Do I need to know FTP?

If you want to sign up for a Self Serve account you need to know how to use FTP. It usually isn't all that complicated. Ask a friend or lab assistant that knows. Take the time to learn about FTP, it is an investment in yourself.

What FTP client should I use?

If you are using a Mac try using Fetch. Fetch can be obtained from:
http://fetchsoftworks.com

If you are using a PC try using WS_FTP or CuteFTP which can be obtained from:

CUTEFTP: http://www.cuteftp.com/

WS_FTP: http://www.ipswitch.com/

How do I use FTP using CompuServe?

The CompuServe software supports FTP. Go ahead and try it. Open a non anonymous FTP session with the server you are on, for example, thor.he.net. When it prompts you for an account name and password enter your account name and password. If you have trouble, read the manual to figure it out or ask their technical support.

Does your site support multiple WWW pages on the same directory?

Yes.

How often can I upload my revised HTML pages and what is the cost of each upload?

As often as you like, when you like. Each upload generates traffic equivalent to one hit on the document involved.

How many people would have access to upload and/or edit html files per account?

As many people as have the account name and password and know how to use FTP or telnet. All users are bound by the same Terms of Service Agreement as you are. 

Can I break my pages down into sub directories?

Yes.

How many FTP sites come with the starting package?

Each account comes with one Web directory and one  FTP directory.

Do we use standard HTML to design Home pages or a special format?

You use whatever format you want in your pages. However, most browsers won't understand anything but standard HTML, or Netscape-enhanced HTML, so we suggest you use one of these two formats...

Are FTP uploads the only way to get a file there?

It's the primary way, but there are work arounds.

Can I create my own disk-library structure?

You can create any structure of directories you want.

Am I 'limited' on changing files, etc.?

No. You can change files as often and as many times as you like.

How do I transfer files to your server?

You use FTP.

How do I upload my "index.html" with the four letter extension when my PC will only allow me to add a three letter extension.

You have two solutions at your disposal to resolve this:

1. Get a fully functional FTP client for Windows (I am assuming you are using windows) which allows you to set the destination file name. There are several free FTP clients that support this.
2. Telnet to the server you are on, for example, thor.he.net. Log in using your account name and password and type:

   cd public_html

   mv index.htm index.html

If a user accesses a large 200k gif and then cancels it after 5 k are received will it show up in the logs and then the stats as a 200k transfer?

Only the actual data transferred, in this case 5k.

Can I copy files from my local Web directory to my FTP directory?

Yes, but you should know it makes no difference to the FTP client where you are putting your file as long as you have write permission.

Will you install an index page?

We prefer you install your pages as soon as possible. All new accounts are created with a temporary home page.

I made some directories by accident and the server will not allow me to delete them. What's the deal with that?

You may be having trouble because if you using telnet or a text based FTP client you have to put quotes around the filename.

Also, you may be having trouble because you need to delete the files inside the directory first or you might be having trouble because you typed the name wrong.

How do I delete files in Fetch?

After connecting to the site with your account name and password using Fetch:

1. Select the file or directory. Choose "Delete File or Directory" from which ever menu it is in. It will delete the currently selected file. This is the technique to use because it avoids you having to type in the name again.
2. Choose "Delete File or Directory" from the menus. Then you have to type in the file or directory name. This way leads to problems with incorrect names.

Is there a way for anonymous users to upload files?

We don't currently support incoming directories due to the legal and security risks.

How do I get my web pages to the server?

To get your Web pages to the server your going to have to use FTP. When it prompts you for a name and password, enter YOUR account name and YOUR password. (This will put you in YOUR home directory).

Once you have finished this then you are going to have to send you html files to the server.

Select the files on the local machine (Your machine) and click on Send This should send the file from your machine onto the server.

How should I upload JPG or GIF files using FTP?

Some FTP clients don't know file is binary and not text and so they do carriage return to line feed translation (changing the value of certain bytes to new values) on your image. Which damages it.

If you are using a text based FTP client (like through FTP) type binary. Otherwise select binary or raw data transfer.

I lost/deleted a file on my site by mistake. Do you keep backups?

We do back up data on our servers nightly, but these backups are run and kept for administrative purposes. We do NOT backup individual web sites. We recommend that you keep backup copies of your site on your local computer, as the servers back up their data nightly, overwriting the previous backup.

Please refer to our Terms of Service, item 9, "Use of WhackStar Productions services, including the storage of information, is at the account holder's sole risk."