Step 2. Upload

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Step 2. Upload

2.1 Overview
2.2 Before Uploading
2.2.1 Restrictions on File Names and Storage
2.2.2 Links and Image References
2.2.3 Compressed Files
2.2.4 Choosing between WebDAV and File Upload
2.3 File Upload
2.3.1 The File Upload Page
2.3.2 Viewing Files and Folders
2.3.3 Uploading Files and Folders
2.3.4 Moving or Editing Files and Folders
2.3.5 Deleting Files and Folders
2.4 WebDAV
2.4.1 Team WebDAV Details
2.4.2 Windows 95 and 98
2.4.3 Windows NT, 2000, ME, and XP
2.4.4 Macintosh OS9
2.4.5 Mac OSX
2.4.6 Adobe Dreamweaver
2.4.7 Adobe GoLive
2.4.8 Troubleshooting WebDAV Connections
2.4.9 WebDAV Resources
2.5 Testing Your Site
2.5.1 Tips for Testing Your Site
2.5.2 ThinkQuest Banner

2.1 Overview

An entry in the ThinkQuest competition consists of two items: a website and a Site Profile (see Step 3. Site Profile). This section contains information on how to upload your website to your Team's directory on the ThinkQuest server.

There are two different ways to upload website files: File Upload and WebDAV. Once uploaded, sites should be thoroughly tested using a variety of different browsers.

2.2 Before Uploading

For a basic introduction to web publishing, please visit the Building web pages section of the Coach Resources.

Before creating and uploading files, carefully read all of the information in this section. Your site may not work correctly on the ThinkQuest server if files are not named and formatted properly.

2.2.1 Restrictions on File Names and Storage

Make note of these important restrictions on folder and file names:

Your home page must be named index.htm or index.html (all lowercase), and it must be uploaded to the top level folder of your Team's server space.
Use only non-accented, Western characters (low ASCII).
- Acceptable characters are the 26 letters of the alphabet (from "a" to "z") and digits "0" through "9." Example: page3.htm.
- Files named using multi-byte languages (like Chinese or Cyrillic) or characters with accents (like many Hungarian and French words) will not work on the ThinkQuest server.
Do not use spaces or special characters.
- If you need to put a space in a folder or file name, use a hyphen (-) or underscore (_) instead. Example: Team_photo.jpg.
- Use one period (.) before the file extension. Example: filename.htm. Don't use a period anywhere else in the file name and avoid using other punctuation marks or special symbols such as asterisks and exclamation points.
Use lowercase characters.
- ThinkQuest's server is case sensitive. For example, if you upload a file named "test.htm" and later upload another file that includes a link to "TEST.HTM," that link will not work. It's best to have everyone on the Team consistently name their files with lowercase characters to avoid this problem.
Work with supported file types (see the Rules)
- The ThinkQuest server supports any kind of file that runs in a browser.
- You can also upload other types of files (such as spreadsheets, word processing documents, etc.), but users may not be able to view them unless they have the correct software installed on their own computers.
- Server-based technologies such as PHP, Perl, Python, ASP, JSP or Java will not execute or function at all. Do not include them in your website.
Monitor the size of your website.
- Each Team is allowed 50 megabytes of storage in their ThinkQuest server space (see the Rules). If your Team is struggling with space, check to see if any files are duplicated. Also, image and multimedia files can often be compressed to save space.
- The File Upload tool includes a file usage meter to help Teams monitor their server space.

2.2.2 Links and Image References

Important: Use relative links, not absolute links. If you do not format links and image references correctly, they may break when files are moved from your Team's local computer to the Team's ThinkQuest server space and then into the ThinkQuest Library.

Links should not point to any files on your local computer, and links should not point to URLs that include preview.thinkquest.org or webdav.thinkquest.org. The final URL of your site will change when it is published in the ThinkQuest Library. Please see the examples below.

An absolute link includes the entire address needed to find a specific file on a specific computer. Examples:

<a href=""file:\\\C:\windows\desktop\website\animals\dog.html"> is an example of an absolute link pointing to a file called "dog.html" that is located within a specific directory on the C: drive of your local computer. If you upload a page containing this link to the web, the link will only work when you use your specific computer. The link will break for everyone else in the world because they don't have access to your personal computer.
<a href="http://webdav.thinkquest.org/03oct/01234/animals/dog.html"> is an example of an absolute link pointing to a file called "dog.html" that is located within a specific directory on the webdav.thinkquest.org server. If this file is transferred to a different server (for example, the ThinkQuest Library server), the entire address will no longer be valid and the link will break.

