Instructions for Stanford groups
Any official Stanford group can put its pages on the Web. Groups that do
not have their own server can use the main Stanford web servers to host their
pages. These web pages can be accessed by the http://www.stanford.edu/group/somegroup/
URL path.
Your Stanford Unix group directory will hold your WWW directory, which holds
your web pages. This WWW directory has been pre-configured to work with the
www.stanford.edu web server. If you need to create
a web directory from scratch we provide step-by-step instructions, but
otherwise, all you have to do to get started on the web is:
- Request a group directory
- Create an HTML file
- Put the HTML file onto the web
- Check your web page
- Protect your pages?
- Enhance your pages
Request a group directory
To get web space for your group you'll need a directory in AFS under /afs/ir.stanford.edu/group/. If you don't already have one, use the AFS Group Request form to ask for a group directory. To be official, student groups must be currently registered with the Office of Student Activities. All requests for Stanford web space must be made by an officer of the student group. Academic research groups must be sponsored by a regular faculty member.
Create an HTML file
-
If you don't know HTML Go to the Learning HTML page. It will provide you with a variety of links to HTML tutorials, guides, classes, and pages both on and off campus that teach you how to make a web page. If you just want to get a rudimentary page onto the web right away, use our quickie web template, then come back to this page.
-
If you already know HTML Simply invoke your favorite text or HTML editor and get started. Here's a few basics to remember when coding your HTML:
-
The home page you create must be called index.html, and it must be placed in your WWW directory. You can place other documents in your WWW directory, but this is the only directory from which your pages can be served to the web.
-
If you're interested in running scripts or programs, you'll need to use the CGI Service, since the web server won't execute user scripts placed in your group's WWW directory.
-
Put the HTML file onto the web
After you've finished creating your HTML file you can transfer the files to your group's home directory using a variety of "web-friendly" Stanford programs. The File Transfer site provides step by step instructions for Macintosh, Windows, and Unix computers.
Check your web page
After putting your file into your group's home directory you'll want to check to make sure everything worked out okay. Go to your browser and open the following URL:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/somegroup/Obviously replacing "somegroup" with the actual name of your group. If, for example, your group's name was "Cardsharks", you could see your home page at http://www.stanford.edu/group/cardsharks. If your home page does not show up, review these instructions closely. If you're still stuck, submit a HelpSU request.
Protect your pages?
Most people create web pages knowing they can be seen by anyone anywhere on the world wide web. This is a good thing, usually. On the other hand, it's not uncommon to want only certain people to see certain pages, depending on the content. There are several ways to restrict access to your Web pages:
- WebAuth
- To allow only Stanford people (all Stanford people, or just particular Stanford people, etc.) to see your web pages, you'll need to use WebAuth. This is the most often used method for protecting your pages at Stanford.
- User Authentication
- If you want to allow only non-Stanford people (or some combination of Stanford and non-Stanford people) to see your pages, this is the method you'll employ.
Enhance your pages
The Stanford Web Service makes a variety of features available to people who want to make their web pages more useful or just plain fun. You can learn more about the CGI service for making forms, vanity names for making long or cumbersome URLs more readable, how to add a Google-based search function to your web pages, and other web options on the Web Service Features page.
