GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

ASCII File = (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) Basically, this is a simple text document. It is based on standards set up by the American Standards group, and is the basis for all Unix text documents. When you are uploading your documents to a Unix/Linux server, you MUST upload them in ASCII format. The other option, BINARY format, is specifically for uploading IMAGE files (gif, jpg/jpeg, png, etc.) If you do upload in BINARY when you should be using ASCII - correct the problem by re-uploading in the correct format (this will overwrite the file you uploaded at first).

BROWSER = (Web Browser) - this is the program that allows you to view webpages over the internet. It might be Internet Explorer (IE) or Netscape Communicator (NS) or any of a dozen others including Opera, Mosaic, or AOL's Web Browser.

DOWNLOAD = (by Browser OR FTP) - The act of copying files from a location on the internet to the harddrive on your own computer. This can be done through your browser or using an 'FTP' program.

FFA Links = This has become a fairly recent scourge of the internet...my advice is to stay away from FFA Link listings. Usually it does not increase your site traffic, but what it DOES do is put your email address on a thousand and one SPAM lists. :(( The only way to increase site traffic using FFA Links is to HOST a FFA site, and sell the resulting email lists to SPAMMERS...how badly do you want to make a buck?

FTP = (File Transfer Protocol) - this is method by which files are uploaded to your webspace on the server. An FTP program such as CuteFTP, or WSFTP will perform this function for you, using your dialup connection (through your modem). You will need to obtain your username and login for FTP from your server administration - (usually it will be the same as your dialup username and login, but not ALWAYS - best to check first).These programs have a 'GUI' interface that allows you to use 'drag and drop' to copy your files from your computer to your server space.

GUI = Graphical User Interface - what your browser and operating system (Windows/MacOS) displays on your computer screen - it shows images and text with icons representing different types of documents and files. Most enable 'drag and drop' activity, using your mouse buttons.

HTML = Hypertext Markup Language - the language that webpages are written in, which is translated by your browser to display the website is a 'GUI' format (showing text and images).

SEARCH ENGINE = A program or script (usually hosted on it's own server) which 'spiders' pages that are submitted to it for listing. By 'spidering' - literally its program 'crawls' through all the connected pages of a website and notes keywords, phrases, links (both internal and external) and creates a file in it's database for that site...then when your site listed, and someone searches for your 'keywords' or 'search phrases' the Search Engine pulls the listing from it's database and displays a link to your site (and any others that also contain your keywords). This is very different from a DIRECTORY - although in practice they are used in very much the same way. It is possible, as well, to have a small version of a search engine installed on your own website, which will search for keywords and phrases WITHIN your website. This can help customers to find the item they are looking for to purchase, or particular types of information contained in your site.

LINKS = (A "clickable" piece of html code that opens a page or image file which is named in the link) - Links can be INTERNAL (from one page within your website to another page within the same site) or EXTERNAL (linking OUT from one website to another website/domain). A link can be set to open in a specific 'target' as well.
Examples:
<target="_blank"> opens the link in a new browser window.
<targe="_top"> opens the link in the same browser window.
<target="Frame2"> would be used on a frames page to open the link in a specific "frame".

UPLOAD = (by FTP) The process of copying your files to your server's disk space using your modem connection, this is also sometimes called 'publishing'.

WEB DIRECTORY = A database which is managed and maintained by human beings (a 'staff') and assisted by programs that collect information as it is entered by registrants, and forwards it to the 'staff' for inclusion (manual input) into the Directory Database.
YAHOO is an example of a 'directory' as is the 'Open Directory Project' - an 'all volunteer-manned' master directory that is in a constant state of updating. (If you would like to volunteer to help with the directory, go to their website and sign up...they could use the help!)
A Directory has the option of either including or EXcluding any website that is submitted to it, based on the particular criteria they have established for their directory.
In recent months many of the larger directories have begun to charge for commercial site submissions - but still allow free submissions to their personal site lists. These charges are currently running between $99 and $199.00 per site submission. Bad news for small companies just starting out with their businesses on line; gone are the days of FREE submission to thousands of Search Engines and Directories :(