User Guide Cancel

Getting and putting files to and from your server

  1. Dreamweaver User Guide
  2. Introduction
    1. Responsive web design basics
    2. What's new in Dreamweaver
    3. Web development using Dreamweaver - An Overview
    4. Dreamweaver / Common Questions
    5. Keyboard shortcuts
    6. Dreamweaver system requirements
    7. Feature summary
  3. Dreamweaver and Creative Cloud
    1. Synchronize Dreamweaver settings with Creative Cloud
    2. Creative Cloud Libraries in Dreamweaver
    3. Using Photoshop files in Dreamweaver
    4. Work with Adobe Animate and Dreamweaver
    5. Extract web-optimized SVG files from Libraries
  4. Dreamweaver workspaces and views
    1. The Dreamweaver workspace
    2. Optimize Dreamweaver workspace for visual development
    3. Search files based on filename or content | Mac OS
  5. Set up sites
    1. About Dreamweaver sites
    2. Set up a local version of your site
    3. Connect to a publishing server
    4. Set up a testing server
    5. Import and export Dreamweaver site settings
    6. Bring existing websites from a remote server to your local site root
    7. Accessibility features in Dreamweaver
    8. Advanced settings
    9. Set site preferences for transferring files
    10. Specify proxy server settings in Dreamweaver
    11. Synchronize Dreamweaver settings with Creative Cloud
    12. Using Git in Dreamweaver
  6. Manage files
    1. Create and open files
    2. Manage files and folders
    3. Getting and putting files to and from your server
    4. Check in and check out files
    5. Synchronize files
    6. Compare files for differences
    7. Cloak files and folders in your Dreamweaver site
    8. Enable Design Notes for Dreamweaver sites
    9. Preventing potential Gatekeeper exploit
  7. Layout and design
    1. Use visual aids for layout
    2. About using CSS to lay out your page
    3. Design responsive websites using Bootstrap
    4. Creating and using media queries in Dreamweaver
    5. Present content with tables
    6. Colors
    7. Responsive design using fluid grid layouts
    8. Extract in Dreamweaver
  8. CSS
    1. Understand Cascading Style Sheets
    2. Laying out pages using CSS Designer
    3. Using CSS preprocessors in Dreamweaver
    4. How to set CSS Style preferences in Dreamweaver
    5. Move CSS rules in Dreamweaver
    6. Convert inline CSS to a CSS rule in Dreamweaver
    7. Work with div tags
    8. Apply gradients to background
    9. Create and edit CSS3 transition effects in Dreamweaver
    10. Format code
  9. Page content and assets
    1. Set page properties
    2. Set CSS heading properties and CSS link properties
    3. Work with text
    4. Find and replace text, tags, and attributes
    5. DOM panel
    6. Edit in Live View
    7. Encoding documents in Dreamweaver
    8. Select and view elements in the Document window
    9. Set text properties in the Property inspector
    10. Spell check a web page
    11. Using horizontal rules in Dreamweaver
    12. Add and modify font combinations in Dreamweaver
    13. Work with assets
    14. Insert and update dates in Dreamweaver
    15. Create and manage favorite assets in Dreamweaver
    16. Insert and edit images in Dreamweaver
    17. Add media objects
    18. Adding videos in Dreamweaver
    19. Insert HTML5 video
    20. Insert SWF files
    21. Add audio effects
    22. Insert HTML5 audio in Dreamweaver
    23. Work with library items
    24. Using Arabic and Hebrew text in Dreamweaver
  10. Linking and navigation
    1. About linking and navigation
    2. Linking
    3. Image maps
    4. Troubleshoot links
  11. jQuery widgets and effects
    1. Use jQuery UI and mobile widgets in Dreamweaver
    2. Use jQuery effects in Dreamweaver
