# Managing Webs
_Adding webs is a web based operation; renaming and deleting webs are manual operations done directly on the server_
## Overview
A [[TWikiSite]] is divided into webs; each one represents one subject, one area of collaboration. Administrators can add/rename/delete webs.
## Choose Web Template
There are two methods used to create a new web. First you can use a specially designed [[TemplateWeb]]. This is an invisible web that begins with an underscore "\_" character. All topics in the \_default template web will be copied into your new web.
The second method is to use an existing web as a template web. This may be useful if you already have a web that you like to use as a starting point. Only topics that have names beginning with **Web...** (like "WebHome", "WebNotify", etc.) are copied.
In either case you will want to be sure to verify that your new web has all the custom modifications that you desire.
## Adding a New Web
**Note:** Attachments will NOT get copied over along with their topics. This will be a feature added for the TWiki:Codev/CairoRelease.
**Note:** This script does not yet edit the [[TWiki.TWikiPreferences|TWiki/TWikiPreferences]] file to update the `WIKIWEBLIST`. This must be done by hand.
The manage script while creating the new web will update the following variables in the [[WebPreferences]]: `WEBBGCOLOR`, `SITEMAPLIST`, `SITEMAPWHAT`, `SITEMAPUSETO` and `NOSEARCHALL`. These variables are now used to dynamically generate the [[SiteMap]].
## Renaming or Deleting a Web
Renaming or deleting a web requires direct access to the installation files on the host server. There are currently no browser-based equivalents of the Rename/move/delete topic tools for working with webs.
**NOTE:** If you plan to rename the %WIKITOOLNAME%.Main web, remember that TWiki stores user and group topics in `%MAINWEB%`, default named `Main`. That means, every [[WikiName]] signature - `Main.SomeUserName` - points to it and would need updating (unless the variable, `%MAINWEB%.SomeUserName`, is used throughout).
1. Prepare your site: Search each web for links to the target web, searching topic text for `Oldwebname.`, including the dot so you'll find references like `Oldwebname.SomeTopic`.
- Make changes as required, to `Newwebname.SomeTopic` or better yet, to `%MAINWEB%.SomeTopic`.
2. Edit the [[TWikiPreferences]] topic: Rename or delete the web from the `WIKIWEBLIST` variable.
3. Login to the %WIKITOOLNAME% server, via Telnet or FTP.
4. Go to `twiki/data` and rename or remove the web directory.
5. Go to `twiki/templates` and rename or remove the web directory if present.
6. Go to `twiki/pub` and rename or remove the web directory if present.
-- [[MikeMannix]] - 14 Sep 2001 -- [[PeterThoeny]] - 07 Apr 2002 -- [[GrantBow]] - 16 Jan 2003