In contrast, a relative link does not include an entire address. Instead, it specifies a path in relation to the current web page or server.

<a href="animals/dog.html"> is an example of a relative link. It does not point to a specific drive on your computer, nor is it pointing to a specific server. If a website containing this link is moved to another computer or server, this link will still work as long as there is a subdirectory called "animals" containing a file called "dog.html".

2.2.3 Compressed Files

A file compression utility takes a file or group of files and compresses them so that they take up less space and upload more quickly. One of the most common formats for a compressed file is a zip file.

The File Upload tool will automatically "unzip" or extract a zip file as soon as it is uploaded. (Note that it will not extract compressed files in other formats.) Since a single zip file can contain dozens of compressed files, zipping your files can save you the time and trouble of uploading files one by one. Note that WebDAV does not support this feature.

Important: Be careful how you select files when you work with a zip utility:

Most zip utilities ask if you want to "include folder/directory names." Make sure to select this option if your website has subfolders/subdirectories.
When zipping files, do not select the folder/directory containing your website. Instead, open the folder that contains your website and select each file and/or folder within.
Make sure that your index.htm (or index.html) file is in the top level folder and not inside a subfolder. The web-based file upload tool will automatically extract your files exactly the way they were when you zipped them. If your index.htm file is not located in the top level directory, users will see a list of folders and files when they visit your site instead of seeing the home page.

2.2.4 Choosing between WebDAV and File Upload

ThinkQuest provides both WebDAV access and a File Upload tool so you can choose the method of uploading files that best meets your needs. You can of course use both tools for uploading files, but a consistent approach is usually the best; this will help you avoid mistakes.

Below are some points to help you choose which method is best for you.

Use WebDAV access if;

You are making multiple changes to files and folders at the same time.
You are using HTML Editing and Website Construction software (such as Adobe Dreamweaver or Adobe GoLive) that support using WebDAV. You can use the in-built WebDAV tools to upload your files.

Use the File Upload tool if;

Your internet connection setup prevents you from using WebDAV correctly.
Members of your Team are inexperienced with website construction.
You are not making many changes to files or folders directly on the site.
You are uploading the bulk of your site files in zip format.

2.3 File Upload

ThinkQuest's custom-built File Upload tool allows Teams to upload files to the ThinkQuest server and test their website, all through a web browser. No other software is needed.

To access the File Upload tool, access ThinkQuest and go to the Website tab. Click the File Upload sub-tab link.

The File Upload tool can be used by both Coaches and Team members (Students and Assistant Coaches). The same File Upload tool is used at all times.

2.3.1 The File Upload Page

To view the File Upload page, go to the click the Website tab. There is a File Upload link on the sub-tab menu.

The File Upload page comprises two sections:

The My Teams section displays Team details. It shows the name of each Team that the Coach created or is a member of.
Selecting a Team from the list will display details for that Team in the My Teams section, and display the files for that Team in the Files section.

Students and accessing the File Upload page will only see the details and files for their Team. Assistant Coaches accessing the page using the Team username and password will also only see details for that Team.

The Files section displays all the the File Upload tools. This is what Coaches and Teams use to manage the files for their site.

Folders and files for a site are shown in the main File List. This shows all the folders and files in your site. The list of files is scrollable so you can view all your files. Each file or folder has a Name, Modified and Size entry (note folders do not show a Size entry).

You can click on the name of a file to view or open the file. Clicking on the name of a folder will display the folders and files within that folder. To help you remember what part of your site you are viewing, the current folder structure you are viewing is shown at the top of the File List.

Below the File List is the Space Usage Meter. This shows you how much of the 50MB allocated space your site is currently using. Each time you change the files on your site, the Space Used will update automatically.

Below the Space Usage Meter are the file and folder tools. Use these to upload and update your files and folders, create new folders, move files and folders, delete files and folders, and test your site.

2.3.2 Viewing Files and Folders

When you first visit the File Upload page, the File List will display the root folder for your site. This is the main folder for your site and contains all the files and other folders for your site. This is where your home page should be located.