  12. Coding websites
    1. About coding in Dreamweaver
    2. Coding environment in Dreamweaver
    3. Set coding preferences
    4. Customize code coloring
    5. Write and edit code
    6. Code hinting and code completion
    7. Collapse and expand code
    8. Reuse code with snippets
    9. Lint code
    10. Optimize code
    11. Edit code in Design view
    12. Work with head content for pages
    13. Insert server-side includes in Dreamweaver
    14. Using tag libraries in Dreamweaver
    15. Importing custom tags into Dreamweaver
    16. Use JavaScript behaviors (general instructions)
    17. Apply built-in JavaScript behaviors
    18. About XML and XSLT
    19. Perform server-side XSL transformations in Dreamweaver
    20. Performing client-side XSL transformations in Dreamweaver
    21. Add character entities for XSLT in Dreamweaver
    22. Format code
  13. Cross-product workflows
    1. Installing and using extensions to Dreamweaver
    2. In-App updates in Dreamweaver
    3. Insert Microsoft Office documents in Dreamweaver (Windows only)
    4. Working with Fireworks and Dreamweaver
    5. Edit content in Dreamweaver sites using Contribute
    6. Dreamweaver-Business Catalyst integration
    7. Create personalized email campaigns
  14. Templates
    1. About Dreamweaver templates
    2. Recognizing templates and template-based documents
    3. Create a Dreamweaver template
    4. Create editable regions in templates
    5. Create repeating regions and tables in Dreamweaver
    6. Use optional regions in templates
    7. Define editable tag attributes in Dreamweaver
    8. How to create nested templates in Dreamweaver
    9. Edit, update, and delete templates
    10. Export and import xml content in Dreamweaver
    11. Apply or remove a template from an existing document
    12. Edit content in Dreamweaver templates
    13. Syntax rules for template tags in Dreamweaver
    14. Set highlighting preferences for template regions
    15. Benefits of using templates in Dreamweaver
  15. Mobile and multiscreen
    1. Create media queries
    2. Changing page orientation for mobile devices
    3. Create web apps for mobile devices using Dreamweaver
  16. Dynamic sites, pages and web forms
    1. Understand web applications
    2. Set up your computer for application development
    3. Troubleshoot database connections
    4. Removing connection scripts in Dreamweaver
    5. Design dynamic pages
    6. Dynamic content sources overview
    7. Define sources of dynamic content
    8. Add dynamic content to pages
    9. Changing dynamic content in Dreamweaver
    10. Display database records
    11. Provide and troubleshoot live data in Dreamweaver
    12. Add custom server behaviors in Dreamweaver
    13. Building forms using Dreamweaver
    14. Use forms to collect information from users
    15. Create and enable ColdFusion forms in Dreamweaver
    16. Create web forms
    17. Enhanced HTML5 support for form elements
    18. Develop a form using Dreamweaver
  17. Building applications visually
    1. Build master and detail pages in Dreamweaver
    2. Build search and results pages
    3. Build a record insert page
    4. Build an update record page in Dreamweaver
    5. Building record delete pages in Dreamweaver
    6. Use ASP commands to modify database in Dreamweaver
    7. Build a registration page
    8. Build a login page
    9. Build a page that only authorized users can access
    10. Securing folders in Coldfusion using Dreamweaver
    11. Using ColdFusion components in Dreamweaver
  18. Test, preview, and publish websites
    1. Preview pages
    2. Preview Dreamweaver web pages on multiple devices
    3. Test your Dreamweaver site
  19. Troubleshooting
    1. Fixed issues
    2. Known issues

