FileManager Tool

The files in your site are stored in directories. Directories can hold other sub-directories. The result is a directory structure that can have many sub-levels. Any of those directories can contain files. How you organize your directory structure is up to you.

WARNING: Our system contains many automated scripts and services that create directories and files within your account. DO NOT DELETE or change any of the directories or files that are located on the server that you did not create yourself. If you are ever in doubt about a file or directory, please, contact us to help you identify it.

Click here for a list of the initial directories that you’ll find and what they're used for.

You get into FileManager through your Command Center. Once logged in you simply click on the FileManager icon.

When File Manager window has opened, you will see a listing of directories and files located in your Current Directory, the path of which is displayed at the top. (File Manager does not display hidden files (i.e., files whose names begin with a period (.), such as “.htaccess”). The Permission, Delete, Rename, and Password columns will be discussed later in this section)

Each directory and file within the listing will appear as a hypertext link. Links appear blue and underlined. Simply click on any link to drill down into that directory. In the case of a file, clicking on its link will open the file (if it can be opened by the browser).

Sorting Files
When in a directory that has a large number of files, the files are listed alphabetically by file name. Sometimes, it is desirable to see the listing of files sorted by the time (date) of their creation or by the size of the files, from largest to smallest. This is done by the first drop down menu below the file list which reads, "Sort files by." You can drop down this menu, select the sort criteria and then press the "Sort" button.

The alphabetical sorting option is case-sensitive. This means that file names beginning with upper-case letters come before file names beginning with lower-case letters. The sort order is A-Z, then a-z. This means, for example, you could have a file named WORDS.TXT listed before a file named a-plus.htm.

Deleting Files and Directories
Specific files and directories can be deleted from your site using the File Manager option.

Once deleted, files cannot be 'undeleted.' They have to be restored from backup. Be careful. Warning: Deleting a directory automatically deletes all files and subdirectories located within it.

• From the File Manager, select the Delete link that corresponds to the file or directory you would like to delete. The Delete Confirmation page displays.
• Note: When deleting a file, the Delete Confirmation page displays the message "Delete File: Filename?"
• If you are sure that you want to delete the file or directory, select the Confirm button.
• After Confirm has been selected, the File Manager reappears, open to the most recent directory.

Renaming Files and Directories
Files and directories can each be renamed using the File Manager option.

• To rename a file or directory, select the Rename link that corresponds to the file or directory you would like to rename. The Rename Confirmation page displays.
• If you are sure that you want to rename the file or directory, type the new name in the blank field and click the Confirm button.
• After Confirm has been selected, the File Manager reappears, open to the most recent directory.
  

Creating or Editing a file
One of the nice things about file manager is that it has a rudimentory text editor for creating or editing files. If for example you wish to create a text file, you can enter the name of the file in the text box labeled, "File name" and then click the button that reads "Create/Edit" to open the new file. After editing, there will be a button at the bottom of the text editor to save the file.

In the same way, if there's a file you wish to edit you can use this same technique to edit it. An easier method is simply to click on the file name in the file list which will open the editor the same way. One item that this tools is good for is to edit files that don't show up in the file list such as hidden files.

Creating a new directory
To create a new directory, simply enter the name of the directory in the text box labeled "Directory name" and press the "Create Directory" button. The new directory will show up in the list above.

Uploading a file
To upload a file to the server, you would either enter the path and name of the file you wish to upload, or an easier method is to click the "Browse" button next to the box labeled, "Send this file". You will then see a pop-up window which allows you to browse your hard drive for the file you wish to upload. When you highlight the file and then press the Open button to bring you back to the previous screen with the path and file in the text box mentioned earler. Now simply press the "Upload" button. Please note that there si a maximum file size of 10 megs. that can be uploaded in this way.

File and Directory Permissions
There are security issues involved with modifying permissions. It would be good to have a basic understanding of how Linux uses files permissions to secure a file before making modifications.

Permissions can be set for your directories and files. These permissions determine who can view, write to, and/or use the directories and folders in your site.

The permission settings are each comprised of nine letters (or characters) in a row that appear to the far left of the listing for each directory or file. Each letter represents a type of access, while the position in the nine-digit string dictates who has that type of access.

The characters displayed in these settings can be r, w, x, d or -.

r stands for read access ; whoever has this level of access can view the file or directory.

w stands forwrite access ; whoever has this level of access can overwrite existing files or write new files in the specified directory.

x stands forexecute access ; whoever has this level of access can run executable files.

d stands for directory. This will always be the first item in the permissions list if the listing is a directory.

- (the dash) indicates that no permission is given.

The first three positions in the nine-digit string are the permission settings for the owner. The second three digits are for any groups (if any groups are created), while the last three digits are the permission settings for others (anyone who is not the owner, or is not a part of a previously declared group).

How To Change Permission Settings on Files and Directories
From within the File Manager screen, click on any of the Permission Setting links for the desired file or directory. The Change Permission screen displays.

The Change permission of file or directory name message indicates which file or directory permissions you are changing. Once a directory's permissions are set, you can access specific sub-directories and files within the directory to alter the settings on an individual basis.

Notice in the Change Permission screen the nine-digit setting is split up into the groups that were discussed earlier: Owner, Group and Others.

As the owner of the file or directory, typically you should have full access, so all three settings r, w, x (read, write, execute) should be selected.

If you have set up groups (which involves the creation of a group and the addition of usernames into the group) select the appropriate permission settings.

If this group is a collection of people to which you are giving the ability to see and use files which you are otherwise denying to other people, then select the read and execute settings.

If this group is more of a workgroup, containing members who will be working with files and directories on your site, then it would be appropriate to select the write setting also.

The Other settings depend on how much access you want to give provide globally

Typically, both read and execute access are given to everyone while write access is denied. This allows people to view and use your site without being able to change it.

However, there may be items that you wish to keep hidden from globally, in which case you would disable the read and, depending on the file or directory, execute permissions.

When all of the settings are correct, select the Submit button to finalize the changes. The File Manager window reappears with the new settings.

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