It’s wise to Organize
|5.Sep.2007Welcome to WordPress Wednesdays. I am your hostess and, as the hostess with the mostest, I think it’s only fittin’ to start things off by thanking AngellaD for giving me a name to my tutorials. Such the smart Canadian cookie, that one.
Also, before getting started, the focus of this, and ongoing, tutorial(s) is to confuse you even further help you with your self-hosted WordPress Blog. By default, the tutorials may also be applicable to WordPress.com hosted blogs, but that isn’t the choir for which I’m a preachin’. Self-hosted is where it’s at guys. Get there.
If you haven’t already ditched your free hosted blog at WordPress.com or elsewhere, Jessica and I created a step-by-step tutorial on how you can ditch your blogging training wheels. Check it out. There are graphics and everything; no charts though…we are nicer than that.
And finally, be sure to read completely through each tutorial before applying any of the actual instruction.
Back up to start.
Now, before we can get started, most of us need to back up just a bit. Back-up you say? Yes, back your little self up.
I’ve had several emails asking about how to properly install plugins, how to work within WordPress’ style.css, how to make graphic bullets, how to do this and that and the other. I’ve filed all of those ideas and will get to them one by one. However, I’ve not had one single person ask the most important question, “How do I organize my files on my hard drive to make my blogging life easier in the long run?” You might not be asking because you don’t know to ask, but then again, you might not be asking because you don’t care. Either way, if you want to smoothly run your self-hosted WordPress blog, organizing your files on your hard drive is the very first, most important thing you can do.
Why have your WordPress files saved on your hard drive?
I’m a person that asks “Why?” so I really don’t mind that you are probably asking the same thing right now. It is important for your hard drive to have a /directory/ that mimics all the WordPress files and directories you have on your server for several reasons.
- Keeping loss at a minimum. If your server crashes (it happens to the best of us), you do not lose your theme, images, plugins, etc…
- Less mistakes. It isn’t as easy to upload incorrect files to an incorrect /directory/ if your files and directories on your hard drive match the files and directories on the server.
- Saving Originals. Whenever you upload a new plugin to your blog, you’ll first download the zipped (.zip) file . Having your WordPress files on your hard drive allows you to download this file to the proper plugins /directory/ and keep the original zipped file easily accessible. Sometimes it is necessary to make modifications to plugin .php files before uploading them. If you retain an original of that file, when you err (and you will from time to time), you have a zipped up original as reference.
- Time Saver. If your /directory/ and files on your hard drive exactly match your server, you’ll save a ton of time looking for images, a recently changed graphic, or how about the newest version of your modified sidebar file? Save yourself some time and keep it all in one place.
- Neatness Counts. I’ve heard this from teachers from Kindergarten on up. And you know, as well as I do, that all we every really needed to know we learned in Kindergarten.
/directory/ or File?
I will use the words /directory/, directories, file or files throughout my tutorials. In every case a /directory/ will be a folder in which to store files. I will often refer to it as /directory/ because that is a strong visual reminder that it is a FOLDER rather than an actual file I’ll store inside the folder.
Which brings me to file or files. A file is stored within a /directory/. A file is indicated by a suffix like .doc, .php, .html, .wav, .mp3, etc…
I realize it can be confusing when these words are used interchangeably across the internet. Here, however, they will not be interchangeable.
A file is a file.
A /directory/ is a /directory/.
Amen.
Organizing your WordPress Files 101
Step 1: Create a home for your blog files.
My blog files are always filed in a /directory/ named for the domain. For instance, my omsh.com files are all in a /directory/ named /ohmystinkinheck/ on my hard drive.
Where you place this /directory/ is up to you. Mine is saved at the following path on my hard drive:
My Documents > My Webs > ohmystinkinheck
Step 2: Have an Original of your version of WordPress.
Whether you followed the WordPress Famous 5-Minute Installation (which most say works out to more like 15 or 20 minutes for first-timers) OR you purchased web hosting that offers cPanel’s Fantastico Auto-Installer, and installed WordPress automagically using it, you now have WordPress files on your server space.
- For those that did the Famous 5-Minute Install, you should already have a zipped copy of your WordPress /directory/ of files available on your hard drive (unless you deleted them post installation). Good. We’ll get back to you.
