Creating (and Defining) a New Site

In this lesson you will learn how to set up a Website from scratch.

1. Launch Dreamweaver
   
   
2. Navigate to Site > New Site...
   
   
   
   
   
3. The following dialog box opens
   
   Note: The path to your Local Root Folder will be labeled differently this example (12321 is the name of my hard drive)
   
   Important: Specific information in certain dialog boxes and windows will differ from computer to computer (such as the path to the Local Root Folder for mac_lab on my hard drive isn't one you can find on yours). Also, computer programs typically revert to the last user's actions. Because you are sharing your computer with other students you must be alert to the fact that you will have to navigate to your own folder quite often.
   
   I have tried to include examples to help you understand just how often you may, and most likely will need to redirect the program to specific file or folder. It's up to you to pay attention or you'll find yourself working on another student's files or saving to another student's folder.
   
   
   
   Dreamweaver is asking you to "define" the site
   Notice that the Site Name: Unnamed Site 1 is highlighted
   Seems like Dreamweaver is giving us a clue on what to do, right?
   
   
   
4. No need to hit the Delete key (because the text is already highlighted)
   Just type your first_last names (yes, in lower case with_underscore) such as: mr_skocko
   
   
   
   
   
5. You will see one of the following dialog boxes if you thought it was a good idea to press return after naming your site
   
        Hint: It's not a good idea to anticipate directions. Just play along and connect the dots for now.
   
   A dialog box pops up if you selected the location of another site that has already been defined
   
        Note: The name ('mac_lab') will differ depending Dreamweaver's history on your computer
   
   
   
   Under no circumstances should you click OK (the warning sign is the yellow triangle)
   
   And don't even think about checking the Don't warn me again option (you want to be warned if you're about to make a mistake)
   
   
   
   If the Local Root Folder is undefined (blank) you will see this:
   
   
   
   Now back to our regularly scheduled tutorial...
   
   
   
6. Click on the folder icon to the right of the Local Root Folder text box
   
   
   
   
   
7. At this point Dreamweaver has no idea where you want your Local Root Folder (where your files will be located on your computer) so it reverts to the last designated choice
   
   On my computer, the last designated choice was the local files for Mac Lab's portion of Valhalla's Website (that's where the files you are reading reside)—it will be different on your computer but the remedy will be the same (remedy provided in Step 8)
   
   
   
   
   
8. Click on the pull-down menu (as shown in the following movie)
   Navigate to your folder, open it, and click on the New folder button
   
   
   CLICK ARROW TO PLAY MOVIE
   
   12321 is the name of my hard drive—yours is named Macintosh HD
   Student is the name of the folder I'm using as an example—yours is named with your own name
   
   
   
9. Using lower case letters (with_underscore) type your first_last names (for me it's): mr_skocko
   
   
   
   Click Create (or press Return)
   
   
   
10. With your new folder highlighted, click Choose
    
    
    
    You are telling Dreamweaver the name and location of Local Root Folder so it can manage your files
    
    
    
11. Important: Before you click OK, be sure the Refresh and Enable Cache boxes are checked
    
    
    
    
    
12. After you click OK, the Site Files Window opens (I will refer to this as the Site Window)
    
         Note: Some of you may see a dialog box asking if you would like Dreamweaver to cache your files
              The answer is yes (the caching and and updating of your files/links is a good thing)
    
    Since we will be working with just the Local Folder for now, if you should see something like the split screen (below), click on the twirlie (the triangle at the lower left corner) to collapse the window
    
    
    
    
    
13. Now your Site Window will look something like this image:
    
    Remember: Your Local Root Folder will be named differently
    
    
    
    Note: Moving your cursor over the Root Folder name reveals the full path
    
    Remember: Your Root Folder will have a different path
    
    
    
    Congratulations! You've just created and defined your own Website.
    
    
    
    Believe it or not, once you run through this process a few times you will begin to understand the logic behind the steps and you'll be able to do it without any directions
    
    
    Final Note: It is easy to redefine the site you just created (more on that in an upcoming lesson)
    
    To illustrate the point I've changed the name of my site from mr_skocko to my_website
    
    You do not need to change the name of your_website... yet
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

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