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Training: The SoM Web Format & Dreamweaver
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Set Up WebDAV Connection

WebDAV is the required, secure method for SoM web-authors to access web sites using a SUNet ID and password. Before you can connect to a site, you must be enabled by IRT. See the Training Requirements for more information about access to sites.

Before you begin

Web pages are files that live on a "server" computer. The files are never edited on the server itself. Instead, we use Dreamweaver to copy them to a folder on our local computer, then edit them and put them back to overwrite the original on the server.

If you have worked on the site before, perhaps in a different version or format, you should empty your current local folder to ensure you don't accidentally upload the older files. Move the files to a different folder if you want to save them, or create an entireley new folder in Step 2, below.

Step 1: View your site in a browser

Before beginning any Web publishing activity, view the site and/or page in question in your favorite Web browser. Each time you upload changes with Dreamweaver, you should switch to the browser and reload or refresh the browser view to validate your work.

Watch Demo

Step 2: Create a new Dreamweaver site definition

  1. Launch Dreamweaver
  2. Open the Site menu and choose "Manage Sites"
  3. Choose New --> Site and click on the "Advanced" tab.
  4. Under the Local Info category enter the following:
    • "Site Name": Enter the name of your site for tracking purposes in Dreamweaver (e.g. 'Radiology web site')
    • "Local Root Folder": This is where Dreamweaver will store the local copies of files associated with your site Click on the folder icon next to the box to engage your computer's file browser. Use the browse function to find your existing local folder, if you have one; create a new folder if you don't. The local folder can live anywhere on your computer; My Documents" is typical. Enter the folder, then click "Select."
    • "HTTP Address": Enter the full public URL to your site, eg.http://pediatrics.stanford.edu/
  5. Click on the "Remote Info" category in the left pane and drag the "Access" drop down menu to "WebDAV"
  6. Enter your WebDAV settings into the form
    • URL: https://irt-publish.stanford.edu/live/pathto/yoursite/
      • Contact Web Help if you haven't already been provided your Web DAV URL.

      You may be able to guess your WebDAV URL:

      • http://med.stanford.edu/pathto/yoursite/ = https://irt-publish.stanford.edu/live/pathto/yoursite/
      • http://yourdomain.stanford.edu = https://irt-publish.stanford.edu/live/yourdomain/ (in most cases)
      • Sample URLs for self-guided practice sites:
        http://medwebtraining.stanford.edu/practice/student12/
        = https://irt-publish.stanford.edu/live/medwebtraining/practice/student12/
        http://medwebtraining.stanford.edu/practice19/student12/
        = https://irt-publish.stanford.edu/live/medwebtraining/practice19/student12/
    • Login: Use your own SUNet ID
    • Password: We recommend you leave this blank; you will enter your password when prompted;
    • Save Password: We recommend that you not check this box
      If Dreamweaver saves your Sunet ID and password on your computer they are not fully secure against theft
    • (Optional) Check-in/Check-out button: Unless you share editing duties on a site with other Web Authors, you probably want to leave the"Enable file check in and check out" button unchecked; if checked, you must provide your full name and email address; See Check-in/Check-out on the Get and Put page for more details.
  7. (Optional) Click on the "Design Notes" category in the left pane; Design Notes seem to take extra connection time and we haven't ever found a use for them
    • Uncheck the "Maintain Design Notes" button; if prompted about deleting existing Design Notes, click Yes
    • Email: Use your own email address
  8. Click OK. You should see the name of your site selected in the "Manage Sites" window. Click "Done"

Step 3: Connect to the site

  1. Test your connection. Find the "Files" panel and click on the "Connect" button. When connected, you should be able to see a list of files on the server under "Remote View" or "Remote Site" in the Files window.

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