- For those that used cPanel’s Fantastic Auto-Installer (through your web host), you still should download the original version of the WordPress files YOU are currently using. If your install is recent enough, then the version available to download at WordPress.org would probably be the correct version. If you installed WordPress more than a few days back, always check to find out what version you are running as it could already be outdated. To do this, log into your WordPress’ Dashboard and scroll to the footer where the version is given.
When logged in, that wee smidgeon of text in the bottom right corner of your footer is your version.
At the time this post was written (2007) I was running WordPress Version 2.7.1, which was the most recent version available. But what if I was still running 2.1.2 (God forbid it.) and needed a back-up of that version? To find any previous WordPress version to download, go to the WordPress Release Archive and scroll until you find the version you’re running, then download the zipped directory of files.
Step 3: Filing your original version of WordPress.
Now that you have downloaded your current original version of WordPress, save it within your domain /directory/ you created on your hard drive. You will save both the zipped original version and your working original version in your domain /directory/.
My Documents > My Webs > ohmystinkinheck > wordpress v2.1.2
If you are on a PC, once you have downloaded and unzipped your WordPress version, you will get what I call the “middle man” /directory/ within it called /wordpress/. I like to click thru as few directories as possible to get where I’m going, so the first thing I do is click into the “middle man” /wordpress/ and cut all the directories and files out, pasting them DIRECTLY inside the /wordpress v2.1.2/ directory. Then, when it is empty, I can delete the /wordpress/ “middle man” directory and not have to deal with that extra click again.
So, here is what I had within the /wordpress v2.1.2/ directory once I cut out the “middle man”:
That right there is the heart of your WordPress blog directories and files – at least with this version.
PLEASE NOTE: At the time this tutorial was written, v2.1.2 was the most current version of WordPress. However, don’t let that make you nervous – the content may have changed, but the organization on your hard drive hasn’t. Yours will just show a more recent version than mine. Okay? Okay.
Step 4: Filing your current working version of WordPress.
- If you have been using WordPress for a while, your online version is going to differ from your original zipped version that you just filed on your hard drive. The WordPress directories and files found online are called your “working version”. Most likely you’ve made changes, uploaded images, modified the CSS and other files, and you need an exact replica of THAT version on your hard drive. Easy enough. All you need to do is download all the files into your unzipped current wordpress file. In my case, I’d download them all into /wordpress v2.1.2/. Any “like” files will overwrite/update the files currently on my hard drive.
- PLEASE DO NOT download one version of WordPress files over a different version of WordPress files. The small, eensy changes that are made from one version to the next can really cause quite a burp in your blogging software. Always make sure you are downloading “same” versions to “same” versions.
- If you have never used WordPress, then this is an unnecessary step as your online version of your WordPress version still matches exactly with the version you’ve unzipped on your hard drive. Is anyone else gaining an aversion to “version”? Exactly.
From this point forward everything that we work with will be within the opened (unzipped) file of your current “working” wordpress /directory/.
Just remember:
Til next time!
*wave*
46 Comments
nancypants
Sooooo…. can you tell me how much you would charge to do the glorious things you’ve done for Ree? I love her set up (and yours) and would lurve to know how to acquire this kind of arrangement for myself. I’m perpetually annoyed with how slow my blog can be and how persnickity blogger can be at times…
??? :^D
OMSH
nancypants – I emailed you my rates. :)
Kami
Um, right. Still not ready to lose the training wheels. That looks like greek to me!
:-)
Someday. Someday.
Just Beachy
Oh Good…we can ask questions… I play in dreamweaver, so I just pulled (downloaded, getted) everything – /directories/, files, images – from my server to my hard drive, is that the same? Also, when we make changes to our site do we have to “override” each file that is already on the hard drive or can we just say no to all to not override and only download anything new?
OMSH
Just Beachy – Yes “downloaded” from the server using dreamweaver is he same as downloading from anywhere else.
Saved on your hard drive is good.
I would encourage you NOT to manipulate any WordPress files in Dreamweaver. Instead, use a text editor like editplus.com (can be downloaded for free and it actually color-codes making it easier to “see” changes in the html code).
I might be misunderstanding you. Are you saying that you’re making changes online and then downloading them so your hard drive files match? As in, you’re making changes within the Theme Editor of WordPress’s Dashboard?
Ang in TX
Wow, very good information I will look forward to Wednesdays. I never thought of keeping my changes to a theme in wordpress on my hard drive- duh!
Would you e-mail me your rates please? I have all these features I want to incorporate from different themes but don’t know how to pull it all together and could you tell me is it better to use gif files over a jpeg.
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!
Just Beachy
Thanks OMSH. I just used Dreamweaver to download them to my hard-drive…. I wouldn’t dare make changes where I shouldnt be messin unless I had directions…..heee
Yes, as in adding you add additional pages, images, etc, and also using the theme editor online, How do you then get your hard drive “site files” to match without having to “re” download your entire site again?
Tina
Thanks for doing this! So far my hubby is my WordPress Support person (he does it all, I just blog)…I know he’d appreciate it if I learned a bit about what I’m using!
Angella
Thanks for the link love. You’re a pretty smart cookie yourself :)
I plan on doing this in the next few days! For an accountant, my file organization skills are poor. I can organize my house, but my computer files? Yikes!
This was the perfect place for you to start :)
OMSH
Ang in TX – I emailed you my rates.
In response to your query about .gif files and .jpg files…the answer is, it depends. Bwahahaha! If your image has less than 256 colors, use a .gif. So we’re talking graphic buttons and banners … think graphic -v- photo. Photos should be in .jpg because they have millions of colors. If you save a photo as a .gif you’ll see what I mean – it pixelates.
In some situations graphics do better as .jpg images if they have are heavily layered with photos, gradients, and/or text with drop shadows and the like.
LOOK at the image. Does it look good as a .gif? Does it pixelate? Would it have more depth as a.jpg?
You can always use your graphic software to reduce the size of your .jpg file or include it in your .css or use flickr to reduce load time.
Just Beachy – You aren’t going to like my response, because I’m going to draw you away from Dreamweaver for a second to say that using OTHER File Transfer Software will allow you to download JUST THAT ONE FILE and/or upload a change to a SINGLE FILE.
For instance, if I change ‘Stylesheet’ in the WordPress Theme Editor, I could simply download the style.css to my hard drive to retain that simple change.
I use Filezilla to transfer files to my server space. I will talk about the ease of doing this using Filezilla and some other basic tools – perhaps next week.
But if you do choose to use the Theme Editor to alter files, you can also go to your website with many web hosts and download single files through your web hosting File Manager.
What host do you use for your blog?
OMSH
Tina – You’re welcome. You will be surprised by how mucch a little bit of knowledge can explode into a greater understanding bit by bit.
Angella – I would have taken you for a highly organized computer file kind of gal.
Angella
My work files? Totally organized. My blog files? UTTER CHAOS.
I’m on it :)
bethany actually
Yay! I am glad to hear I have been doing something right all these years with my file organization. Uh, back when I *had* a website, that is.
I know, I know…blog. I’m workin’ on it. :-) Thanks for the info, it will be helpful very soon!
Amy
Does this mean that you don’t recommend editing your theme files via the Dashboard? I know, I’m getting a little bit ahead of things here, but since I usually do this, the files on my hard drive will never match exactly, unless I save the hosted files to my hard drive on occasion.
Just Beachy
Nah, I get you, I can be drawn away. I just use it because that is what I have/know and you do have the ability to “get and put” any one file to and from server to hard drive, hard drive to server, it has a full FTP program within it. I will go and look at your suggestion for that and also editing (which I do through the theme editor as well). I guess, my thought, question, miscommunication, misunderstanding, came from your Step #4. You were speaking about initially and I was thinking about after that, (do you keep a copy of your current site, with entries, photos, etc. on your hard drive), you don’t redownload your whole site each time, just any changes, I missed that you we speaking about initally, I was getting ahead too.
I am hosted with Dreamhost.
Atomic Bombshell
Excellent advice. This is stuff I learned the hard way through trial and error. Thank you.
comfortablycrazy
I think I love you. I have to get my printer fixed so I can print this and keep it in a folder. It’ll be my own little WP for Dummies book.
And I love how you always have a different pic for your banner.
OMSH
bethany actually – With all the time and attention you are devoting to “getting started” with your blog I can’t imagine what fabulousness is in store for us. :)
Amy – I absolutely do not recommend using the DashBoard Theme Editor. I’m sorry to confuse you. However, MANY of my clients use it because they have a fear of learning how to use an independent FTP like Filezilla to upload/download.
