File management with File Manager from the cPanel control panel

Introduction

• In this tutorial, we will show you the necessary steps to edit and manage files in the hosting account through the File Manager in the cPanel control panel.

Requirements 

• a cPanel account

Steps

To access File Manager, log into the cPanel control panel and go to the Files tab, where you click on the File Manager icon.

 

After opening the File Manager window, you will be able to view both the files or directories and the necessary tools for editing or managing them, as follows:

1. Search - the search window in the top right can be used to search for one or more files.

2. Settings - Through these settings you can show or hide hidden files (.dotfiles) in the File Manager and set the default location where the File Manager will open from 4 preset locations

3. Tools Menu - In this menu, you have all the necessary tools available for editing and managing files and directories within the File Manager, as follows:

File Folder Copy Migration Upload

Download Delete Rename Edit HTML Editor

Permissions View Draw Compression

 

File - To create a new file, navigate to the directory where you want to create the file, then click on the File button in the menu. A window will open asking for the file name and desired extension (e.g., index.html), then confirm by clicking the Create File button or you can cancel using the Cancel button.

Folder - To create a new folder or directory, navigate to the directory where you want to create the folder, then click on the Folder button in the menu. A window will open asking you forthe name of the folder/directory, then confirm with the Create Folder button or you can cancel with the Cancel button.

Copy - To copy a file or a folder/directory select what you want to copy with a single click on it and click the Copy button.
A window will open asking you for the path to the folder in which you want to copy the file or folder. Enter the appropriate path and click Copy file(s).

Move - To move a file or a folder/directory, select what you want to move with a single click on it and click the Move button.
A window will open asking you for the path to the folder/directory where you want to move the file or folder. Enter the appropriate path and click Move file(s).

Upload - To upload a file or an archive (zip, GZip or Bzip2) through the File Manager interface, navigate to the desired directory and then click the Upload button.
The upload window will open where, using the Select File button, you can select the desired file or archive from your personal computer. If you're updating files on the server and they already exist in an older version, you will need to check the Overwrite existing files checkbox to overwrite them.

Download - To download one or more files, select them and press the Download button. If you wish to download multiple files or an entire folder, we recommend using a compression method about which you will find details a little further below.

Delete - To delete one or more files or folders, select them and press the Delete button. A window will open to confirm the deletion. If you want the deletion to be permanent, check the confirmation box (ignore moving to the bin), otherwise the files are only moved to the trash bin and will remain on the server.

Rename - To rename a file or folder, select it and press the Rename button. A window will open where you can change the file name and confirm with the Rename File button or Cancel if you no longer wish to rename it.

Edit - With the Edit button, you can open files for editing with a text editor. To edit a file, you will select it and press the Edit button.

HTML Editor - It is a rudimentary Code Editor with which you can edit and create HTML pages. The editor contains the basic tools of an HTML Editor (Style, Formatting, Font Colors, Tables, etc.)

View - With this button you can view media or txt files. Select the text file image and press the View button. The file will open in a new tab, where you can view the image or text in the file.

Extract - To extract a file that is compressed, select the file you want to extract and click the Extract button. A window will open where you need to enter the path where you want to extract the files. If you enter a path that does not exist, the File Manager will create the directory and extract the file into it.

NOTE - The File Manager can only extract files that are compressed/archived in Zip, GZip, and BZip2 formats.

Compression - To compress one or more folders/files, select the folders/files and click on Compress. A window will open where you mark the desired archive format and specify the name of the archive, then confirm with the Compres File(s) button

NOTE - Most of these functions will appear to you in a small menu if you right-click on the files or folders in the file manager