How do you make a copy of the source code of your website?

[GORDONUK]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to know how you would go about making a copy of the source code of your website? If you back up your website through FileZilla as suggested does this automatically give you a copy of the source code of your website? Or not?

Anyway advice would be most welcome.

[boco]

If you back up your website through FileZilla as suggested does this automatically give you a copy of the source code of your website?

Yes.

Only exception is if you're using a database. In this case you'd need a DB dump, too.

[GORDONUK]

Hi Boco,

How would i go about extracting the source code from the backed up files? What files should I look for? And by using this copy of the source code does that mean that I can reinstall my website if i should have any problems with it in the future?

Many thanks for all your help.

[boco]

The backed up files (.html, .htm, sometimes .php, .cgi, .pl, or .xml) ARE the source code, you can view and change them using a text editor. A webpage is interpreted, not compiled. So, you can simply re-upload the downloaded files at any time.

There may be additional files like .jpg, .png, .gif (images, binary files), these are the pictures from your web site. Keep them together with the HTML. Keep the directory structure, if any, it is crucial.

[GORDONUK]

Thanks a lot Boco for all your help it really has been invaluable!

Just one more thing. When i have tried backing up a website hundreds of files will download successfully but i always seems to have about 15 files which it says failed to download. Do you know why this would be? And is it a common problem? I am worried that I never seem able to back up everything 100%.

Many thanks.

[boco]

Can't say without the log which shows the errors you got from the server.