Uploading PDF files to Website

[unlockyourli]

Does anyone know how to upload a PDF file which would become the Website? Specifically, what do you put in the "htdocs" directory in place of the "index.html" file. The closest I came up with is index.html.pdf. But when I try to view the homepages on line, I get this message:
"Index of /
a.. Parent Directory
b.. index.html.pdf"
Nothing happens when click on "Parent Directory," but when click on "index.html.pdf," the homepage does come up. Obviously this is not workable. The same thing happens when I rename the file as "index.pdf."
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Someone suggested adding a htaccess file in htdocs, but didn't say what exactly to put in it.
Again, thanks,
Al
The Website would, of course, would be in PDF rather than HTML

[fcsnc]

I think that in order to view a PDF file you have to have either:
(1) Adobe Acrobat; or
(2) the "free" Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Now let's say that I don't have either one. How am I supposed to look at your website?

Most people access "websites" using a browser, and to be honest about it the browser is usually either Netscape (some version) or Internet Explorer (some version).

Most versions of Netscape, given a URL that ends in ".pdf", will want to save the PDF document to one's hard drive. That doesn't mean the visitor will ever see your document.

Newer versions of Internet Explorer might actually open the .pdf document in a browser window ... but only if the Adobe reader components have been installed.

Most visitors won't see your "website" at all. So, what do you have against HTML?

[unlockyourli]

I did a lot of soul searching and experimenting after receiving your very cogent reply. Since I know practically nothing about HTML, I was hoping to use MS Publisher to convert to HTML the chapters I want to put on the site. It didn't work; the chapters are apparently too long. So taking your suggestions in part, I'll try to work up the homepage in HTML with links to the 12 chapters in PDF.
I want to thank you for taking the time to give me that impelling response. By the way, I think your site at www.fcsnc.com is dynamite!
Al
P.S. Meanwhile, does anyone know what to put in the index.html to link to a PDF file? The <a href="unlockyourlife.pdf"></a> doesn't seem to work.

[fcsnc]

Originally posted by unlockyourli
Meanwhile, does anyone know what to put in the index.html to link to a PDF file? The <a href="unlockyourlife.pdf"></a> doesn't seem to work. [/B]

Try <a href="unlockyourlife.pdf">Click here</a>. That will make the words "Click here" your hyperlink.

Also, remember that on any Unix server all directory and file names are case sensitive. Therefore, you have to be very careful how you spell things. For example, if you have uploaded a file "UnLockYourLife.PDF," the all-lower-case reference suggested above will not find the file.

[unlockyourli]

I just want to thank and pay tribute to Tom of fcsnc. We were in a real bind over our website. Tom not only helped answer some critical questions (above) but wound up designing a real dynamite site for us (see UnclockYourLife.com). And he was so easy to work with. My accolade to Tom!
Al