HTML Tutorial on File Structure

DOS File Structure (Windows)

Contrary to some beliefs, DOS is still alive and well living in the Windows environment. The purpose of this section is to help you make a local environment for building your webpage.
When you see a web site being constructed, it usually goes from nothing to complete in minutes. It is doubtful that anyone can program that fast. It makes more sense to build it and test it on your local machine before you expose it to the world.

A directory (or folder) is a location for files. It is a more organized way of storing files and keeping things separated on your hard disk.

DOS Method
     To make a directory in DOS, type the following at the DOS Prompt (C:\>):

   C:\>MD\dirname

Where: dirname is the name of the directory you are making. For your webpage, you might want to call it WEBPAGE. The syntax for this command would be:

   C:\>MD\WEBPAGE

     Note: If you are planning on making several web sites, you may want to make a sub-directories like WEBPAGE\FIRST and WEBPAGE\SECOND. The syntax for these commands would be:

   C:\>MD\WEBPAGE\FIRST
   C:\>MD\WEBPAGE\SECOND

Windows Method
     This procedure will describe using Windows Explorer in Windows 98/ME/2K/NT/XP/Vista/W?. Click 'Start', 'Programs', 'Windows Explorer' (some windows versions put it under accessories).
     The Windows environment prefers to call a directory a folder, so, this procedure will follow that convention.
     Make sure the (C:\) folder is highlighted like the figure below. If you are making a sub-folder of another folder, make sure you are highlighting that folder.
Make a folder in Windows

Then, select 'File', 'New' and 'Folder'. The Windows Explorer will create a new folder and prompt you to name it.
Make a folder in Windows

DOS/Windows	Unix/Web Servers
Unix File Structure (Web) Unix runs on the best web servers and have for years. It is more stable and considerably more efficient than anything else. Because of this, Unix has established certain standards and procedures. Since most of you probably will never run your own Unix server, I won't go into too many details and glaze your brains. ;-) If you are thinking "I can make my own web page", then some details about Unix can make your life easier. More specifically, how a web server works. Unix does do some things a little differently and you should know some of these details.
DOS 11 character filename system. Windows 32 character filename system.	Unix 32 character filename system.
Not always case sensitive. FILENAME = Filename FILENAME = filename You could have all three filenames, but each would be called by its' correct name using the proper case.	Case sensitive. FILENAME (not =) Filename FILENAME (not =) filename You could have all three filenames, but the wrong case on any character would not bring up the name anyway.
A file name can include spaces "This is a file name.htm" would appear as: `This is a file name.htm` Recommend: `Thisisafilename.htm` or `This_is_a_file_name.htm` or `This-is-a-file-name.htm`	A file name does not include spaces "This is a file name.htm" would appear as: `This%20is%20a%20file%20name.htm` %20 is the hexadecimal value of a space ( ) which is decimal 32.
Directory\Filename Notice the slash between the Directory and Filename? It is a back slash (\).	Directory/Filename Notice the slash between the Directory and Filename? It is a forward slash (/). Minor, but significant difference. Web pages should always reference the Unix style, even when testing on your local machine (the browser knows).
directory/index.html When calling a page with your browser, always include the file name. Index.htm or index.html is usually the starting file in a web page.	directory/ In Unix, your browser can just point to the domain and the server will give you index.html (or index.htm). You only need to specify a file name if you are trying to find a different name. Occasionally, you may find a server that does something else, but that is setup by experts for their own purposes.

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HTML Tutorial on File Structure

DOS File Structure (Windows)

Unix File Structure (Web)

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