Getting to Know Your Web Site Roots
This Tutorial is for Beginners
So, you got some space to have a Web site and have started putting up some pages. Good for you!
This Tutorial will explain about accessing your Hosting Account and which directory to put files in, for both private & public use.
Since we are only dealing with one Web site—on a Server that may have hundreds of Web Sites on it—and since "you" are the one who determines what files get uploaded and are available, these Tutorials use the term SiteMaster as it is more applicable. Although some might think "Webmaster" should be used, the topic of who & what a Webmaster is, will be left for another discussion. In brief though, during the beginning of the Internet, a Webmaster was in charge of the Server itself and all related functions. Now days, these people are commonly known as a System Administrator "SysAdmin" or Server Administrator "ServerAdmin".
What Type of Hosting Account Do You Have
You know what, if it's just for one Web site it doesn't really matter. They are all setup in pretty much the same way. Free Hosting accounts might be setup "a little different" from paid Hosting, but not much.
You have or should have, received a "Welcome" eMail from your Hoster. This eMail will include the information you need to access to your Hosting account and probably other information, your Hoster feels you should be aware of. The information would typically include; a URL or IP address, Username, Password and other specific information.
No one else has the same Username & Password that you do. This is how the Server will know you by and grant access to your Hosting account. This is also why, it is important to guard them carefully. Usually, your "Username" cannot be changed and will remain the same for as long as you have that account. On the other hand, your "Password" can be changed and, for security reasons, should be changed every month—nor should it be easy to guess.
The "Username" you have been given, is also known as your "account name" or "account ID", which is what your Hosting account is setup under. The "account name" is determined by your Hoster and not something you can change, so remember it well.
Accessing Your Account
Your Hosting account allows you to access the Server and upload or download your files. Typically, you gain access using a Control Panel (common feature with paid Hosting) or your favourite FTP program.
Control Panel
Domain Name: http://domain.com/control_panel/
Sub-domain Name: http://something.???.com/
IP Address: http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/control_panel/
Enter Username and Password where required.
FTP
Domain Name: ???.com
Sub-domain Name: something.???.com
IP Address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
Enter the one which is applicable into the Host or URL area of your FTP program, make sure the Port number is 21, then enter your assigned Username and Password.
Depending upon which method is used and how the Server sets up accounts, you will now be in your Account Root or Document Root. It's important to know the difference between the two as one is private (Account Root) and one is public (Document Root).
Account Root
Most Hosting accounts place files — that only you can see and access — within a directory that is named the same as the account name you were assigned. Files within this directory cannot be seen by the public. This makes it a handy place to put files or create directories for your own use. Although this applies to all paid Hosting accounts, it is not always the case with Free Hosting.
Within this directory there will usually be a directory named one of the following; public_html - www - html and is known as the "Document Root" directory. This is the directory which contains the files that "you do want" your Visitors to see when visiting your Web site—you too of course. 
If using a FTP program, account root is usually the default directory it will connect to. If you look within the available options, and it's a good program, there will be someplace where you can determine what directory the program will access. As document root is where most of your time is spent, accessing directly will save a few Mouse clicks and gets you to where you want to go—a little bit faster.
Document Root
Normally, this is where you put all files, images, and directories, publicly available for viewing and using. It is also where the "Default or First page" goes and is commonly known as Home Page, a term usually applied to the first page of the Web site. This page has a File name that starts with "index" and uses the file extension of "htm" or, to be more up to date, "html". The "php" extension can also be used in most cases, you'll have to try it and see.
Which extension you choose is up to you, but remember, whenever possible use the following when naming your Directories and Files:
- names are cAsE-sEnSiTiVe
- do not use blank spaces or special characters << this is a biggee
- using small letters is easier to remember - for everyone
- underscore : image_large.gif
- dash : second-dir
- Capitol Letters : imageOne.gif
- Numbers : image-large2.gif
This will save yourself and your site Visitors, lots of potential problems.
Common Problem
Sometimes, when using a program to work with your images or HTML pages on your hard drive, it will use Capitol letters for Directories or File names, that you create. If, for example, you upload them but your Web site uses "small letters" for them (like HTML code for an image or URL), cAsE-sEnSiTiVe means a 404 Not Found error page or other problems when trying to view your Web pages.
http://domain.com/images/large2.gif
is not the same as
http://domain.com/images/large2.GIF
or
http://domain.com/Images/large2.gif
So, if having problems getting something to show or work correctly, make sure to first check your Directory or File names—make sure the URL shows as it should. Having a Control Panel that shows your Error Logs, is an excellent tool to help "weed out" errors at your site. A good habit it is to always check your Error Logs for errors, after making changes at your site.
Having access to your Error Logs is one of the features provided by Cpanel, which is the Control Panel provided to all Clients of PotentProducts.com.