 

 

Getting and putting files to and from your server, and managing file transfers using Dreamweaver.

If you’re working in a collaborative environment, use the Check In/Check Out system to transfer files between local and remote sites. If you’re the only person working on the remote site, however, you can use the Get and Put commands to transfer files without checking them in or out.

For more information on checking in and checking out files, see Check in and check out files.

When you transfer a document between a local and remote folder using the Files panel, you have the option of transferring the document’s dependent files. Dependent files are images, external style sheets, and other files referenced in your document that a browser loads when it loads the document.

Note:

It’s usually a good idea to download dependent files when checking out a new file, but if the latest versions of the dependent files are already on the local disk, there’s no need to download them again. This is also true for uploading and checking in files: no need if up-to-date copies are already at the remote site.

Library items are treated as dependent files.

Some servers report errors when putting library items. However, you can cloak these files to prevent them from being transferred.

About background file transfers

You can perform other, non-server-related, activities while you’re getting or putting files. Background file transfer works for all of the transfer protocols supported by Dreamweaver: FTP, SFTP, LAN, WebDAV, and RDS.

Non-server-related activities include common operations like typing, editing external style sheets, generating site-wide reports, and creating new sites.

Server-related activities that Dreamweaver cannot perform during file transfers include the following:

  • Put/Get/Check in/Check out files

  • Undo check-out

  • Create a database connection

  • Bind dynamic data

  • Preview data in Live view

  • Insert a web service

  • Delete remote files or folders

  • Preview in a browser on a testing server

  • Save a file to a remote server

  • Insert an image from a remote server

  • Open a file from a remote server

  • Auto put files upon saving

  • Drag files to the remote site

  • Cut, copy, or paste files on the remote site

  • Refresh Remote view

By default, the Background File Activity dialog box is open during file transfers. You can minimize the dialog box by clicking the Minimize button in the upper right corner. Closing the dialog box during file transfers results in a cancelation of the operation.

Get files from a remote server

You can copy files from the remote site to your local site in one of the following ways:

Dreamweaver creates a log of file activity during the transfer that you can view and save.

Note:

You cannot turn background file transfer off. If you have the detail log open in the Background File Activity dialog box, you can close that to improve performance.

Dreamweaver also records all FTP file transfer activity. If an error occurs when you are transferring a file using FTP, the Site FTP log can help you determine the problem.

Get files from a remote server using the Files panel

  1. In the Files panel (Window > Files), select the files you want to download.

    Usually you select these files in the Remote view, but you can select the corresponding files in the Local view if you prefer. If the Remote view is active, then Dreamweaver copies the selected files to the local site; if the Local view is active, then Dreamweaver copies the remote versions of the selected local files to the local site.

    Note:

    To get only those files for which the remote version is more recent than the local version, use the Synchronize option.

  2. Do one of the following to get the file:
    • Click the Get button in the Files panel toolbar.

    • Right-click (Windows) or Control‑click (Macintosh) the file in the Files panel, then select Get from the context menu.

  3. Click Yes in the Dependent Files dialog box to download dependent files; if you already have local copies of the dependent files, click No. The default is to not download dependent files. You can set this option at Edit > Preferences > Site.

    Dreamweaver downloads the selected files, as follows:

    • If you’re using the Check In/Check Out system, getting a file results in a read-only local copy of the file; the file remains available on the remote site or testing server for other team members to check out.

    • If you’re not using the Check In/Check Out system, getting a file results in a copy that has both read and write privileges.

    Note:

    If you’re working in a collaborative environment—that is, if others are working on the same files—you should not disable Enable File Check In and Check Out. If other people are using the Check In/Check Out system with the site, you should use that system as well.

    To stop the file transfer at any time, click the Cancel button in the Background File Activity dialog box.  

Get files from a remote server using the Document window

  1. Make sure the document is active in the Document window.
  2. Do one of the following to get the file:
    • Select Site > Get.

    • Click the File Management icon in the Document window toolbar, then select Get from the menu.

    Note:

    If the current file is not part of the current site in the Files panel, Dreamweaver attempts to determine which locally defined site the current file belongs to. If the current file belongs to only one local site, Dreamweaver opens that site, then performs the Get operation.

Display the FTP log

  1. Click the Options menu in the upper right corner of the Files panel.
  2. Select View > Site FTP Log.
Note:

In the Expanded Files Panel, you can click the FTP Log button to display the log.

