Creating and Using a Site File with Adobe GoLive 6 for System X
updated 11/04

Any GoLive site can contain a Site File that is essentially a table of contents for every document in the site. Not only does this file streamline the process of adding links and graphics, but it is also extremely useful in site management. For instance, link references will be automatically updated if a page is moved or renamed, and many errors can be located with the click of a button.

If you are planning on importing an already existing site into a GoLive Site File, you should first place your "root" folder (the folder currently containing your site) in a new, otherwise empty folder. If you are planning on creating a site from scratch, click here.

Go to File/New Site, select Single User and click Next.

Choose Blank Site for an entirely new site, or choose Import from Folder to use an already existing site.

If you are importing, you will need to select both the root folder and the home page. If your home page is called index.html and is in your root folder, GoLive will find it automatically.

Navigate to the desired location of your site and click choose.
Do the same with your home page, if necessary.

Select the folder containing your root folder and specify a name for your Site File.

GoLive will create a Site File representing your root folder on the left, and a data folder, on the right. Clicking on the double arrow on the lower right of the Site File will reveal the data folder and its contents. In the example below, many of the folders were user created.

The root folder (on the left of the Site File) contains a list of all the files you will need to upload to the web. Double clicking a file name opens the file. Double clicking a folder opens it. The right side of the Site File is a convenient place to keep all your non-web data including Photoshop, LiveMotion, and Illustrator documents. In fact, keeping them in the SmartObjects folder allows you to edit them in their native applications and automatically update their corresponding root folder files. If you take a look in the finder, all folders that appear in the Site File will be visible.

Using Your Site File

  • If your Site File is hidden by other windows, bring it to the front by clicking the Select Window button on the toolbar. Dragging the Point and Shoot or Fetch URL (swirl on the Inspector Palette) button to it will also reveal the Site File.
  • Double click any folder to open it, click on the triangle at the top of the file list to move back up a level.
  • Open any page by double clicking its name in the Site File.
  • To create a new page or folder, open the folder in which you wish to create it and go to Site/New/Folder or Page.
  • When new files are added to your site via the finder, you may need to update the Site File. Do this by clicking the update button. If the update button is not visible, click on the Site File and it will become available.
  • Add a graphic by dragging it from the Site File to its desired location on the page.
  • Change names of folders and files from within the Site File by clicking once on the file name and typing the new name. GoLive will prompt you to update any links to the file.
  • Create a link by highlighting the link text or graphic and dragging the fetch URL (point and shoot) button from the Inspector to the correct file in the Site File. The Site File will move to the top of the desktop when the fetch URL button reaches it.
  • By creating folders in your data folder, you can store web related items such as word files. These files are then easily accessed through the Site File.
  • Any green bug icons in your site file indicate errors in the corresponding documents. Open the file in question, and click the bug to see what is wrong. In some cases, such as a web page created with Word, bugs may be present, but the page still functions properly.

More tips

Files can either be added by dragging them into the site window via the finder, or by control-clicking the files tab of the site window and selecting Add Files. Files can also by added by dragging the Generic Page or Folder icon (in the Site tab of the Objects Palette) to the Site File. Of course, you can also add files simply by saving new files to the correct folder via the save dialog box, but then you must remember to refresh the site file by clicking the update button .

External Links
The External tab of the Site File contains external URLs in your site. Choosing Site/Get Referenced URLs from the Site Menu will import any new URLs. If you edit any URL from within the External tab, you will be able to update any existing files that contain the link. You can also change references to any external URL by going to Site/Change References in the Menu Bar.

Colors
Colors can be stored in the Colors Tab of the site file. You can add them quickly by dragging them from the Colors Palette into the Colors Tab of the Site window. This can be very useful if you use custom colors. Make sure you are using Web Safe colors in the Color Palette.

Fonts
Font sets can be added to your site file, and adjusted so that if a user's computer does not have the first font on your list, the second font will be substituted, and so on. To add a font, click the Font Sets tab in the Site File and drag over a New Font object from the Site Objects tab of the Object Palette.

In the Inspector, name the Font and its Font Set, and choose the style from the drop down menu. The font style can now be applied via the Type menu or the Font Sets tab in the Site File. To add more fonts to the list, click the new font icon (to the left of the garbage can on the bottom of the Inspector). To reorder fonts, use the arrows on the left side of the bottom of the Inspector. The user will see the first font on the list that is installed on their computer.

Fonts can be added through the Type menu, or by dragging a font set from the site file to selected text.

Notice that other objects such as external URLs, Mailtos, Pages, and Folders can all be dropped from the Site Objects Palette into the site file.