Dreamweaver does not update CSS file on local server

[Romola Chrzanowski]

Dreamweaver question:

I publish my site on a local apache installation for testing, and have
the test server set up within Dreamweaver's site configuration. When I
preview a page the page is automatically published to the correct
location of my docroot in apache. However, changes to the css file do
not get published and I must manually copy the css file to the correct
location under apache. Can anyone tell me whether it should be possible
to set up the test server so that css files (and even images, etc.) get
published during preview (F12), the same as the html files?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Romola Chrzanowski

[luciano991]

Hi Romola,

When you preview a page, are prompted to save the page and any related
files before previewing? Previews should work even before you "put"
the files up to the server. If you were using a remote server, you
would have to "put" any files you have been been modifying including
the CSS files. When you "put" the files up to the server (local or
remote) you are usually asked if you want to upload dependent files as
well to which I mostly say no. Also what version of DW are you using
as in CS4 you have that side by side view of the html file you're
working on and the CSS file and sometimes it can get confusing as to
what's been saved.

Anyway, this is by way of saying I'm not sure what the problem is but
here are some things to look at. The local server should behave in the
same way as a remote server.

All the best,

Mark

[Romola Chrzanowski]

Hi Mark,
Thanks for responding.

I also discovered that I can "put" the css file to upload it to the
local server. I am now keeping the Files panel open, and whenever I
preview the .html (which does update the apache local server copy), I
simply also "put" the css file. I don't know why preview is set up to
automatically upload to the local server, but does not take care of the
css file. It may be a configuration setting that I haven't figured out,
but for now, at least I don't have to copy and paste the file, so this
isn't too inconvenient.

So, you are exactly right, and I appreciate your response. (I am using
CS4). I never dare use DW to update the remote server, though -- too
afraid of accidentally uploading it when I don't want to. I open an ftp
session to do that and copy files 1 at a time.

Thanks and regards.
Romola

> --
>
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "New England Adobe User Group" group.
> To post to this group, send email to ne...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to neaug+un...@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/neaug?hl=en.
>
>
>
>

[luciano991]

You're welcome. I also discovered that in the Site Settings under
Remote Info for FTP there is a checkbox that says "automatically
upload files to server on save". But that setting always makes me a
little nervous. I like to decide when a file is ready to upload.

All the best.

Mark

[Cam Howard]

Hi Romola,

Did you get this figured out? You can choose whether to automatically
upload dependent files (such as CSS, images, Javascripts, etc.) when
you upload the HTML file or not.

There is a setting under Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Dreamweaver >
Preferences (Macintosh).

In the Preferences dialog box, select Site from the category list on
the left.

If there is a check mark next to "Prompt on Get/Check Out" and "Prompt
on Put/Check" then Dreamweaver should ask you each time you put the
HTML file whether or not you also want to put the dependent files.

If you have a lot of images that are not changing, it may be faster to
simply put the HTML file without the dependent files and put the CSS
file separately. I usually put everything, including dependent files
the first time I'm uploading, and then only put what has changed,
without dependent files, on subsequent updates.

For working with the Preview option, you may need to check whether you
have the "Preview Using Temporary File" option selected or not. If you
do, Dreamweaver creates a temporary file on the testing server. If you
don't have this option selected, Dreamweaver copies both the HTML file
and the dependent files to the testing server. This could be what you
want, or it could cause problems if you really don't want to overwrite
the files already on the testing server.

To see how yours is set up, go to Edit > Preferences, and click the
Preview in Browser category.

Hope this helps,
Cam

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cam Howard Design and Development
http://www.camhoward.com