question regarding file paths, web sites and unix

[RainDog]

I have a few projects that I have had to move from one place to another. right now I'm on the same server, but soon those things will be on a different one. now that those other items are in different directories, I have a new file path to them... and of course, none of the old links for jpgs, etc. work. one in particular is a pic heavy project with java script to open into larger pix, so I have, say 40.jpg and also 40a.jpg... and on and on until about 90 jpgs with mulitiple larger views.

sooooo, I'm not the greatest computer whiz in the world, tho I wish I were in these things.

in order to make the pages work, do I now have to download everything to my web editor and do a find and replace to make the names for everything? Is there any easier way of doing this? I want to be able to show this to someone soon, even tho I won't keep it where it is now... and I can't just dump it all into the big general directory dump where all my disorganized life was before.

anyone know what I need to do to make all the pages and images show up with the least possible amount of screaming?

tia-

[Bongo Prophet]

1. The key is having a "root" folder for your projects

If I am understanding correctly, you have some web projects on a home server, accessing it locally, and are now moving those to a mac, maybe a laptop. Is this correct?


If so, you need a real apache/mysql/php setup - the easiest way to do this is by using MAMP, which includes all you need in one (free)package - this makes moving things around a piece o cake.
http://www.mamp.info/en/index.php

Using MAMP,the file path should be Applications/MAMP/htdocs/projectfolders --VERY simple. You can even run it on a thumb drive this way. All that matters is that the root folder needs to be found - the htdocs folder is analogous to "public_html" on an online service.

If you are in dreamweaver for instance, have the "test server" point to your /projectfolders (they may be several websites in different folders) - or just choose the root folder, which would be the "htdocs", just so it matches your original file tree from that point on down the tree.

This is how I run several versions of drupal, joomla, or any simple html sites.

Hope that helps. If you have a PC, XAMP works in the same fashion.

[RainDog]

2. no, not on a home server

they are on a server of a huge biz with which I am currently associated. so I have a root directory, but within that I have directories that now hold stuff that used to be in *my* root directory - but not the root directory for the entire server. (This server, btw, does not get picked up by google, etc... it's not for that purpose. For now, I can put in the new file path name, i.e. www dot blah/ me/ root directory/ subdirectory . ht etc. and have that page come up. but none of the pix would come up b/c I had them in a separate folder (long story... I said I'm no computer whiz...) So I moved them all into the same subdirectory as the html pages. Now the images for that page will come up, but the internal links... page to page... no longer work because all the links are via the old file path. So the images dont' show either.

This and the other things I need to fix are sort of like "portfolio" pages. Examples of work. Heavy on pix. None of them were done with dreamweaver, etc. because I was not allowed to use anything other than unix/html/xhtml/css. - I had to learn how to create from scratch. supposedly I could be an info arch. project director, except that's not true - I'm not computer geeky enough, tho, again, I wish I were. Project directors have more exp. with all that than I do. My stuff is...sort of like presentations I've done - like 11 web pp with multiple pix on each page, and, again, those pix open up to larger pix. Then another set of web pages that show an event, say, again with pix.

I need to make these available asap to show someone. As I said, I could just dump them all back into my root directory for the web, but that will be such a mess... so I was trying to find out how to do it. That's why I wondered if I should copy the source to bbedit and then do a find/change for all the address links.

I actually have dream weaver b/c I use fireworks, but, again, have never been allowed to use anything like that b/c I had to learn what was going on under the hood, sort of... except it's like I know what's going on with the spark plugs and have no idea what's going on with the belts, or something like that.

[Bongo Prophet]

3. Ah, thx- Then I think the find/replace is your best bet.

Replace the first part of your file path to the new file path(s) - this will also give you a chance to organize things in a more optimized structure, in their proper folders.
Sympathies on stretching your brain re hardcore tech stuff - I am a designer, but have to really push that "left lobe" hard to code. It is well worth it when it finally works though!

Good luck, RainDog! :hi:

[RainDog]

4. you are so sweet!

thank you. yes, I am definitely not a "left brain" person. and sometimes I look at my xhtml book, etc. and still don't see what is most surely there. sigh.

oh, and I'm sending something to your pm for your opinion.