Viewing Files in Dreamweaver with The Computer Gal

How to get to the Split Screen view in Dreamweaver Background Information: File Management Principles

All the files on your computer are controlled by your operating system (OS), whether you have Windows or Mac or whatever. That means that everytime you save a file, your OS decides where it will be stored on your hard drive and keeps a record of it so you can open the file later. Your OS also keeps track of what you move and delete. All programs that are on your computer have a special relationship with the OS for file management, but web development software has extra tasks.

Your web files have special needs because anytime you move or delete a file, it has an effect on other files that are linked to it. So, Dreamweaver also has file management tasks related to the web development environment. Dreamweaver keeps a record of all the links on your site. (Remember that the code for a photo is also a link. ) Then when you move, Dreamweaver will ask if you want to update the other pages that link to that file. If you delete a file, Dreamweaver will warn you, if there are other pages using that file. Dreamweaver is actually a package of programs and one of them does the file management tasks.

The screenshots in this article will be from Dreamweaver 8.

Viewing the Split Screen with Local Files and Remote Files in one Screen

Dreamweaver has a way to view both remote and local files in one screen. To get there, you have to be in the Files panel group with the Files tab on top.
You must also have a site defined and chosen so that the files show up in the Files panel.
Go to the Split Screen icon - shown with a square around it in the diagram. If you are using Dreamweaver MX or Dreamweaver MX 2004, the icon looks a little different, but it's like a white page with a T in it.
That will take you to a window that shows the files on your computer on one side (the Local Files) and the files on the server on the other side (the Remote Files). Depending on how your Preferences are set, you may see your Local and Remote files reversed. If you are using a Mac, this window will probably open in a small window, not full screen.
This list is the same as the single column list you see on the right side of your Dreamweaver screen.
Notice that the two lists are different. For example, the Archives folder only shows in the Local files. That is because it is for your work use, not for your viewers. Also, notice that there is a folder called Class Examples in the Local Folders. That folder just hasn't been uploaded yet because the files aren't finished.
From either the split screen or the single column in the main screen, you can add new files, delete files and move files in a way that is very similar to working in My Documents in Windows.
Always keep track of whether you are seeing the Local or Remote files. If you delete files from the Local side, you are deleting them off your own computer.