INDEX FILE

The index.html is the most important file in your free GeoCities space, i.e. in your File Manager. It is how people will enter your site, through the front door, just like when someone enters your home. They don't use the window. The file that is your site's front door is http://www.geocities.com/your-member-name/index.html.

If someone has told you that you need an index.html file, or when you go to your site you see a list of your files or you see the graphic below, then this page will show you how to correct the problem.

If you just want to correct the problem without understand what or why your are doing it, then CLICK HERE!. Otherwise, please continue reading below as to (a) what the problem is and (b) how to correct it.

When you sign up for a free home page at GeoCities this is what your default front door will look like, the index.html. You have to replace this file (web page) with your own "front door".

TYPICAL DEFAULT HOME PAGE FOR NEW GEOCITIES MEMBER

EXPLANATION OF WHY YOU NEED AN INDEX.HTML

After you sign up for a GeoCities member-name, you will receive an email at the email address you give GeoCities. This email address is your alternate email address and is the only contact point GeoCities has with you. This email, in part, will look like this:

For anyone to see a page on your free GeoCities site, they have to enter one of these addresses in their browser's location bar:

  1. For your home page or main entrance to your site, which is the file, index.html -

    If you don't have an index.html file on your site then when people go to www.geocities.com/membername, they will see all the files in your file manager (example shown below). Which means that anyone can look at all your graphics and web pages on your site!

  2. For one of your pages -

If you have made a page and saved it with any other name than index.html, e.g. mypage.html, then this page will not be displayed when you go to http://www.geocities.com/your-member-name. It will only be display if you go to http://www.geocities.com/your-member-name/mypage.html

NOTE: Page Builder automatically saves all pages you make with the default file extension of .html. If you save a page as mypage, then the actually name on the web is mypage.html. The only time you need to be concerned with the file extension is when you give out the address of the page, i.e. www.geocities.com/member-name/mypage.html.

The standard home page that GeoCities gives all new members looks like this:

So, you should replace the current "I haven't started building my site yet...." page, which is the standard default page that GeoCities sets up for every new member, with one of your own pages.

GETTING/REPLACING AN INDEX.HTML

There are two methods of replacing this standard page:

  1. Deleting/Replacing - If you already have an index.html file

    1. Enter File Manager (opens in new window. you may have to sign in).
    2. Find the current index.html
    3. Check box to left of file name
    4. Click on DELETE BUTTON
    5. Find your file in list
    6. Check box to left of file name
    7. Click RENAME BUTTON
    8. Rename to index.html.
    9. Click OK

  2. Editing A Current Page Or Make A New Page - If you don't have an index.html file

    This is easy to do. Just (a) make a new page or (b) edit a current page with Page Builder. Then SAVE it. This may bring up this screen:

    If the page you have just edited or made is the one you want to replace the default home page above, then you click on the OK. If, however, this is just another one of your pages, then click NO. If you clicked NO or the above screen didn't come up, then on the next screen, either: