Transferring Files to Server

We use an adaptation of TEI Boilerplate to display our TEI-encoded files. Our installation of TEI Boilerplate resides on server space managed by the Center for Research and Instruction Technology (CIRT) at UNF.

In order to view the XML files we produce as part of our editorial work, they must be first transferred to the "content" folder of the file structure that makes up TEI Boilerplate. To move files to the server, we use FTP (file transfer protocol).

In many cases, Dr. McCarl or another individual in a leadership role with coloniaLab will take care of transferring files for you. Anyone who is asked to take on this responsibility, however, should follow these instructions:

1. Install an FTP client on your computer. There are numerous clients that are available for free. Here are couple you might consider: Forklift (Mac), CyberDuck (Mac & PC).
2. Launch the FTP client and choose the menu option or icon that allows you to create a new connection to a server (what this looks like this will vary, according to the client).
3. Choose "FTP" (not "SFTP") as the protocol.
4. Under "Server," enter the following: ftp.unfdhi.org.
5. For username and password, enter the credentials that Dr. McCarl will provide you.
6. Click "connect" (or similar, depending on client).
7. Once a connection is established, you should see two file structures. One will be your local machine, and the other will be the server.
8. Navigate to the folder named "content" on the server.
9. Navigate to the folder where you have saved your current version of your XML file on your local machine.
10. Drag the current version of your XML file from your local file structure to the "content" folder on the server. If this is the first time you transfer the file, it should simply copy over. If the file already exists on the server, you will be asked if you want to replace the existing copy. If you feel confident you're doing the right thing, say yes and continue.
11. When you navigate to the file in your browser, you should now see the updated copy. If you already had the older version of the file open in a browser window, you'll need to refresh to see the changes.

As #10 above suggests, you should exercise some caution when moving files to the server. This is particularly true because sometimes it can be easy to confuse the two panes in your FTP client, and accidentally drag in the wrong direction. Some FTP clients do not always open the remote and local file structures in the same panes, so you really need to be careful to make sure you're dragging from local to server. If you were to do the opposite (drag from server to local), you'd end up overwriting your updated file with the outdated copy on the server.

For this reason, it is always advisable to make a backup of your current file before you initiate any FTP transfer session. You could do this by making a copy of the file in the same folder on your local machine, with the date and the term "backup" added, as in "myxmlfile 20201001 backup.xml." You could also create a subfolder for each time you do an FTP transfer, bearing the date, and copy the file there without needing to change the filename.