1. Introduction
Are you tired of paying sums of money just to get your web developer fix up your price list?
Maybe you have a new website and just want a few pieces of text tweaked?
What ever your reasons, I will walk you through the process of editing your site.
In most cases, you can update the content of your website (so long as the site wasn't created using a CMS.
What is a CMS?
A Content Management System (CMS) uses a custom database to deliver the information on each page. If your site is run from a CMS, you will need to log into the CMS to change the information on your pages.
There is no set way to find out if your site was created using a CMS. If you are unsure, the person who created your site will be able to tell you if your site is controlled through a CMS.
Note: Dreamweaver, Frontpage etc. are NOT CMSs
). The first thing you need, is to get a hold of the website files.
What you will need:
- Internet Connection
The fact that you are here and reading this article (providing it hasn't been printed) proves you are currently connected to the internet
- Know which provider hosts you site
A host offers a service where their servers store your web page files. The servers allow sites to be accessed and viewed over the Internet.
The name of your host will be printed on any invoices or e-mails you recieve regarding paying for your website (unless you're web developer deals with that stuff for you).
- Access to your sites ftp Folder or Control Panel.
If you don't already have access details, you should be able to find out how to access your files on your hosts website. If you do not know your username or password to your ftp folder or control panel, you will need to ask the person who originally developed the page.
An ftp folder is a folder that can be accessed online in a similar way you access a website. An ftp address looks similar to a web address, except it will begin with ftp:// . If you have one of these, and the username and password for it, I will tell you how to get to your files on the next page.
A Control Panel is a set of online tools web hosts make to give people an easy way to access their files. Control panels differ from host to host so you will need to contact your host for access details.
Whilst this tutorial is nowhere near comprehensive enough to make you an expert, It will give you a good start in assisting you to change the basics on any site.
In this tutorial, you will only use software that comes with Microsoft Windows, but you can use any of your own applications in place of the ones I use in my examples.
