Organizing your files

This class requires you to create a large number of files, each week your campus and optional sites will change and flattened GIF or JPEGs will be added to the server. Before you know it, you can have a real mess on your hands with files everywhere. I recommend you follow my file structure suggestions so you can keep track of your files easily.

First lets create some directories/folders to store files in. I recommend you create a directory on your hard drive named "CIS58.51B", this is where all your files will be stored. Within this folder create 2 main directories/folders "PSDfiles" and "WebPages". Next open up the "WebPages" directory and create 5 additional directories/folders: "campus", "optional", "templates", "campus-final", "optional-final". Here is what the structure looks like so far

Don't worry if you do not have any files to place in these directories, for now we are just creating the organizational structure.

As you complete the "logo" lesson, you will flatten the PSD files to create mock ups for the opening screen and second level pages for your campus client. These mock ups include logos which you have designed. When you flatten these PSD files into GIF or JPEGs you will store them in the "campus" directory.

The same pattern is followed for the logos created for your "optional" client. Those flattened images are stored in the "optional" directory. Through the CD there will be a portion of each lesson which reviews where to save your work and what HTML code to use to link to this work. This section will be titled "HTML Review".

You need to create is a homework page which will provide links to all the homework assignments for the entire class. I recommend you name this file "homework.html". Save this file in the "WebPages" directory.

Here is how the WebPages directory looks after the first lesson:

Pay special attention to where the"homework.html" page is. This is the only HTML file which will be placed in the "WebPages" directory.

As the lessons progress you will be asked to place files in the "campus", "optional", "templates", "campus-final" or "optional-final" directories.

The items in the "WebPages" directory will be loaded onto the campus server "gracie". You will not have a folder called "WebPages" on the gracie server. This is just a folder you use on your hard drive to keep track of all the files which will eventually be loaded onto the Web.

As you create your Web graphics you will be creating Photoshop files which are quite complex and time consuming, these files are stored in your "PSDfiles" directory.