I don't find the Control Panel to be a nightmare at all. It is quite easy, easier than FTP.
Click on upload, choose the files, click on OK, done in 3 seconds. What's easier than that?

So Scott, are you saying that if I wanted to, I could upload the .VNU file with the hosts Control Panel and it will work as well as if I uploaded it with VSD's FTP itself?

I am not concerned with the backup you mention, my question is where are the .HTML files, etc. that are normally uploaded to the server? Are they inside this .VNU file (compressed or whatever)? And is it VSD that uncompresses them or whatever onto the server so that they can be used when the browser browses??

Am I being too confusing with this question?

The files you want to upload would be found in your VSD folder that houses your "built" website files,...inside you'll find the .jpg's, HTML and associated files to assemble the website. This is the folder where your "built" website is stored for preview or upload every time you "save" it. These can be uploaded any way you wish.

Maybe it's different in the way you have your VSD installed, but once I've entered the FTP settings for any of my sites into ANY of the coffee cup applications the settings are available from within the internal FTP settings in all of the applications. You set up server settings one time, not every time you upload, the settings are shared within the applications. I use all but four of the CC apps and never have to re-enter FTP settings......were your applications installed using the OEM default settings?

How about using the vsd v7 upload button, and S drive it up to cc server, so we can all have a look at it

YOU Just need your cc email address and password,

waiting with baited breath to see it, and its gone midnight

Man that is so 1998! You are making a simple process I think 1000 times more complicated. That is what FTP is for. You just enter your information once and push a button. Why go to a browser, log in, click around to get through the control panel, browse to find files, select files and the upload. FTP you push 1 button and you are done.

As to the files, you must already know where they are because you are uploading them through the control panel now right?

In this case I would highly suggest you make an exception to your rule Steven, and set it up in VSD so that you can always be sure all the files are being uploaded that are necessary. It's only one site setup and shouldn't be too difficult to manage. So many things can go wrong when you try uploading this on your own when you haven't really seen all the files and directories etc. that might be needed. Just a thought

Everyone is missing my point!!

What does VSD's FTP do to the .VNU file that my server upload will not?

If I am not mistaken, and I could be, does VSD make only one file when you go to save your site, and that is the .VNU file? Is the .VNU file made up of all the necessary files it took to make your website? So that if you use VSD's FTP it will "uncompress" that .VNU into useable files that would NOT be there if I used the Contol Panel's upload?

As for ease of upload Scott, I still disagree. If you use FTP you have to start the program (VSD) that has the FTP (assuming you are not using a stand-alone FTP), load the file you want to upload (your website), click on Upload, load your files your uploading into the FTP and click go. It is still no less than a 5 step process.

When I use my Control Panel, I click on an icon on my desk top which opens my browser and logs me into the control panel in one step, no log in necessary. Then I click on "Explorer", load my files from my computer and click "OK". That is only a 4 step process. So There!!!

It extracts it for you and uploads all the actual site files. It doesn't just upload the .vnu file (which it does do that for you also to back it up).

I think you are very lost here Steven and are over analyzing things. The VNU file is a file used by Visual Site Designer to create your website. It is a proprietary file only used by the software. When you open your website in VSD, it is actually opening that file. When you save your website in VSD, it generates all the HTML files and images in a folder that you then upload to your website. If you loose the VNU file, you loose your website. You will no longer be able to make any changes in VSD.

As to FTP, what you are saying makes no sense. First, if VSD is not already open, why would you be uploading through the control panel? There is nothing to upload. When you are in VSD and make a small change to your site, simply push the publish button in the toolbar and the software automatically uploads every thing for you. It is a ONE step process. Why would you go into VSD, make a change and save, then exit the software, launch your browser, log into the control panel and then try and figure out what files to upload? That is what the built-in FTP program is used for. Also when you upload within VSD, we upload a copy of the VNU file to your server. See how much better and easier that is!

Trust the experts here that are all saying the same thing. Use FTP

Thank you very much Scott. That is the kind of answer I was trying to get. I now see that I am confusing the .VNU file with the ones that get uploaded.

I will make the leap and do FTP from now on.

I do have one more question. I went into the folder that holds my site files (from VSD) and there is still a ContactUs.html and an AboutUs.html. I used a CC theme that originally had these pages. But my purpose for going with VSD7 was to do just a home page that would link to my SCCP site. I have no need for the About and Contact pages that were a part of the theme, so I deleted them. Why are they still in the folder of files that will be uploaded?

AWESOME!!

VSD has never deleted files for security reasons. It just has been one of the features / flaws depending on how you look at it