Dreamweaver Tutorial > Define a local site

Define a local site

When you define a local site, you tell Dreamweaver where you plan to store all the files for a particular site. To work effectively in Dreamweaver, always define a local site for each Web site you create.

For this tutorial, you'll specify the Compass_Site folder as the local site folder.

1	If it isn't already open, launch Dreamweaver.
	A blank document opens.
2	Choose Site > New Site.
3	In the Site Definition dialog box, make sure Local Info is selected in the Category list.
4	In the Site Name field, type my_tutorial.
	The site name lets you easily identify and select a site from a list of sites you've defined.
5	Click the folder icon to the right of the Local Root Folder field.
6	In the dialog box that appears, navigate to the Tutorial/Compass_Site folder, and do one of the following:
	In Windows, click Open, then click Select when Compass_Site appears in the Select field.
	On the Macintosh, click Choose to select the Compass_Site folder.
	The Local Root Folder field updates to display the path to the local site.
	Note: The complete path to the Compass_Site folder may vary, depending on where you installed Dreamweaver.
7	Under Cache, do one of the following:
	Select Enable Cache (Windows) to create a cache file for the site.
	Select Use Cache to Speed Link Updates (Macintosh) to create a cache file for the site.
	Caching the files in the Compass_Site folder creates a record of existing files so Dreamweaver can quickly update links when you move, rename, or delete a file.
8	Click OK to close the dialog box.
9	Click OK to the cache message.
	The Site window now displays a list of all the folders and files in the local site. The list also acts as a file manager, allowing you to copy, paste, delete, move, and open files just as you would on a computer desktop.