Correct File & Directory Layouts

It is important to create the correct file and directory layout for your website before you upload it.

The Default Page

When someone visits a website without specifying an exact webpage to view, you need to make sure that your home page is opened. If you don't, an error will be returned stating that a webpage could not be found. Hosting providers usually require the default webpage to be indicated by a certain name - in most cases, "index.html". If you do not succeed the first time, try using either the .html or .htm file extensions. Check with your hosting provider for more information.

Sensitive Case File Names

Some servers are case sensitive when handling file names. This means that the use of upper and lower case letters impacts upon whether a file can be located. For example, if a file is named "MyWebpage.html", but a hyperlink points to "mywebpage.html", the server might return an error.

It is therefore important that you ensure that all hyperlinks in your website point to the correct filename. As a general rule, you should always use lower case filenames for every file and folder.

The Directory Structure

Most of your webpage's files will probably be located in the root directory. However, you might choose to create other folders.

Although most files can be placed into any directory, it should be noted that some servers require certain files to be placed in specific directories. For example, CGI scripts (programs for webpages) may need to be placed in a folder named "cgi-bin".

It is important to ensure that you do not attempt to create directories whose names are reserved. These may include the "cgi-bin" folder and a URL that points to a site administration area.