Classic)?

[LeeTom]

actually, he's a little mistaken. If you try to login to an FTP server using Safari, it will mount it like a network share on your desktop. The only problem with this is it's read-only. You can't upload via FTP this way in OS X 10.3.

[alexf]

actually, he's a little mistaken. If you try to login to an FTP server using Safari, it will mount it like a network share on your desktop. The only problem with this is it's read-only. You can't upload via FTP this way in OS X 10.3.

Thanks, LeeTom

So my question is: if I will be travelling and the only computer access will be from Cybercafés in distant countries, which may or may not have Macs, how can I maintain a site? :confused:

[LeeTom]

Ideally, you would want to add some kind of web-based content management script/system to your website. Perhaps the place you host it through has something there already. You can find PHP scripts and such that allow you to enter a password and then edit html files via the web.
Does your hosting provider use CPanel?

Lee Tom

[Doctor Q]

actually, he's a little mistaken. If you try to login to an FTP server using Safari, it will mount it like a network share on your desktop. The only problem with this is it's read-only. You can't upload via FTP this way in OS X 10.3.I'm hoping Apple will respond to user demand and provide read-write FTP service via Safari. It hasn't happened yet and this is the type of case where it would sure be useful.

[alexf]

I'm hoping Apple will respond to user demand and provide read-write FTP service via Safari. It hasn't happened yet and this is the type of case where it would sure be useful.

Yes, this would be nice...

But the question remains: as a Web designer, is a there a sure-fire way to maintain sites (e.g. in case of emergency) from cybercafés or any computer, regardless of the OS?

[CanadaRAM]

Get a 1 Gb USB keychain drive, format it FAT32, and load on the essential programs you need in Win and Mac formats. Then plug and go on any USB equipped machine. Test this before leaving, of course. While Mac programs will generally run without installing System components, you may be faced with doing an Install on a Windows machine from your USB drive. (Windows tweakers please chip in with advice on how to have an independently running app from a removeabe drive)

Also, BBEdit for Mac allows you to edit files directly off an FTP site. This can be really handy. Especially if you construct your website with the variable content in Server Side Include files that are primarily text - you can update text content without monkeying with layout.

Or, investigate server side software with blogging type features, or Web based editing, or even email based updating.

[littlejim]

If you can install Perl scripts and have your wits about you, then give this a try :

http://www.gossamer-threads.com/scripts/fileman/

It provides a pretty powerful single user web based FTP system. It worked last time I tried it (a couple of months back) but it's not for the faint hearted!

There is a better and more powerful commercial package :

http://www.hotcgiscripts.net/?c=e-file-manager21

But that will set you back $50.

Best of luck

[alexf]

Thanks everyone for the advice. :)