How to edit files directly from server?

Question

I'm new to dreamweaver (CS5) and I'm really lost when it comes to editing files directly in remote servers.
When you add a new site, you have to select a Local Site Folder. I dont mind that html editor saves auto backups to my computer, but I really dont want to download files from the server, edit them and upload them back to the server. In my work I always edit files directly over SFTP servers.
After spending time configuring DW, I can now connect to the remote server, edit a file and save it to the server (I know that really the files are automatically downloaded to my pc and sent back when saved). The only problem with this is that everytime I open a file from server, I get this annoying prompt "Do you wish to overwrite your local copy of [FILE]?"
How can I disable this for good, or is the dreamweaver just not the right tool to edit files directly from servers?

Answer 1

Again, if you are doing it the easy way, you don't download files from the server to edit them.
Always edit local files. Then upload them.
When you open Dreamweaver, your Files panel should be showing Local View, NOT Remote View. That way you are working with local files.
The way you're doing it here's what happens:
1. You doubleclick a file in the Files panel (Remote View)
2. Dreamweaver connects to your server and MUST download the file and related content (because the software IS NOT installed on the server and you CANNOT edit there)
3. When the file is downloaded, Dreamweaver asks if you wish to overwrite the local file because when you save it before putting the file back, your OS will not allow two files of the same name in the same location and the file MUST be saved before you can put it back.
4. You then put the file to the server, overwriting the original file.
All of that can be avoided by simply opening THE LOCAL FILE and editing it. Then you put it to the server, and overwrite the original with the edited file.
"What if someone else modifies a file on the server after I saved it, when I open and edit a local file, wont I just replace it when I upload it?"
If multiple people have access to the same files on the server, you NEED to have collaboration software so that when a change is made it can be saved by EVERYONE who has access to the site. Something like LiveCycle.
Without that your site will be a mess in no time because six different people (or more) will have six different copies of six different sites locally and they will all be working on it at the same time and it will end up like a Three Stooges movie where Larry, Curly and Moe are all cooking dinner and each adds the same ingredients at different times.