Put files on a remote server

You can put files from the local site to the remote site, generally without changing the file’s checked out status.

There are two common situations where you use the Put command instead of Check In:

  • You’re not in a collaborative environment and you are not using the Check In/Check Out system.
  • You want to put the current version of the file on the server but you are going to keep editing it.
Note:

If you put a file that didn’t previously exist on the remote site and you’re using the Check In/Check Out system, the file is copied to the remote site and is then checked out to you so that you can continue editing.

You can use the Files panel or the Document window to put files. Dreamweaver creates a log of file activity during the transfer that you can view and save.

Note:

You cannot turn background file transfer off. If you have the detail log open in the Background File Activity dialog box, you can close that to improve performance.  

Dreamweaver also records all FTP file transfer activity. If an error occurs when you are transferring a file using FTP, the Site FTP log can help you determine the problem.

For a tutorial on putting files on a remote server, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0163.

For a tutorial on troubleshooting publishing problems, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0164.

Put files on a remote or testing server using the Files panel

  1. In the Files panel (Window > Files), select the files to upload.

    Usually you select these in the Local view, but you may select the corresponding files in the Remote view if you prefer.

    Note:

    You can put only those files for which the local version is more recent than the remote version.

  2. Do one of the following to put the file on the remote server:
    • Click the Put button in the Files panel toolbar.

    • Right-click (Windows) or Control‑click (Macintosh) the file in the Files panel, then select Put from the context menu.

  3. If the file hasn’t been saved, a dialog box appears (if you set this preference in the Site category of the Preferences dialog box) allowing you to save the file before putting it on the remote server. Click Yes to save the file or No to put the previously saved version on the remote server.
    Note:

    If you do not save the file, any changes you’ve made since the last time you saved will not be put onto the remote server. However, the file remains open, so you can still save the changes after putting the file on the server if you want.

  4. Click Yes to upload dependent files along with the selected files, or click No to refrain from uploading dependent files. The default is to not upload dependent files. You can set this option at Edit > Preferences > Site.
    Note:

    It’s usually a good idea to upload dependent files when checking in a new file, but if the latest versions of the dependent files are already on the remote server, there’s no need to upload them again.

    To stop the file transfer at any time, click the Cancel button in the Background File Activity dialog box.

Put files on a remote server using the Document window

  1. Make sure the document is active in the Document window.
  2. Do one of the following to put the file:
    • Select Site > Put.

    • Click the File Management icon in the Document window toolbar, then select Put from the menu.

    Note:

    If the current file is not part of the current site in the Files panel, Dreamweaver attempts to determine which locally defined site the current file belongs to. If the current file belongs to only one local site, Dreamweaver opens that site, then performs the Put operation.

Display the FTP log

  1. Click the Options menu in the upper right corner of the Files panel.
  2. Select View > Site FTP Log.
Note:

In the Expanded Files Panel, you can click the FTP Log button to display the log.

Manage file transfers

You can view the status of file transfer operations, as well as a list of transferred files and their outcomes (transfer successful, skipped, or failed). You can also save a log of the file activity.

Note:

Dreamweaver lets you perform other non-server-related activities while you’re transferring files to or from a server.

Cancel a file transfer

  1. Click the Cancel button in the Background File Activity dialog box. If the dialog box isn’t showing, click the File Activity button at the bottom of the Files panel.

Show the Background File Activity dialog box during transfers

Click the File Activity or Log button at the bottom of the Files panel.

View details of the last file transfer

  1. Click the Log button at the bottom of the Files panel to open the Background File Activity dialog box.
  2. Click the Details expander arrow.

Save a log of the last file transfer

  1. Click the Log button at the bottom of the Files panel to open the Background File Activity dialog box.
  2. Click the Save Log button and save the information as a text file.

    You can review the file activity by opening the log file in Dreamweaver or in any text editor.

 Adobe

Get help faster and easier

New user?