I will go into that more very, very soon.
I always edit my theme files on my hard drive and then upload them. This way I always have a 100% up-to-date version of everything on my hard drive.
It “can” be done the other way around (editing within the Theme Editor), but it is time consuming.
There is also the question of widgets. If you use widgets then you’ll have to work in the DashBoard. I don’t use widgets.
This sounds so snotty reading over all this. The thing is, the widgets, imo, are the same as WYSIWYG editors – they keep users from actually learning the code behind the scenes.
Now that everyone is fleeing … heh heh
comfortablycrazy – my rotating images in my banner are easily done across any blog or website. It isn’t a plugin, but it is an easy code. Perhaps I’ll do a tutorial on it soon too. :)
KYouell
Oh, yes, please, explain the rotating header images! Especially if it can even be done on the dreaded Blogger.
I have a feeling that I’m going to be asking for a domain name & WP dollars to be added to our budget because I am digging the way you’ve started this out. Me likey your brains!
Moose
Oh man. I am HOPELESS. File save? What? Whenever I start making a little money (PLEASE GOD), I will also be inquiring about your rates. :)
Laura
it’s funny…i read all that and i only use livejournal. :P heh. and i had FUN reading that, even though none of it applies to me. lol. weird.
OMSH
Atomic Bombshell – You’re welcome. :) I learned a lot through trial and error as well.
KYouell – It can’t be done on Blogspot because you have to have access to server files. Sorry. :(
WP really isn’t that expensive and well, even when I was JUST blogging – it was worth it. Some people buy scrapbooking supplies – I pay for hosting. :) I bet I spend less annually. heh heh
Moose – Bring it on. And? You can totally save files. I know this b/c YOU can follow a recipe. Anyone who can follow a recipe can save files.
Laura – I welcome you. *grin*
KYouell
Well, we have our own domain already (hubby bought his last name) and I’ve already got him looking to see if I can just move it there. So I’m working on it!
OMSH
KYouell – That’s awesome! Good!
elysa
I keep all of my files on my computer organized but I had never thought of keeping my local copy of all of my blog “stuff” but I see the importance of backing everything up. I’m not sure why I never thought of that. I will be doing that now.
republicans suck
oh man I need to book mark this
Lori E
I teach computers to seniors and found the best way to get the folder/file confusion under control is to bring actual manila folders to the class with some photos, papers, computer game discs etc. I put a folder on the real “desktop” and show them how to organize all the loose papers, photos and games inside other folders. Just like in real life you can put one folder inside another. Who knew?
People, escpecially seniors need to be able to see what you are talking about.
Now I should say I am having one heck of a time getting through this whole web hosting, domain registering (just did that last night) file saving brain busting information. You guys are great and I think I am so lucky to have found your site. I have learned more from you this week than from any other source. I am falling in like with you but not in the creepy stalker kind of way just in the wow I am so impressed kind of way.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Allison
Hi. Well, first of all, I’ve been glued to your tutorials for a few weeks now. Im a serious beginner. Ive now done the godaddy name, liquidweb, and wordpress install. And so Im starting at the beginning with your tutorials. My question is: (Im on a mac) I have my wordpress folder located at User/sites/mysitename/wordpress. Inside that wordpress folder I do not see anything that says wordpress 7.2.1. But the rest looks like what you have above in your picture in your tutorial. Does it sound like I’ve got it right? How do I get to my website on my computer? And then how do I upload after Ive made my edits. (if you answer that last one in an upcoming tutorial – dont bother with it) I definitely have to breathe in and out at the end of the tutorials. : ) Thanks so much for doing them! You are a wonderful writer.
Allison
Ok, After thinking about this, I think Im ok. On to the next thing now. Thanks!
OMSH
Lori E. – I’m honored…I think. *wink* No seriously, I’m feeling the love. It is time consuming to write tutorials that people other than myself can understand and follow; so thanks.
Allison – Congratulations! You sound like me when I was beginning all of this. One step at a time. One tutorial at a time. You’ll get there.
I am on a Mac too – wasn’t at the time I wrote these tutorials, but I’ve seen come over to the dark side. Ooooooh, love it.
