iWebSites
Copyright ©2008, Chris Gregg
Version 2.4 beta, April 15, 2008
http://mistergregg.com/cocoadrillosoftware/
Introduction to Version 2.3
What's new in iWebSites:
The Merge function has been fixed, but only works with iWeb '08 sites. If you want to merge iWeb '06 sites, please use iWebSites 2.2.
Introduction to Version 2.2
What's new in iWebSites:
iWebSites has been updated to work with iWeb '08. In order to work with iWeb '08, iWebSites needs to upgrade your websites. This is a simple process that is manually reversible (in case you want to revert to iWeb 1.1). If you choose not to upgrade to iWeb '08, iWebSites 2.2 will still work with iWeb 1.1, and if you eventually decide to upgrade to iWeb '08, you can simply select "Upgrade files for iWeb '08" from the file menu in iWebSites.
Introduction to Version 2.1 (beta 3)
What's new in iWebSites? Here are the basic updates:
1. iWebSites now has the ability to merge two sites together. This is an extremely functional update, as there has been no way previously to move sites in and out of iWeb. Now, users have the ability to share web sites and compile websites together. It was the most sought-after feature request, so I made it a priority. Note: because of the amount of processing that goes into merging websites, it can be slow. I merged two medium-sized sites together, and it took approximately 10 minutes. Larger sites will merge, but be prepared to wait while iWebSites does its thing.
2. Users have the ability to delete or duplicate multiple sites at a time.
3. The interface has been enhanced, so you can now drill down and look at the headings for each site in iWebSites. I haven't yet programmed a method for dragging individual pages, but that may happen eventually (or Apple will release a new version with this functionality!)
Introduction (from Version 1.0)
What is iWebSites? It is a program that enhances iWeb by manipulating the website files that iWeb creates to enable a user to create multiple websites that are completely independent of each other. iWeb 1.01 shipped without this capability, but anyone who wants to use iWeb for more than a single web site can benefit from iWebSites. This is especially true for users who utilize File Transfer Prtocol, or FTP, (instead of .Mac) to publish their iWeb creations.
iWeb really was not designed with the power user in mind, but it does enable a user to quickly create beautiful web sites. With iWebSites, separate websites are kept independent of each other, and when sites are “published” to a directory (for uploading via FTP), only the site you are currently working on is published.
How iWebSites Works
iWeb normally stores a user’s websites in one folder (or package) called “Domains.sites,” in the user’s home library located at “~/Application Support/iWeb/”. It expects this package to be present, but if it isn’t, it will create it when launching iWeb. iWebSites manipulates “Domains.sites” to create more than one website package (a “.sites” file) in the Application Support/iWeb folder. Simply, iWeb opens up “Domains.sites” when it launches, and whatever website happens to be in that package is the website that iWeb uses while running. iWebSites renames “Domains.sites” when creating a new site, and it leaves the newly named “.sites” file in the Application Support/iWeb folder. iWebSites enables the user to switch between sites (by creating the appropriate “Domains.sites” package), delete sites, create new sites, and duplicate sites.
How to use iWebSites
iWebSites is very easy to use. When launched, the program expects that iWeb is not currently running (in order to avoid data loss), and it assumes that iWeb is actually installed on your system. This is not a requirement, as you can choose a folder that is not the “Application Support/iWeb,” but you will need to copy the “.sites” files to this folder when you do install iWeb.
Once loaded, you will see the iWebSites window:
If you have already created a website in iWeb, you should see the name of the site listed under “iWeb Sites,” and a “Default” next to that name.
The buttons are relatively self-explanatory:
This button creates a new website. This renames “Domains.sites” to the name of your site, and creates a blank website that will open in iWeb the next time you open iWeb. The new website is now the Default site.
This button makes the site chosen into the default site by naming it “Domains.sites” and renaming the previous default site.
This button duplicates a site (or sites) you already have (but does not make it the default site). This is a nice feature if you have already created multiple sites in one iWeb file and would like to separate them. You can duplicate a site, then open the original and delete one of the sites in iWeb. Then you can set the other site as default and then repeat the process with iWeb, deleting the other site from within iWeb.
This button changes the name of the currently selected site.
This button deletes a site (or sites) by placing it in the trash. If you need the site back again, you can drag it out of the trash and onto the iWebSites application window. You can use iWebSites to set this as the default again.
This button opens the currently selected site immediately in iWeb. It does this by renaming the site “Domains.sites” and opening up iWeb. Double-clicking on the site name also opens the file in iWeb.
This is the newest feature in iWebSites. When you select two sites and click "Merge", the sites will be put together into one site (and the new site will be named "SiteOne & SiteTwo". This is a slow process. Please be patient with it. I will be working on an update to speed things up, but for now it works, albeit slowly.
One of the nice aspects of the Merge function is that you can have different people working on different pages of a website at the same time, on different computers, and then you can merge the pages together at once. Also, this function may be best for those using .Mac accounts, as you can upload all the sites at once to your .Mac account (as I understand it – I don't actually have a .Mac account myself).
This button refreshes the site listing in case a website was dragged into the ~/Application Support/iWeb folder while the program is running. It is usually not necessary to refresh the window.
Insert and Copy/Paste
If you have a website that is not currently in iWeb, you can load it using iWebSites by either using the File-->Insert Site or by copying and pasting it from the Finder. You can also drag or paste a copied site into an e-mail program. There are two options:
(1) Drag/Drop (or copy/paste) the “.sites” folder alone
(2) Drag/Drop a zipped file (with the extension “.sites.zip”)
With option (1), you simply get a copy of the “.sites” folder. Because of the way OS X handles packages, this acts like a file, but it is really a folder. Therefore, if you want to send the website to another person, it makes it more difficult. That’s where option (2) comes into play: if you click on the “Zip when copied or dragged” checkbox, iWebSites will zip up the file so it can be e-mailed (or archived). Just paste it into the finder or into your e-mail program. Please note: iWeb websites can get very large. If you have a lot of graphics in your site, even the zipped files may be too large to e-mail. You could, of course, drag either a “.sites” file or a “.sites.zip” file to a flash drive or external hard drive as well. Another note: “.sites” files are not web sites that can be opened in a web browser. If you e-mail a “.sites.zip” or “.sites” file to someone, he or she will need iWeb (and probably iWebSites, too) to see it.
