Uploading Content with File Manager in Plesk Obsidian

Plesk Obsidian's File Manager provides a robust and intuitive interface for managing your website's content directly from your web browser. This guide will walk you through the process of uploading, editing, and searching for files, ensuring your website content is always up-to-date and easily accessible.

Uploading Content with File Manager

To efficiently upload files and directories to your website using File Manager, follow these straightforward steps:

1. Navigate to Websites & Domains, select your specific domain name, and then click on File Manager.
2. Once in File Manager, locate and click the 'Upload' button, which will present you with several uploading options:
   • Upload File: For uploading a single file from your local computer. Click this option, then browse and select the desired file. This is ideal for quick updates to individual pages or media.
   • Upload Directory: This option allows you to upload multiple files or an entire directory structure. Simply drag and drop your files or directories into the designated dashed line box. This method is perfect for deploying new website sections or migrating existing content.
   • Import file via URL: To import a file directly from another website or an FTP server without downloading it to your local machine first. Specify the file's URL (e.g., https://example.com/image.png or ftps://user:password@example.com/example.tar) and then click 'Import'. This feature is particularly useful for transferring large files or content already hosted elsewhere.

     Important Note: File Manager supports various protocols for URL-based imports, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and FTPS. Depending on the protocol, you may need to include a username and password in the URL path.

   After selecting your preferred method, the file(s) will be uploaded to your server. If you uploaded an archive, there are a couple more steps to complete the process.

3. If you uploaded an archive file (such as a .zip or .tar.gz), click on the corresponding row for that archive in the File Manager interface, and then select Extract Files. If there are files with matching names already in the directory, you can choose to overwrite them by selecting the "Replace existing files" checkbox. The contents of your archive will then be unpacked into the current directory.
4. Confirm the extraction by clicking OK.

   Supported Archive Formats: File Manager is capable of extracting content from common archive formats, including ZIP, RAR, TAR, TGZ, and TAR.GZ.

With these steps, your website content will be successfully uploaded and ready for deployment.

Editing Files in File Manager

Plesk Obsidian's File Manager allows you to conveniently edit your website's files directly within your browser, eliminating the need for external FTP clients or text editors. Several editor options are available to suit different levels of technical expertise:

• HTML Editor: This is a powerful WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor. It automatically handles HTML tag insertion, making it an excellent choice for users who prefer a visual editing experience and may not be highly familiar with HTML code.
• Code Editor: Designed for developers and users comfortable with manual coding, the Code Editor opens HTML files as text and provides syntax highlighting for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other languages. This allows for precise manual insertion and modification of HTML tags.
• Text Editor: For simpler text-based edits, the Text Editor opens files as plain text. This is useful for editing configuration files, simple text documents, or making quick, unformatted changes.
• Rich Editor (Optional): If your Plesk administrator has installed the Rich Editor extension, you'll have access to an enhanced WYSIWYG editor. Similar to the HTML editor, the Rich Editor offers a more feature-rich experience, including advanced formatting options and a built-in spellchecker, further streamlining your content creation process.

To begin editing a file:

1. Locate the desired file in File Manager and hover your mouse over its entry; the corresponding row will highlight.
2. Click on the highlighted file entry to open its context menu.
3. From the context menu, select the "Edit in..." option, choosing the specific editor (e.g., "Edit in HTML Editor," "Edit in Code Editor") that best suits your needs for the task at hand.

This seamless in-browser editing functionality ensures that you can make immediate changes to your website content whenever necessary.

Searching for Files in File Manager

Locating specific files within a large directory can be challenging. Plesk Obsidian's File Manager includes a powerful search function that helps you quickly find what you're looking for, based on various criteria.

You have the flexibility to search for files by:

• Filename Only: This option allows you to find files based solely on their name, useful when you know the exact or partial name of the file.
• Content Only: If you're looking for files that contain a specific word or phrase, but don't recall the filename, this option will search within the content of all supported files.
• Filename and Content: For a comprehensive search, this option combines both criteria, searching for your specified text within both the filenames and their content.

To specify your search preference, click on the magnifying glass or settings icon located next to the search field. From the dropdown menu, simply select your desired search type to refine your results. This intelligent search capability saves time and enhances your file management efficiency.