Files and folders are listed alphabetically; file and folder names in upper-case are shown above file and folder names in lower-case. Folders are highlighted with a folder icon.

Each file and folder has a Modified entry. This shows the date when the file or folder was last changed; either uploaded or created as a new file or folder, or replaced with an updated version of the file or folder. It does not include moving or renaming a file or folder.

The Size entry shows the size in kilobytes for a file. Folder sizes are not shown. If you need to know the size of all content within a specific folder (i.e. how large is the folder), you can use WebDAV to view the properties for the folder.

Above the File List the Folder Path of the folder you are viewing is displayed (also known as a directory path). You can click the name of any folder in the path to view that folder.

Clicking on the name of any file will open the file to you to view. What you see depends on the file type; an HTML file will open in a new browser window, whereas a different file may need to be downloaded to open.
Clicking on the name of any folder (or the folder icon) will display the contents of that folder.

2.3.3 Uploading Files and Folders

Uploading files is fairly straightforward. You can upload a single file at a time. If you need to upload multiple files, you should transfer them using WebDAV, or compress the files into a zip file and upload that file (which will automatically uncompress).

To upload a file;

Using the File List navigate to the folder where you want to upload the file.
Click the Upload File button.
Use the Browse button to search for the file. Select the file then click the Upload button.
The file will be uploaded to the select folder. Warning! If the folder already contains a file with the same name, it will be overwritten.
The file should now be displayed in the folder.

It is not possible to directly upload a folder using the File Upload tool. To create a folder on your site;

Using the File List navigate to the folder where you want to create the new folder.
Click the New Folder button.
Enter a name for your folder then click the Create button.
The folder should now display in the File List.

Alternately, you can upload a folder as a compressed file. This will automatically uncompress and create the folder.

2.3.4 Moving or Editing Files and Folders

Once you have uploaded files and folders you can use other tools to move or edit them directly on the site.

You can move any file or folder in your File List. You can move any file or folder (and it's contents) to any folder above or below the folder where the item is located. This allows you to move a file or folder 'up and down' the folder structure for your site.

To move a file or folder on your site;

Using the File List navigate to the folder which contains the file or folder you want to move.
Select the radio button next to the name of the file or folder.
To move the file or folder up into it's parent folder, select the 'Up a Level' option from the Put in Folder menu.
To move the file or folder down into a sub-folder, select the name of the folder from the Put in Folder menu.
The file or folder is automatically moved to the new folder. You can use the Folder Path to navigate to the new location for the file or folder.

Please note: take care when moving certain files or folders. For example, your 'index.html' file should always be in the top-level folder for your site. If you move a folder, all files and folders within that folder are also moved.

You can rename any file or folder on your site;

Using the File List navigate to the folder which contains the file or folder you want to rename.
Select the radio button next to the name of the file or folder.
Click the Rename button.
In the Edit Name field, enter text for the new name for the file or folder.
Click the Rename button to confirm.
The File List should now show the file or folder with the edited name.
Warning! Always use caution when renaming files or folders. Always test your site after changing file or folder names to ensure your site works correctly.

2.3.5 Deleting Files and Folders

You can also use the File Upload tools to remove files and folders from your site. You can only delete one file or folder at a time; if you need to remove many files from a folder, you can do this using WebDAV.

To remove a file or folder;

Using the File List navigate to the folder which contains the file or folder you want to delete.
Select the radio button next to the entry for the file or folder and click the Delete button.
You are asked to confirm deletion of the file or folder. Click the Delete button to confirm deletion.
The File List is displayed, and the file or folder has been removed.
Warning! Always use caution when deleting files and folders. In particular, you should be especially careful when deleting folders; all files and folders within a folder are also lost when you delete the folder.
Always remember that when you delete a file or folder, it cannot be retrieved. It is always a good idea to keep a copy of a file or a folder's contents in a separate location.

2.4 WebDAV

You can use WebDAV to upload, edit, and manage files by configuring your computer to access your Team's directory on the ThinkQuest server. If you have used FTP (File Transfer Protocol), WebDAV will feel familiar.

