Publishing an ASP.NET Web Pages (Razor) site means deploying your project so it can run on a real web server. Here's a complete guide on how to publish your Web Pages app, whether you're using Visual Studio, WebMatrix, or just doing it manually via FTP.

? Web Pages Publish in ASP.NET

? 1. Prerequisites

• Your project should be complete and tested locally.

• You need IIS hosting or a web host that supports ASP.NET and .NET Framework 4.x.

• Make sure your site is using .cshtml Razor pages.

? 2. Publishing with Visual Studio

Steps:

1. Right-click the project ? Publish.

2. Choose a publish method:

   • Web Deploy

   • FTP

   • File System

3. Enter your web server settings (FTP address, credentials, etc.).

4. Click Publish.

? If your host supports Web Deploy, use it for a smoother experience. FTP works everywhere but is slower.

? 3. Publishing with WebMatrix (if you're using it)

1. Open your project in WebMatrix.

2. Click the "Publish" button in the top-right.

3. Configure publish settings (FTP, Web Deploy).

4. Click Publish Site.

WebMatrix will compare local and remote files and only upload changes.

? 4. Manual Publish (File Copy + FTP)

If you're not using an IDE:

1. Build your project locally.

2. Copy the entire site folder including:

   • .cshtml files

   • bin/ folder (DLLs)

   • App_Data/ (for database files)

   • web.config

3. Upload the folder to your web server using an FTP client (like FileZilla).

? 5. IIS Setup (for Local or Hosting Server)

If you're deploying to your own server:

1. Make sure IIS is installed and ASP.NET is enabled.

2. Copy your published files to the web root (e.g., C:\inetpub\wwwroot\YourSite).

3. In IIS Manager:

   • Create a new site or point an existing one to your folder.

   • Make sure the application pool is using .NET 4.x and Integrated Pipeline.

? 6. Database Considerations

• If using SQL Server Compact (.sdf), just copy the App_Data folder.

• If using SQL Server, make sure the connection string in web.config points to the production database.

• Update any hardcoded file paths if needed.

? Final Checklist

Let me know if you're using a specific host like GoDaddy, HostGator, or Azure — I can give step-by-step instructions tailored to that host.