GetWebSpace.com provides over 50 free templates as part of the Fantastico package. This is the fastest way to create a website, as it allows you to select a pre-designed style, enter a few details, and it creates the site for you. Then you can edit the templates to personalize them with content and pictures. This is ideal if you are just starting out and want to learn the basics of web design, or want to focus less on "programming" a site, and more on writing!
Note: If you want to create more of a journal-style, frequently-updated site (or a "Blog"), consider using one of the Content Management tools instead. See our other FAQs on creating a Blog or Content Management.
Warning - installing a template will delete any existing pages! This process is best if you have not yet created a website. If you have an existing website but want to start over, use the directions below to delete any pages you created from the existing site and start fresh.
Introduction
This may seem like a lot of steps, but we are really only going to do three main things: Temporarily Disable Frontpage, Prepare your Webspace, and Install the Template. Everything you need to do is listed below - but be sure to read the instructions on the pages as well for tips or other options you may be interested in. (By the way - you can print this page if you don't want to switch back and forth. Just click "Print this record" at the bottom of this page for a printer-friendly version.)
Ok, let's begin! Before installing a template, you must disable Frontpage Extensions, and delete any existing files in the folder. You can still re-enable Frontpage once the template is installed and even use Frontpage to edit your templates.
Disabling Frontpage Extensions
- Log in to the control panel
- Under File/Directory Management, click Frontpage Extensions
- If the status says "Installed" then click Uninstall Extensions next to the site you want to use
- When it's done, click Main Menu (at the top of the page) to return
Remove any existing files
- From the Main Menu, go to File/Directory Management and click File Manager. This will open a listing of all your files
- Click on the folder icon to the left of the "public_html" name to open that folder. (Note: Clicking on the name doesn't do the same thing... just the folder icon.)
- If you want to install the templates over your whole site, go to the next step. If you want to install it in a seperate folder, such as "www.domain.com/demo" then click on the actual name of the "demo" folder (if it exists) and choose "Delete this folder and all files under it" from the top-right menu.
Warning: Do not delete the public_html folder itself! Always double-check which folder you are deleting. If you're not sure, just do the files one at a time.
- If you are installing the templates in the root (whole site) you will need to delete any .html files as well as the images folder. To delete webpages, click on the name of the .html file, and choose Delete File from the menu in the top-right corner. To delete the images (or other) directories, click on the name and choose "Delete this folder and all files under it"
- Once this is done, close that window to return to the control panel
Installing a template
- Log in to the control panel
- Under Pre-Installed Scripts, click Fantastico
- Scroll down to the Site Builders category
- Choose Templates Express
- Click the New Installation link to begin setup
- Browse the categories to select the template you would like to intall, or use the View All link at the bottom to view everything at once. Take your time and choose one you like. While you can change templates anytime, it requires starting over and losing any content you write
- Once you find one you like, click on the thumbnail image to install it
- Choose which domain or subdomain (if you have multiple sites) to install the template onto
- Enter the location you want to use for installation into the "Install in directory" box. If you want this to be your whole site, just leave this blank
- Next, answer any questions the template asks. These are different for each template, but usually at least a Title for the page, and a few other fields
- Click Install Templates Express
- You may get an error at this step if you still have files that need deleting. It will list which folders and files need to be deleted. Write down the names and then go back to the File Manager instructions above to delete them. Make sure you are working in the right folder - if you are installing into "demo" then you should use File Manager to open the "www" folder... then the "demo" folder... that is where the files will be that you need to delete. Then begin the template installation again
- If the check was successful, it will ask you to confirm the location of your new site. If anything is wrong, click Back in your browser to and make any changes
- Click Finish installation
- That's it! It should list all the files that were installed and other information. You can choose to have it email you a copy of this information at the bottom of the page if you would like a copy of this information for reference later.
- Click on your website's address (or URL) to see the results
That's your new site! But it needs customization, doesn't it? What the template installation has done is create the webpages for you, upload some generic images, and set up a "skeleton" website. It's up to you now to put in your text. You can do this using any HTML editor such as Microsoft Frontpage or Macromedia Dreamweaver available at any computer store or online at sites like Amazon.com or Buy.com. If you don't have this software, though, you can do a lot using the HTML editor built-in to our File Manager.
Pat yourself on the back, refill your beverage of choice, and go back to the FAQ list for the next step - Updating Your Website.
[Tutorials are Copyright 2006 GetWebSpace.com and may not be distributed without this credit line]
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