Notes to those with .Mac accounts:
Note for those using .Mac accounts:
A number of users found out that it is a bit tricky using multiple websites with .Mac accounts. I don’t actually have a .Mac account myself, so I was at a bit of a loss as to how to help them. One very helpful user, Robert Stewart, passed on this information, in two parts:
“Here’s the answer to the question, how to upload multiple .mac websites: please include in your instructions for .mac users.
1. Open idisk
2. Locate the folder “web”
3. You will see a folder called “sites” open this.
4. Within this folder you will see iPhoto & iWeb folders. Open the “iWeb”Folder
5. In the “iWeb” Folder you will see your default domain site (this is the site that loads by default at your .mac address. ..i.e. http://web.mac.com/username - notice no site name)
6. In the iWeb folder this is where you place your “Exported Website from iWeb”. The name of the website is the name of the folder you place it in. ..i.e. If you name the folder of your exported iWeb site “CMC” then the .mac address for your site will be:
http://web.mac.com/username/iWeb/CMC/
Something else I just figured out is that the case (being upper or lower) is important in how you type the url or the site.
http://web.mac.com/username/iweb/CMC will work as this is how I labeled the folder as Upper Case, I realized though it is best to keep your names in lower case as that is how most people will type url’s.
"Please also note that your application documentation should state that for users of .mac accounts the program will always replace the default website you upload directly from iWeb, to load more than one site to iWeb and keep the domains separate you must export all other domains to a folder and the upload as described. (this is key). I found this out by reading a review of the app on Macworlds website."
Final Words
Please enjoy this software! iWebSites is Copyright 2007 by Chris Gregg. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Permission to use, copy and distribute this software without fee for all purposes is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies, and that both the copyright notice and this permission notice with the following disclaimer appear in the supporting documentation.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND; not even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Version History
April 15, 2008: Version 2.4 beta
- Fixed a problem whereby the incorrect site would load in iWeb.
- Disabled the "Merge" button for iWeb 1.1
- Clarified the "Upgrade to iWeb '08" function
- Added the "File-->Upgrade to iWeb '08" menu for French localization.
January 27, 2008: Version 2.3 beta
- Fixed the Merge function for iWeb '08 sites. (Thanks to Ken McCaw for help with troubleshooting this feature!)
- iWebSites now remembers the iWeb folder.
August 25, 2007: Version 2.21 beta
- Fixed bug that allowed iWebSites to only open one site.
August 17, 2007: Version 2.2
- Fixed bugs in 2.2 alpha.
August 11, 2007: Version 2.2 (alpha)
- Quick update to work with iWeb '08
- Some bugs remain
February 23, 2007: Version 2.1 (beta 3)
- Fixed Merging bug
December 1, 2006: Version 2.1 (beta 2)
- Fixed memory issue and sped up Merging a bit
November 28, 2006: Version 2.1 (beta)
- Fixed the Merge function (a big thanks to Alessandro Pirolini for the help with debugging)
- Changed the Merge function to work faster with merges of small website
November 26, 2006: Version 2.0 (beta)
- Added the ability to Merge sites
- Added the ability to delete or duplicate multiple sites at once
- Refined the user interface to enable drill-down to see site and page headers.
May 9, 2006: Version 1.1
- Added a French localization. A very big "Merci!" to Gérard LeFranc for translating the documentation (and for providing a translation of the iWeb application) and to Antoine (from mac-video.desir.fr) for application localization and for redesigning the application to look so much more professional. Thank you!
- Added the ability to drop a website onto the iWebSites application icon, which loads the site into the program.
- Added "New Site" and "Insert Site" buttons.
- Redesigned the application "look" (thank you to Antoine and also to David Zizza for excellent ideas) for a more professional feel.
- Fixed the application so it will close when the window itself is closed.
May 6, 2006: Version 1.0
- This is a fairly big update, with a few major features added and one major bug fixed.
- Fixed a bug that would frequently crash the program. I received a good deal of feedback on this, and finally found the insidious bug. Thanks to those who helped track it down!
- Added the ability to drag and drop “.sites” files and “.sites.zip” files to and from the application window.
- Added the ability to copy/paste files from the application to and from the finder and/or e-mail program. Files can also be “zipped” for sending via e-mail or for backup purposes.
- Added functions to the Edit menu (copy/paste/delete)
April 30, 2006: Version 0.9
- Added the ability to change the name of the websites to differentiate them from other iWeb sites that may have the same website name in iWeb.
- Added a “donate” button to the About Window
April 24, 2006: Version 0.8
- Added an “Open Now in iWeb” button, and changed this to the default “double-click” behavior.
- Bugfix: checks to ensure OS X utilities gzip and ps exist before running.
April 23, 2006: Version 0.7
- Fixed issue where program would crash if no site was selected and the user tried to duplicate or delete a site, or make a site default.
April 22, 2006: Version 0.6 (quick update) released
- Universal Binary built (forgot to do this for the first release!)
- iWebSites checks to ensure that iWeb is not currently running before each crucial evolution that may change or move files (specifically: New Site, Make Default Site, and Delete Site)
- Changed the iWeb Application Support Folder Listing to show exact folder
April 22, 2006: Version 0.5 launched.