Your Domain of One's Own Dashboard/CPanel includes a built-in File Manager app that you can use to access, upload, download, unzip, move and copy files on your domain. If you prefer using FTP or SSH to upload and manage files, you can also get credentials you need to use those protocols to log in and manage files on your domain instead.
Before you start, you will need:
- a Bryn Mawr Domain of One's Own account/domain
Use file manager
The File Manager shows you all of the directories (folders) and files on your site.
To open File Manager:
- Go to digital.brynmawr.edu, click Dashboard, and login using your Bryn Mawr College credentials.
- Click File Manager in the Files section of your Dashboard/CPanel
Not seeing a Files section? Click Tools in the left sidebar.
File Manager interface
The interface works similarly to the File Explorer or Finder on your computer: the left panel has a collapsible list of folders (or directories), and the right panel shows the files and folders that are in the currently selected (bolded) folder.
Files inside your public_html folder will be visible to anyone who has the URL. Apps you install on your domain typically create website files in public_html or a sub-directory of it. For example, the image below shows the files for a WordPress site installed in public_html/cms directory, files in this directory would be visible at https://<domainname>.digital.brynmawr.edu/cms/<filename>.
Use the menu bar at the top of the window to manage files and folders. Below are the most commonly used actions:
- + File (create a new file).
- + Folder (create a new folder/directory).
- Create a Copy of the selected file or folder in a different location. You cannot make a copy in the same location.
- Move the selected file or folder to different location.
See also: CPanel's File Manager documentation offers more comprehensive instructions.
Warning: Moving files and folders in your public_html folder changes their URLs and can break links on your website!
- Upload or Download a file to/from the current folder.
Attention: You cannot upload a folder containing files directly. Instead, compress the folder (for example, using the native Windows or Mac zip function), then upload the compressed (.zip) file, and use Extract to unzip the folder in the right location.
- Delete to move a file to the trash. (You will need to empty the trash to delete files permanently.)
- Restore a deleted file from trash to current folder.
- Rename the selected file or folder
Warning: Renaming files and folders in your public_html folder changes their URLs and can can break links on your website!
If the Edit and/or HTML Editor options are available, you can open the selected file in a built-in text editor (pictured below). This is handy if you need to make and save small changes. If you need to make extensive changes, it's better to download the file and edit it with a text editor on your computer instead, then reupload it to the same location without changing the filename.
Warning: You will be prompted to choose the character encoding the file uses when you open it the first time. Choosing the wrong one can corrupt the file -- if you notice any strange characters in a opened file, close it without saving changes and download a copy to edit using a text editor on your computer.
Use FTP
You can also upload files to your domain using an FTP app if you prefer.
You have two options for getting the credentials you will need to do this:
- Email help@brynmawr to request the FTP/SSH login password for your account (it is NOT your college password). Once you have it, you can reset it to something you prefer using Preferences > Passwords and Security on your Dashboard/CPanel; however, you will need to email us again if you forget the new one.
- Create an additional FTP account using the FTP Accounts app on your Dashboard/CPanel. You can create multiple accounts if you need to give other people the ability to upload files to your domain, and you can view and reset passwords for them yourself.
Use SSH
If you know how to move and copy files from the command line, you can also create a SSH connection to your domain using the Terminal app in the CPanel or a similar app such as Putty (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) on your computer.
- Before you can do this, you will need to email help@brynmawr to request the FTP/SSH login password for your account (please note this is NOT your college password).
- Once you have that password, you can reset it to something you prefer using Preferences > Passwords and Security on your Dashboard/CPanel, but you will need to e-mail us again if you ever forget the new one.
Questions?
If you have any additional questions or problems, don't hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!
Phone: 610-526-7440 | Library and Help Desk hours
Email: help@brynmawr.edu | Service catalog
Location: Canaday Library 1st floor
