File Manager

Overview

The File Manager function allows you to take full control of your website files. It is a safe alternative to full shell access for sophisticated users. You can copy, move, delete, rename and edit files, create and remove directories, change file permissions and upload files from your local computer to the server.

File Manager is best used to manipulate files that have been previously uploaded to your website. To upload more than one file at a time, an FTP client is generally more efficient.

Many of the features in File Manager involve using filenames. If you are using Internet Explorer to access File Manager, you can double click on directories to open them. The double clicking feature does not work with Netscape Navigator.

To access directory contents with Netscape, select the directory and click the "ChDir" button.

Unlike an FTP client, File Manager's source and destination directories are located on the server. The destination directory is only used for copy and move commands, not for uploading files from your local machine.

Changing directories

To change the directory that you are currently viewing, select the directory name from the viewing window and click the "ChDir" button. The contents of the selected directory will be displayed.

If you are using Internet Explorer, double clicking the directory name will open it.

Deleting files

To delete a file, select the filename and click the "Delete" button. Multiple files can be deleted in one operation using standard windows selection methods (control and shift clicking). You will be warned before the operation occurs. A dialog box gives you the option of aborting the procedure.

Once a file is deleted, it cannot be recovered.

Renaming files

To rename a file, select the file to be renamed and enter the new name in the "Filename" field. Click the "Rename" button to finish the operation.

Copying files

To make a copy of an existing file, select the file to be copied from the "Source" directory. Select a target directory in the "Destination" directory window and click the "Copy" button.

Moving files

To move a file from its original location to a new location, select the file to be moved. Select a target directory from the "Destination" directory window and click the "Move" button.

Create a directory

To create a new directory, open the parent directory from the "Source" directory window. Enter the name of the new directory in the "Filename" field. Click the "MkDir" button to complete the operation.

Removing a directory

To remove a directory, select the directory from the "Source" directory window and click the "RmDir" button. If the directory is not empty, an error message will be displayed in the results window.

To delete a directory that is not empty, first remove all the contents of the directory, then use the "RmDir" command again.

Setting file permissions

File Manager uses standard UNIX file permissions. To set permissions on a file, select the file in the "Source" directory window. Check the desired permission check boxes and click the "Set Perm" button. You can set the same permissions on a group of files by selecting the files together using standard Windows selection methods (control and shift clicking).

Description of how the server uses file permissions

When the server accesses a file, it assumes owner permissions. Since the server assumes owner permissions, there is no need to set a file's permissions so that the group and other users can read them. This makes your files very secure. The exception to this rule are ASP and ColdFusion files. For technical reasons these files minimally require group read permission.

Editing files

File Manager allows you to edit text files on the server. This is convenient since you do not have to edit the file on a local machine, then upload it to the server.

To edit a file on the server, select the file from the "Source" directory window and click the "Edit" button. An editing window will appear. Edit the file as necessary and click the "Save" button. To cancel the editing and not save the changes, click the "Abort" button.

If you try to edit a non-text format file, a warning message will be displayed and access will be denied.

Downloading files

File Manager's "Download" function allows you to download files from the server to your local machine. Note that you cannot download files from the "cgi-bin" directory using this function.

To download a file, choose the file you want to download from the "Source Dir" window and click the "Download" button. The "File Download" dialog box will be displayed. Specify the local directory where you want to save the file. The file will be downloaded to the specified directory on your machine.

Downloading multiple files

Only one file at a time can be downloaded. To download more than one file at a time, it is more efficient to use an FTP client.

Using the upload function

To upload a file to the server, ensure that the target directory is open in the source directory window. Select a file from your local machine by clicking the "Browse" button or enter the full path into the text box. When the file has been selected, click the "Upload" button. The file will be uploaded to the source directory.

Source and local directories

The "Source" directory window is not to be confused with the local directory from where a file is being uploaded. The directory that is open in the source directory window is where the uploaded file will reside. The destination directory window has no connection to this operation.

Uploading multiple files

Only one file at a time can be uploaded. To upload more than one file at a time, it is more efficient to use an FTP client.