Saving+Locally

=The DOMAIN File=


 * Printable Version**

When iWeb is saved, the file is saved to your local harddrive called a DOMAIN file. This file holds all of the data (text, formatting, photos) in the iWeb application. This file is stored on your harddrive, almost hidden in a way to protect it from becoming disrupted.
 * The DOMAIN File**

When you publish an iWeb, you push the files out to HTML files into your site name folder. You can publish these files right to your desktop, or host it onto a webserver. If you publish the files locally on your harddrive, it cannot be viewed by Internet Browsers, obviously. You would need to host it to a webserver such as a .MAC account, or your school own web server. (See How to Publish for further instructions).
 * Publishing iWeb and Saving iWeb are two different things.**

If you need to back-up your iweb, simply make a copy of the DOMAIN file (option + click and drag) and host it in another lcoation. This location can be on a district server, a flash drive, or a CD-ROM. Listed below are some recommendations in utilizing the DOMAIN file, and making the most out of your iweb site.
 * Backing-up your iweb**

When you publish an iWeb, you push the files out to HTML files into your site name folder. You cannot edit these HTML files unless you use a program such as dreamweaver. You can publish these files right to your desktop, or host it onto a webserver. If you publish the files locally on your harddrive, it cannot be viewed by Internet Browsers. You would need to host it to a webserver such as a .MAC account, or your school own web server. (See How to publish for further instructions).
 * Publishing iWeb and Saving iWeb are two different things.**

**CAUTION** : **//Be certain to save and back up your iWeb development Domain file. You MUST have this and work from this whenever you need to make any changes to your iWeb site. You cannot directly change the files created on the website when you publish to a folder (above). You must first make the changes in the iWeb application using the Domain file, then re-publish to your iWeb folder to make the changes.//** **//If your Domain file is lost, you will not be able to revise or update your iWeb site. Instead, you would have to start from scratch with a new Domain file.//**

>Macintosh HD >House icon >Library >Application Support >iWeb >Domain
 * Here s the path on a MAC computer to access the DOMAIN file:**


 * Figure 1.1**

Typically, you can leave the domain file in it's original location and not have to worry about it. If you need to back it up, you now know where to go. However, If you will be creating a large website (more than 10 pages, you might want to consider moving this file to a better location for easier access. If you think your website will consist of more than 10 pages, or you want to create more than one website, you want to create more than one DOMIAN file.

Open the FINDER, click on the house icon with the username. Inside the right window, create a NEW folder and title it SITES. The machine will pick up the name and put a “Sites logo” on the front of the folder icon. (You can also do this for: “Movies”, “Music”, and “Pictures”). Having a Sites folder here will give you better ease of creating multiple iweb sites. (See Figure 1.2)
 * Moving the DOMAIN File another location** (Optional- Use with Caution)




 * Figure 1.2**

Once the SITES folder is created, drag it over to the left sidebar as shown in **Figure 1.4** below. //(This is an alias folder allowing quick access to it)// Now drag your DOMAIN file from it’s original location (refer to figure 1.1) and place it into the newly created iWeb folder. (See **Figure 1.4)**




 * Figure 1.4**

You can create multiple sites in the iweb application, however, the data is in ONE DOMAIN File. When you publish, iWeb will publish everything at one time. In other words, iWeb allows you to ceate nultiple sites in the iWeb application. You have no control over what gets published, nor do you have any control to publish a second site to another webserver.

//**(Example: Let’s say you have an iweb site for school, and another iweb site that is your personal site you want to upload to your Comcast server.) By creating multiple DOMIAN files, you can gain better control of publishing multiple sites, AND you'll have less traffic of information crocssing over the Internet when publishing.**//)

When your website begins to grow, so does the amount of data that will need to transfer across a network. Let’s discuss breaking down your website and creating multiple DOMAIN Files.




 * This is the error you might see when you have too much data in one DOMAIN File! It can be a real pain!**


 * Creating Multiple DOMAIN Files**

Now that you have moved your Domain File to an easier location, you will now have to create a sub folder for every web site you make. This will give you more control when you publish as to when and where you publish your iWeb sites. (See **Figure 1.5**)


 * Figure 1.5**

If you already have multiple websites on the original DOMAIN File, drag a copy into each of your named sub folders (Option + click and drag) (See **Figure** **1.6**). Click to OPEN each separate DOMAIN File. This will open the iWeb application. Now delete those sites that don’t belong there. Just keep the one site that you want to associate with that Domain File. SAVE it! Repeat this for each new site.




 * Figure 1.6**