Create a Site with Direct Upload

Direct Upload lets you create a Site from files on your computer, without connecting a Git Provider. You can use Direct Upload to try CloudCannon with an existing website. For ongoing work, CloudCannon recommends syncing your Site with a Git Repository so you can edit files locally and keep a history of every change.

You can upload your files as a folder or as a zip file. The Upload a zip file option also accepts .tar, .gz, and .bz archives. The total size of your folder or archive must be 524.29 MB or less.

Create a Site from a folder#

When you upload a folder, CloudCannon lets you choose which files inside it to include before it creates your Site. CloudCannon selects every file except hidden files and the contents of _site, dist, node_modules, .sass-cache, and .idea folders, and never uploads your .git folder.

To create a Site from a folder:

1. Navigate to the Sites Browser by clicking the Sites button in the App Sidebar.
2. Click the Create a Site button. CloudCannon will open the Create a Site page.
3. Select the Upload a folder option from the File source dropdown.
4. Click the Select your folder button.
5. Choose the folder that contains your website files. CloudCannon will open the Confirm your files modal.
6. Deselect any files you don't want to upload, or select any excluded files you need.
7. Click the Confirm selection button.
8. Enter a name for your Site in the Site name field.
9. Click the Create Site and start syncing button.

CloudCannon will create your Site, upload your files, and open the Site Dashboard. Follow the Getting started steps there to configure your Site.

Create a Site from a zip file#

If your zip file contains a single top-level folder, CloudCannon uses the contents of that folder as the root of your Site.

To create a Site from a zip file:

1. Navigate to the Sites Browser by clicking the Sites button in the App Sidebar.
2. Click the Create a Site button. CloudCannon will open the Create a Site page.
3. Select the Upload a zip file option from the File source dropdown.
4. Click the Select your zip file button.
5. Choose the zip file that contains your website files. CloudCannon will fill in the Site name field from the name of your zip file.
6. Change the name in the Site name field if you want a different name.
7. Click the Create Site and start syncing button.

CloudCannon will create your Site, upload your files, and open the Site Dashboard. Follow the Getting started steps there to configure your Site.

Add more files later#

Once your Site exists, you can upload more files or folders from the File Browser, or drag and drop them into it. For more information, please read our documentation on adding a file.