Best Web Host Help Page – File Manager

Best Web Host Help Page – File Manager

File Manager allows Best Web Host Control Panel cPanel users to manage and edit their files.

When you open File Manager:

1. The File Manager Directory Selection window will appear. Select which of four main directories you wish to view in the file window when
   Best Web Host Control Panel cPanel File Manager opens: If you wish to see hidden files, select the Show Hidden Files checkbox.

   • The home directory (/home/user)

   • Web Root (/public_html/www)

   • Public FTP Root (/public_ftp)

   • Document Root (/public_html)

2. If you do not wish to see the File Manager Directory Selection window again, select the Skip this question checkbox.

3. Click Go.

The File Manager interface opens in a new browser window. The selected directory will display in the file window.

The File Manager toolbar

The File Manager toolbar shows the following functions available to manage your files:

Feature		Description
New File		Creates a new file with a user-defined file extension.
New Folder		Creates a new folder in the current directory.
Copy		Copies selected items to a user-specified directory.
Move File		Moves the selected files to a new directory.
Upload		Uploads files to the selected directory.
Download		Downloads selected files to your computer.
Delete		Deletes selected files from the server.
Rename		Renames the selected file or folder.
Edit		Opens the selected files in a text editor.
Code Editor		Opens the selected files in a code editor.
HTML Editor		Opens the selected HTML file in a visual HTML editor.
Change Permissions		Changes the read, write, and execute permissions for selected files.
View		Opens the selected file so that you can view the code.
Extract		Extracts the selected *.zip, *.Gz, or *.Bz2 archive and stores the files in a directory.
Compress		Compresses the selected files to a single *.zip, *.Gz, or *.Bz2 archive and stores the compressed file in a specified directory.

Notes:

• When a toolbar action is not available, the function icon turns gray.

• Certain File Manager functions are designed for use with only one file at a time. Select the desired file in the file window before you attempt these actions.

• Any attempt to Rename, Edit, or View multiple files at once will only affect the first listed file in the directory.

Character encoding verification dialogs

When you edit a file with Edit, Code Editor, or HTML Editor, a window will appear to confirm the file’s character encoding. Use the menu to select the correct character encoding for the file. Then, click Edit to continue.

• Click Toggle Help to display more information about how to select the correct character encoding.

• Click Disable Encoding Check to turn off future verification dialogs.

You can also turn Character Encoding Verification Dialogs on or off through Settings:

1. Click Settings in the top left corner of File Manager. A new window will appear.

2. Enable or disable Character Encoding Verification Dialogs:Click Save

   • To turn the encoding verification off, select the Disable Character Encoding Verification Dialogs checkbox.

   • To turn the encoding verification on, deselect the Disable Character Encoding Verification Dialogs checkbox.

Warning: If you choose the wrong initial encoding, your file may become corrupt. If your file displays as a series of special characters, immediately abort the edit and select the correct encoding. Do not save the file.

Select a directory

You can use the file tree or the location text box to navigate your files and folders.

There are several ways you can use the file tree (located to the left of the file window) to browse your files:

• Click on the name of the folder you wish to view

• Click on the next to the icon to view a list of subfolders in that folder.

  • You can click on the next to an expanded directory to collapse it.

Note: After you expand a list of subfolders, click on the folder name to view the folder’s contents.

To use the location text box directly above the file tree:

1. Enter the path of the folder you wish to view.

2. Click Go. The file window will display the contents of the chosen folder.

The file window

The file window displays the contents of the selected directory. If there are no files or folders in the selected folder, the file window will display the message “This directory is empty.”

Information about files and subfolders will display in the following columns:

Feature	Description
File Icon	Files will display an icon that corresponds to the file type. Folders will display the “folder” icon.
Name	The filename.
Size	The size of the file, displayed in bytes, KB, MB, etc.
Last Modified	The date and time the file was last modified.
Type	The media (MIME) type and subtype.
Perms	The permissions setting for the file, in octal notation. The default permission setting is 0644

Note:You can click on a column’s heading to sort the file list by that column’s value.

The navigation toolbar

You can use the toolbar at the top of the file window to navigate between folders in the file window.

Feature	Description
Home	Navigates directly to the home directory (/home/user).
Up One Level	Navigates to the folder that contains the currently selected folder. This option is greyed out when the home directory is selected.
Back	Returns to the folder that was viewed immediately before the currently selected folder.
Forward	Navigates to the next folder that you viewed, after you use Back.
Reload	Refreshes the displayed list of files and folders.
Select all	Selects all displayed files and folders. Remember: Any attempt to Rename, Edit, or View multiple files at once will only affect the first listed file in the directory.
Unselect all	Deselects all files and folders currently displayed.

File and folder actions

You can right-click on files or folders in the file window to choose from a menu of actions customized to the file’s type.

Feature	Displays for	Description
Download	Files, Compressed Files	Downloads the selected file to your computer.
View	Files, Compressed Files	Opens the selected file so you can view the code.
Edit	Files	Opens the selected files in a text editor.
Code Edit	Files	Opens the selected files in a code editor.
HTML Edit	Files	Opens the selected HTML file in a visual HTML editor.
Move	Files, Compressed Files, Folders	Move the selected file or folder to a new directory.
Copy	Files, Compressed Files, Folders	Copies the selected file or folder to a user-specified directory.
Rename	Files, Compressed Files, Folders	Renames a selected file or folder.
Change Permissions	Files, Compressed Files, Folders	Allows a user to change the read, write, and execute permissions for selected files or folders.
Delete	Files, Compressed Files, Folders	Deletes the selected files or folders from the server.
Extract	Compressed Files	Extracts the selected *.zip, *.Gz, or *.Bz2 archive and stores the files in a directory.
Compress	Files, Compressed Files, Folders	Compresses the selected files or folders to a single *.zip, *.Gz, or *.Bz2 archive and stores the compressed file to a specified directory.
Password Protect	Folders	Sets a username and password to restrict access to a folder.

Search for a file

The Search tool, located at the top right corner of the interface, allows users to search for a specific file. By default, Search will search all files in the home directory. You can also limit the search to the document root at /home/user/public_html, or to the directory displayed in the file window.

To search for a file:

1. Use the Search menu to choose the directory to search: All Your Files, only public_html or Current Directory.

2. Enter the desired file name in the text box.

3. Click Go.

A new window displays the filenames that match your search. To go to a folder, or to the containing folder for a file, double-click on the desired item in the list. If there are no files that include your search term, you will see the message No records found.