AjaXplorer: Browse Website Files Without FTP
Remote File Management Challenges
Working with a remote web server can be frustrating due to the relative inconvenience of file exploration and editing. This is particularly true for those, like myself, who maintain a personal web server with full administrative control.
Traditional methods, such as FTP, are often required for browsing website files and transferring content, which can be cumbersome.
Alternative Solutions and Their Limitations
Sharing the directory over a local network provides a workaround, but this solution is ineffective when accessing the server remotely over the internet.
The ability to access files from anywhere is crucial for maintaining a web server outside of the home network.
Commercial Hosting Interfaces as a Benchmark
Many commercial web hosting providers offer intuitive, graphical interfaces for remote file access.
These interfaces often mimic the functionality of a standard desktop file explorer, providing a user-friendly experience.
The key difference lies in accessing files through a web-based interface within the hosting provider’s control panel, rather than directly on a local machine.
Enhancing Self-Hosted Servers
While we at MUO have previously covered quick web server setups using tools like XAMPP or Server2Go, it’s now time to focus on enhancing these servers with additional features.
Adding functionality beyond the basic setup will significantly improve the server management experience.
Upgrading your server with a few enhancements can streamline workflows and increase efficiency.
Establishing a Web-Based Graphical File Manager
It is possible to establish a file explorer directly within your web browser. Any files accessible via HTTP can be managed through this type of explorer. The AjaXplorer application, an open-source solution, facilitates this functionality.
The installation process is straightforward, involving simply downloading the necessary files and placing them within a publicly accessible directory on your web server. You can designate the root directory for your file explorer by installing it into the desired folder. For instance, a subfolder named "xplore" was used in one implementation.
This configuration prevents access to directories outside of the designated area, such as the 'htdocs' folder. This is a beneficial setup if you maintain multiple websites within separate subdirectories, allowing for independent file explorers for each. Simply install a separate instance of AjaXplorer within each directory.
Upon initial access to the designated folder on your website (e.g., http://192.168.x.xxx/xplore/), the script will verify your server configuration. An error message may appear if SSL encryption is not enabled. While encryption is recommended for security, AjaXplorer will function without it.
Typically, minimal setup is required if the initial checks pass successfully. Upon startup, you can log in using the default credentials: "admin" for both the username and password. It is crucial to change these credentials after logging in through the "settings" menu.
After logging in, you will be presented with an empty folder containing only a "Recycle Bin". This represents the root directory where the application was installed. If installed in the web server's root, all website files would be visible here.
Directory manipulation is achieved by right-clicking within the whitespace and selecting options from the context menu. For example, to create new directories, choose the "New Dir" option.
In a test scenario, a folder named "testdir" was created using AjaXplorer, and its appearance in the directory was confirmed. Verification was also performed on the web server itself, where the "testdir" folder was found within the /htdocs/xplore/ directory.
A directory navigation pane is located on the right side, offering a familiar file explorer experience. It was found that navigating within AjaXplorer was more intuitive than using the standard online file browser provided by a commercial web hosting account.
A particularly useful feature of AjaXplorer is its rapid editing capability. To edit files on the server, simply right-click the file and select "Download" once. The application then manages file synchronization automatically, eliminating the need for manual uploading or downloading.
Right-clicking an HTML file reveals a "Source Editor" option. This opens a built-in code editor. Creating a new HTML file with AjaXplorer automatically generates the basic HTML structure, requiring only content input.
Clicking "Save" applies the changes instantly to the server. Selecting "External Window" opens the file in a new tab or window for viewing in a standard HTML rendering.
The settings, located in the lower left corner, allow for user management, diagnostic monitoring, and access to a detailed log of all changes made.
The default settings may require adjustment to meet specific security needs. Refer to the help documentation for instructions on configuring the 'config.php' file, located in the /server/conf/ directory of your AjaXplorer installation.
If you seek to streamline your web development workflow and reduce the repetitive task of file uploading and downloading, consider downloading and installing AjaXplorer. The time savings may be significant.
We encourage you to try AjaXplorer and share your experiences. Was it easy to use and adaptable to your requirements? Please share your feedback in the comments section below.
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