Understanding and Using the Plesk File Manager

The Plesk File Manager is a powerful tool that allows you to manage your website's files directly from your web browser, eliminating the need for a separate FTP client for many common tasks. This guide covers its basic features.

Accessing the File Manager

  1. Log in to your Plesk control panel.
  2. From the main dashboard, find and click on the "File Manager" icon.

You will now see a list of files and folders. The main folder for your website's public files is typically httpdocs. All files that you want to be accessible on the internet should be placed inside this folder.

Common Operations

  • Uploading Files: Click the "+" (plus) button and select "Upload File". You can then browse your computer and select the file(s) you want to upload. You can also drag and drop files from your computer directly into the File Manager window.
  • Creating New Folders/Files: Click the "+" button and choose "Create Directory" to make a new folder or "Create File" to make a new, empty file.
  • Editing Files: Click on a file name to select it, then click the "Edit in Editor" or "Edit in HTML Editor" button in the top menu. This opens a built-in code editor where you can make changes and save them.
  • Downloading Files: Select a file or folder by checking the box next to it, then click the "Download" button. The File Manager will zip the selected items and start the download.
  • Copying/Moving Files: Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to move, then click "Copy" or "Move". Navigate to the destination folder and click "OK" or "Paste".
  • Changing Permissions: Select a file or folder, then click "Change Permissions". This allows you to set read, write, and execute permissions (CHMOD) for the owner, group, and others. Be careful with this setting, as incorrect permissions can break your website.
  • Extracting Archives: If you upload a ZIP file, you can select it and click "Extract Files" to decompress its contents on the server. This is very useful for uploading a complete website or application at once.

Important Tips

  • The `httpdocs` Folder: This is your web root directory. The main file for your homepage is usually named index.html or index.php and must be inside `httpdocs`.
  • Be Careful When Deleting: Deleting files is permanent. Always make sure you have a backup before deleting critical files like .htaccess or wp-config.php.

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