WebFiles: File System & Web Mirroring

The WebCrossing Core environment also includes a breakthrough Web Crossing paradigm called WebFiles.

In essence, all the files in the WebCrossing Core hierarchy are mirrored via the web interface, and all folders in WebCrossing Core are accessible via an FTP client, as though they are part of the file system itself.

The conveniences and possibilities are extraordinary, and include capabilities not found anywhere else:

• The upload and maintenance of HTML files via the web, providing a convenient method for members to maintain home pages and documents from any public terminal, even without access to an FTP client.
• The ability to provide FTP accounts to your members without resorting to providing system level user accounts. This is not only easier and more tightly integrated with your WebCrossing Core user directory, but provides for greater security. Each user can be given an FTP home directory for files and home pages.
• Web pages can be automatically embedded into the current theme, letting users concentrate on content rather than page design. This allows even novices to create and upload web pages that look professionally integrated into the site as a whole.
• Web pages can include server-side scripting commands (with security protections of course). This means that web pages themselves can have highly dynamic content, including integrated content with the rest of the WebCrossing Core site.
• Since WebFiles are part of the integrated object-oriented database, access lists can be assigned to them for secure documents and web pages.
• Also, since WebFiles are part of the object-oriented database, scripting features can be applied to them. This is truly a new paradigm in content management - you can create and store any sort of general objects along with each WebFile because each WebFile can have any number of properties associated with it. See the For Developers section for more information on scripting your WebCrossing Core server.