Making Web Pages, 1: Getting Started

Introduction

Each engineering account comes with a special folder in the home directory (H: drive) called public_html. This folder has been set so that everyone can read it without the rest of your account being exposed. All files and folders in public_html are set as read only when they are published. If you have problems with your web site, please contact the webmaster.

This setup process changes file permissions, which permit other people to look at your file. The illustrations in the document are commands given from a Linux or Unix shell prompt, which can be used from a Linux workstation or by using WinAxe on a Windows computer to connect to Unix.

The command chmod (an abbreviation for "change file mode access"; pronounced "see aitch mod") changes file permissions. The syntax of the command is chmod, a space, the file settings you want, another space, the name and path of the file. Examples of use are given below.

A web site starts with a web page named index.html. This page is what appears when people type in your web site URL (http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/~loginID). Any web page, including this one, is simply a text file filled with HTML commands. We have a sample web page that can be copied into your public_html directory to get started (all commands given are Linux/Unix commands):

Start a Home Page in Your Web Directory

	1.	Command:	*cp /usr/ui/class/examples/html/qkstart.html ~/*
		Does:	Copies a template web page into your home directory. You do not have to use this page, but it is a good starting point for beginners. Do modify this page before you publish it.

	2.	Command:	*mv ~/qkstart.html ~/public_html/index.html*
		Does:	Moves the template page into the web directory and renames it.

	3.	Command:	*chmod a+rx ~/public_html/index.html*
		Does:	Makes your home page file readable by web browsers.
			or
		Command:	chmod 744 ~/public_html/index.html
		Does:	Makes your home page file readable by web browsers.

Files

Files you place under (in) your public_html directory must have appropriate permissions set (i.e., chmod o+r) to be readable by web browsers. Sub-directories you place under your public_html directory must have appropriate directory permissions set (i.e., chmod o+rx) to be readable by web browsers. To set the correct permissions for all sub-directories under public_html, when at the public_html level (cd public_html), use the command
chmod -R o+rx .
[the "R" must be a capital R and the final period "." at the end applies these rights to all sub-directories from that level down.]

You can also use chmod 755 to change sub-directory permissions to give browsers permission to see what is inside of them. To set permissions for all subdirectories of public_html, go to the public_html level. (Linux/Unix command cd public_html). Then use the command
chmod -R 755 .

Even though there is nothing on your newly created page, you (and the world) can see it at the URL: http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/~loginid

If you are using HTML authoring software (Dreamweaver, for example), you must still create and set the permissions on the public_html directory as described above to make visible the web pages you create.

Go on to step 2 to learn how create your web pages or step 3, guidelines.

updated: 27 May 2006