applies to versions 2003, 2002, 2000 (Note: 2002 users must explicitly type in the file name - index.htm) (Note: 2000 users disregard some options and settings)

You’ve finally finished it. Your web publication is complete, at least for now. You’re ready to share it with the world. But how exactly do you get your pride and joy onto the World Wide Web?

It’s actually quite simple, once you know the steps. Which is what I’m going to teach you in this article.

First this article assumes a few things-

• you have a completed Publisher web publication  (if you created a print publication you must convert it)
• you have an available web space (a host provider or ISP)
• you an upload url from your web space provider (for ftp publishing)
• you have a web space login from the provider (your account username and password)

Have these items ready, have your web publication open and saved, and we’re ready to begin the steps to move your creation from your desktop to desktops around the planet.

We start with a visit in the Options. Go to the Tools menu, click on Options to open the Options dialog, go to the Web tab.

On the web tab uncheck the Rely on VML… option, and uncheck the Allow PNG… option. Checkboxes under Encoding and under E-mail should also be unchecked.

The top two options I suggest having checked, but aren’t required.

The Organize… option means that Publisher will create a sub-folder for your site and all site files except for the home page will be in this folder. If you prefer a folder structure and may be wanting to expand the site and build upon this then you’d want the option on. If you prefer to keep it simple and keep all site files together then you’d want the option off.

The Enable… option means that Publisher will create on the server a special XML file that is used to keep track of your pages. At a later time when you make a modification to the web publication and need to publish it again, Publisher will use this file to know what pages in the publication are effected by the modification and only upload those files rather then the entire publication.

If you have a small site or if you plan to make changes that are across the publication the use of this option would be unnecessary. If you have a large site that can take considerable time to upload or if you plan to make very limited changes then the use of this option can be a time saver.

Click the OK button to save the settings and close the Options dialog.

Now go the File menu and click on Publish to the Web… You may receive a dialog box informing you that you need a Web host. As stated earlier this article assumes you have such already. Click OK to close the dialog. Optionally check the Don’t show option to avoid the dialog in the future. Next the Publish to the Web dialog appears.

Click the drop down list arrow in the Save in: box. At the very bottom of this list, scroll if necessary, you’ll see two lines – FTP locations and Add/Modify FTP locations. Since this is your first upload you’ll need to first Add your upload URL so click on Add/Modify FTP locations. (Next time you publish you’ll skip the following steps)

You now have the dialog box to Add your web space publishing information. Please recall you were to have this information ready.

In the Name of FTP site type in the full URL for uploading that was provided to you by your web space provider. This is not case-sensitive. Next, in the Log on as: area check the User button and in the adjacent box type in the Username your provider gave you. Then in the Password box type in the Password the provider gave you. These two are case-sensitive so be sure to enter your login exactly as the provider provided it.

Double-check your entries and then click the Add button. If the Add button is grayed out then the URL is not a valid address type or login information was not entered. Check with your provider if you need assistance. Clicking the Add button enters your site into the FTP sites: list box. Click OK to close the dialog.

You then return to the Publish dialog and you’ll see your upload address displayed. (Next time you upload you’ll skip the above Add steps and come to this point) Click on your URL and then click the Open button. (The file name should say index.htm and the Save as type: should be Web Page, Filtered- these are default settings)

You may receive a log on dialog. Verify the Username is correct and type in the Password and click the OK button.

Publisher now makes a connection to the web server. Once the connection is made the file list will change and now display the files/folders on the server. Do not change, move, or delete any file or folder on the server that you (or Publisher) did not create. Such files and folders are created by the provider and may be critical to the function of the web space they are providing you.

Some providers may state that you have to upload to a specific folder, if that is the case with your providers directions and you see that folder in the file list then click that folder to move into it and then click the Save button. Otherwise just click the Save button.

Once the Save button is clicked Publisher generates the html web page files and the image files and writes all the site files to the server. The time this process takes varies by several factors. Such as publication size, image sizes and number of, and your ISP connection speed, and the web server.

Once the process has completed close dialogs and close Publisher and then open your browser to your web address and spend some time testing out the site before sharing the address with others.

Keep in mind that the world doesn’t know about your site just because you published it. So take your time - test it out, and make sure it’s user friendly, and above all else that it accomplishes what you intended.