WebDAV stands for "Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning" and is built into many operating systems (Macintosh OS X and Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP) and some web design software (such as Adobe Dreamweaver or Adobe GoLive). If you use a WebDAV folder on Windows or OSX, you can drag and drop web page files the same way you do with other files on your local computer. Dreamweaver and GoLive have specific ways of connecting to servers; consult the documentation for the version you are using.

Also, if your network uses a proxy server, you may have some trouble using WebDAV. Consult your network administrator for help.

Important: To use WebDAV, you must use the Team username, password, and WebDAV URL for the Team. If you are Coaching more than one Team, you will need to create a separate WebDAV folder for each Team.

WebDAV setup instructions are provided for several operating systems and software applications:

2.4.2 Windows 98
2.4.3 Windows NT, 2000, ME and XP
2.4.4 Macintosh OS9
2.4.5 Mac OSX
2.4.6 Adobe Dreamweaver
2.4.7 Adobe GoLive
2.4.8 WebDAV Resources

2.4.1 Team WebDAV Details

All ThinkQuest Teams have a unique username and password. This is used for setting up a WebDAV connection for the Team's site.

You must use the Team username, password, and WebDAV URL that is displayed for the Team on the WebDAV page.

A Coach can view WebDAV details for any Team from the WebDAV page located under Website tab. Student Team members and Assistant Coaches can view their Team WebDAV details from this page also. They will only see their own Team's details; not any other details for other Teams with the same Coach.

The WebDAV URL used to set up a WebDAV connection for a Team's site is based on the username for the Team. The WebDAV URL is displayed for each team.

2.4.2 WebDAV Setup Instructions for Windows 98

Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop.
Double-click the Web Folders icon to open it.
Double-click the Add Web Folder icon.
You will be prompted to type in a location. Type or cut and paste your Team's WebDAV URL starting with http://.
Click Next.
Enter a name for your new Web Folder. Click Finish.
Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop and then double-click on the Web Folder to access your Team's directory on the ThinkQuest server. Log in with your Team username and password. Now, you can drag, drop, delete, and rename files the same way you do elsewhere on your computer.

2.4.3 WebDAV Setup Instructions for Windows NT, 2000, ME, and XP

Click here to view these instructions with screen shots.

Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop.
Click the My Network Places icon on the menu on the left.
Click the Add a network place icon.
You will be prompted to type in a location. Type or cut and paste you Team's WebDAV URL stating with http://.
Click Next.
In the Enter Network Password window, enter your Team username and password and click OK.
Click Finish. You will see a Web Folder, which is linked to your Team's directory on the ThinkQuest server. In your Web Folder, you can drag, drop, delete, and rename files the same way you do elsewhere on your computer.

2.4.4 WebDAV Setup Instructions for Macintosh OS9

This method assumes you are using the Goliath WebDAV client.
Download the Goliath WebDAV (freeware) client here.
Install the software and run it.
In Goliath, click the menu item File and then click New Connection.
Type or cut and paste your Team's WebDAV URL starting with http://.
Select the Use Digest Authentication checkbox, enter your Team username and password, and click OK.
A folder will appear on your desktop. You can drag, drop, delete, and rename files the same way you do elsewhere on your computer.
If you are using other WebDAV software with OS9, it will probably work in a similar way. Consult the software documentation.

2.4.5 WebDAV Setup Instructions for Mac OSX

Click here to view these instructions with screen shots.

From the Finder, press Apple-K, or click the menu item Go and then click Connect to Server.
The Connect to Server window will open.
In the Address field, type or cut and paste your Team's WebDAV URL starting with http://.
When prompted, enter your Team username and password in the appropriate fields.
Your Team's directory on the ThinkQuest server is now connected to your computer. Depending on your Finder preferences, it may be displayed on your desktop or through the Finder.

2.4.6 WebDAV Setup Instructions for Adobe Dreamweaver

Click here to view these instructions with screen shots.

Select Site and then Manage Sites.
Click the New button, and then select Site from the drop-down menu.
On the Advanced tab, select Remote Info.
In the Access list, select WebDAV.
Click the Settings button next to the Access menu.
In the next window, type or cut and paste your Team's WebDAV URL starting with http:// into the URL field. Enter your Team username and password in the appropriate fields.
Click OK twice to return to Dreamweaver and look for a window called Files, which is usually on the right side of your workspace.
If you do not see your website files (usually they are on the right side of your workspace), select Site and then Manage Sites. Select your site from the menu and click Done.
Connect by clicking the button that looks like two connecting network cables.
Different versions of this software may work slightly differently, so consult the Dreamweaver documentation for more information.