It does sound like you’ve got it right. I’ve noticed when I download and unzip files on my Mac I don’t have that same “middle man” effect either; it is a PC anomaly. Thank you for bringing that to my attention! I’ll be sure to note it above.
Dawn
OK…so I’ve done created the directories on my computer. My blog, which I haven’t done anything with yet, now has a different domain name than the one I used to set up my LiquidWeb account. Soooo.. the directories that Fantastico used to install WP use the original domain in the root (if I’m using that term correctly) part. The directories I created on my computer use the new domain name. Should I go through the trouble of fixing this?? If they don’t match exactly does that go against all the work I did as part of this tutorial?
Also, I can’t view the site. I get directed to a LiquidWeb site that says something like “this site is under construction”.
Thank you!
Keith Davis
Hi Heather
Starting to get organised, starting with a copy of my site on my hard drive – database next!
I’ve just FTP’d a copy of my site onto my hard drive and notice that there are a few files, which are not part of WordPress…
cgi-bin for instance and a couple of files, which appear to have been created when I set up the site using Fantastico (fantversion.php and fantastico_fileslist.txt).
Presumably these files would be needed if I had to reinstall? And I should keep them.
Deb
Hiya, was sent this link by a wised up wordpress-ess who bequeathed me her word-press blog and I have to confess to getting lost after downloading the zipped version of my word press file. Specifically, this part:
“All you need to do is download all the files into your unzipped current wordpress file.”
Um. Where are ‘my’ files inside word press?
Feeling quite stupid right now, but I don’t know if there is a central point or similar where I can ‘see’ all the blog posts, graphics etc that are unique to the blog?
Thanks heaps!
Deb
OMSH
Deb – The files I was speaking of are on the server. Those are accessible to download via FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
Blog posts are stored in your web host’s database, not in directories and files on the server.
Graphics are stored in different places: within the WordPress theme directory, within your image upload file directories, etc…
All directories and files are located on the server and are accessible via FTP to download to your hard drive if you desire to have a replica of your online WordPress files on your home computer.
marc t
Thank you for the post and the organization information. I use to have a very large website and I used filezilla to upload my photos to the “Photos” directory and my images to the “Images” directory.
Since I now have decided to transistion to a Blog, I’m concerned that my photos and documents are stored “randomly” in month folders. Should I create separate photos folders, pdf folders, images folders etc and not allow WordPress to upload my stuff in these month folders?
OMSH
marc t – I’m
anal retentiveorganization-oriented and like VERY MUCH to have more specific directories on the server, so I don’t personally care for the wordpress upload feature.That said, I use flickr for a good deal of my photos and I can organize the heck out of my flickr account, so that works for me too.
I think the answer here is a personal thing – what do you specifically want for your files. What won’t keep you up at night? There really isn’t a right or wrong. :)
marc t
Thank you OMSH. I have tons of photos that I must upload to either my WordPress site or to Flickr. I have total control over my blog site but I don’t know anything about Flickr. My relatives can download family photos from my blog. Can they download family photos from Flickr without having to pay a fee?
Also, does Flickr compress my photos or do they leave them alone? I would prefer my photos not be altered by a photo site just to preserve storage space on their servers…
OMSH
marc t – Yes, relatives can download family photos from Flickr without having to pay a fee, but they do have to have an account. Once they have an account you can group them as family and you can designate what group has rights to download your photos and what group doesn’t. ;)
Flickr does not compress your photos – you can upload original resolution.
marc t
thanks omsh!
Cherry
Hi, could you email me with your rates? My boss has me doing his blog and to be honest he wants more than I can/want to do…I can’t spend hours learning new stuff AND do my job too. I have a life, kids to take care of, horses that need ridden, pictures that need taken, gardening that needs gardening! LOL!
I am sick of business related computer stuff! Actually copying and pasting his rants into the blog is one thing, setting up all this other stuff is another!
Tori @ The Shiksa in the Kitchen
Neatness counts… so true! I now officially have over 100,000 photos on two separate hard drives, most of them food photos. Seriously? Seriously. Thank goodness I’m a stickler for organization, or I wouldn’t have a clue where to find anything! Just backed up to a second hard drive because I’m officially paranoid. Better safe than sorry. ;)