2.4.7 WebDAV Setup Instructions for Adobe GoLive

Select Edit and then Preferences.
Click the Network icon in the left pane, and then click the WebDAV icon.
Click New in the right pane.
Type or cut and paste your Team's WebDAV URL starting with http://. Enter your Team username and password in the appropriate fields.
If a pop-up menu appears, choose Basic when asked about authorization.
To copy files to your Team's directory on the ThinkQuest server, find the Synchronize command under the Site / WebDAV Server menu. This command will copy files in both directions (from your computer to the ThinkQuest server and from the ThinkQuest server to your computer). The function automatically checks for and updates differences in content.
Different versions of this software may work differently from the method above, so consult the GoLive documentation for more information.

2.4.8 Troubleshooting WebDAV Connections

Firstly, check that your WebDAV connections settings are using the correct

WebDAV URL
Username
Password

for your Team. Make sure that there are no additional characters or spaces added and the connection data matches the team information.
Removing then recreating your WebDAV connection may help fix any mistakes made when you first set up your connection.

Check that whatever software you are using to set up WebDAV access to the ThinkQuest server is up to date.

If using an FTP tool that is part of a web-authoring program (like Dreamweaver, FrontPage or Adobe GoLive) check for and install the latest updates and patches.
If using FTP or WebDAV software that is part of your operating system (such as Microsoft Windows Network Places or Webfolders) check for and install the latest updates for your systems, as these should include the latest WebDAV drivers.

If you still have no success, try using a different WebDAV tool. If a different tool works correctly, this means there is a problem with the program you were using. If a different tool also does not work, the problem is likely to be elsewhere. If possible also try connecting using a WebDAV tool on another computer.

If you are connecting to the ThinkQuest server from a network, make sure that your network settings will allow WebDAV connections.

If you are still unable to set up a WebDAV connection to the ThinkQuest server, please contact support@thinkquest.org and we will do our best to help you. In the meantime, you should use the website-based File Upload tool to upload your files.

2.4.9 WebDAV Resources

If you are looking for more information about using WebDAV, you may find some of the links below useful:

WebDAV.org: General WebDAV resources website
Wikipedia: Wiki reference page on WebDAV

2.5 Testing Your Site

Always Test your website on the ThinkQuest server (not just on your local computer) regularly throughout the competition, so that you can see it exactly as it will appear to Judges. Do not wait until the last minute to upload and test your files; otherwise, you may have limited time to resolve problems prior to the Entry Submission Deadline.

You can test your site using the following methods:

File Upload: Click any of the file names or use the Test Site button.
WebDAV: Copy and paste your Team's WebDAV URL into your web browser's address field.
From the WebDAV page: Click the Testing Site button.

2.5.1 Tips for Testing Your Site.

When testing your site, follow these guidelines to ensure that your entry has the best possible chance of being successful in the competition.

Always test your site after you have uploaded any new files or edited your existing files and folders.
When you open your site in a web browser, you should automatically see your home page. If you see a list of folders / directories, you do not have an index.html or index.htm file located in the top level of your Team directory (how to fix this). If you used a zip utility, make sure to read about proper usage.
If you encounter broken links and images, make sure you have uploaded all files and that links and image references are relative, not absolute.
After uploading files, ensure your site has not exceeded the maximum file space limit.
Refer back to the Rules page if you make any changes to your site to ensure you have not breached any rules.
Test your site using as many different computers as possible. Remember, your website will be visited by people from all over the world who may have access to different computers, browsers, and connections speeds. Also, different browsers may display your site differently.
Do a thorough final review of your site before the Entry Submission Deadline.
DO NOT do a final review of your site immediately before the Entry Submission Deadline. If you find any mistakes you will not have time to correct them.

2.5.2 ThinkQuest Banner

The ThinkQuest Banner is a special file that conveys important information about a website and the ThinkQuest program to visitors of the ThinkQuest Library (visit any site in the Library to see an example).

The ThinkQuest Banner file is added to the home page for your site before it is entered into the Library.

end of upload | go to site profile