index.htm renamed to index.html

D

David Baxter

My apologies -- I know I saw a post about this not too long ago but it
wasn't a problem then and now I can't find it again.

I just transferred my site to a Linux server (Red Hat) running Apache -
FP 2002 extensions installed and working. I'm using FrontPage 2002...

I publish my site and index.htm is renamed to index.html. I am unable to
prevent this happening or to set index.htm as the home page.

I tried editing the postinfo.html file to specify the default page as
index.htm - that didn't work. I deleted all the usual temp files and web
files on my hard drive and tried again - that didn't work either. I'm
not sure if this is a problem on the server end or at my end. The config
file for the host does list all the usual variants for default pages
with index.html first.

Any suggestions?
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

You host controls this. FP will always rename the home page during
publishing to a server that has the FP extensions to the first document name
listed in the default document list on the host's server.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
S

Steve Easton

The trick is to rename your local Home page
index.html


--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer
 
D

David Baxter

Okay, so it's not on my end. However, the host is working with me to
resolve this - any suggestions for him?
 
D

David Baxter

Yes, that's an option but not the preferred one - I know I can work
around it but for several reasons I'd rather not have to. Is there
anything else I can do or can advise my host to do?
 
T

Tom Pepper Willett

If the host won't rename the default page on the server, you are at their
mercy.
--
-----
Tom Pepper Willett
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
http://www.microsoft.com/office/frontpage/prodinfo/default.mspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/office/understanding/frontpage/
----
| Yes, that's an option but not the preferred one - I know I can work
| around it but for several reasons I'd rather not have to. Is there
| anything else I can do or can advise my host to do?
|
|
| | > The trick is to rename your local Home page
| > index.html
| >
| >
| > --
| > Steve Easton
| > Microsoft MVP FrontPage
| > 95isalive
| > This site is best viewed............
| > .......................with a computer
| >
| > | > > My apologies -- I know I saw a post about this not too long ago but
| it
| > > wasn't a problem then and now I can't find it again.
| > >
| > > I just transferred my site to a Linux server (Red Hat) running
| Apache -
| > > FP 2002 extensions installed and working. I'm using FrontPage
| 2002...
| > >
| > > I publish my site and index.htm is renamed to index.html. I am
| unable to
| > > prevent this happening or to set index.htm as the home page.
| > >
| > > I tried editing the postinfo.html file to specify the default page
| as
| > > index.htm - that didn't work. I deleted all the usual temp files and
| web
| > > files on my hard drive and tried again - that didn't work either.
| I'm
| > > not sure if this is a problem on the server end or at my end. The
| config
| > > file for the host does list all the usual variants for default pages
| > > with index.html first.
| > >
| > > Any suggestions?
| > >
| > >
| > >
| >
| >
|
|
 
S

Steve Easton

The only thing would be if your host
can change the default page to index.htm

You do know that if you rename the local
home page to index.html that FrontPage
will automatically update all links to it.

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer
 
O

Orest Kinasevych

Tom said:
If the host won't rename the default page on the server, you are at their
mercy.

Why can't FP be made to *not* rename the pages? Sounds like the problem
is with the FP product, not the web host. If a user wants to use a given
file name, the user should have that choice -- FP should not be renaming
files.

If the server is a shared hosting environment, the hosting provider must
consider the impact that a change will have on all their users. So don't
blame the web host for not changing an existing configuration.

- O.
 
S

Steve Easton

The problem is the server.
FP renames the file as per the server requirements.
If you forced FP to leave the file name unchanged
a visitor would receive a 404 error, as the server would not
"see" the default file in the root directory.

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer
 
S

Steve Easton

Also, index.html has been the default
on Apache/UNIX for as long as I can remember.

It has nothing to do with whether it's a shared IP or not.

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

Ask the host to move the page name you want, to be the first one in the list
of default documents on the server.


--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

If FP did this, then many users would be naming their home page to whatever,
and then wondering why no one can access there web site via just the TLD
name.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
B

Bob Lehmann

If FP didn't rename it, then the default document wouldn't come up.

Perhaps a little knowledge of servers would prevent your misplaced rants.

Bob Lehmann
 
O

Orest Kinasevych

Steve said:
The problem is the server.
FP renames the file as per the server requirements.
If you forced FP to leave the file name unchanged
a visitor would receive a 404 error, as the server would not
"see" the default file in the root directory.

We're not any closer to a solution to our original correspondent's
problem.

His insistence on keeping the file naming scheme that he has instituted
on his web site is perfectly understandable and reasonable.

Whether or not his decision generates 404 errors is not the issue.
Besides missing the point, your insistence that a 404 error *would*
occur is wrong. It *might* occur if "index.htm" isn't listed in the
Apache DirectoryIndex directive. (See
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/mod/mod_dir.html#directoryindex for an
explanation.)

However, by the information already conveyed in this thread, it sounds
like "index.htm" might well be listed in the DirectoryIndex directive.
In an earlier post, Thomas A. Rowe suggested that "index.htm" ought to
be moved to the top of the default document list. However, changing the
order of DirectoryIndex file names in an operational -- and very likely
shared -- web hosting environment can potentially break many, many web
sites already on the server.

The issue is that there is some mechanism, somewhere, that is renaming
his files. Whatever mechanism it is, it is making the blatantly
incorrect assumption that our correspondent would appreciate having his
files renamed. This renaming feature is the root of the stated problem
and is the issue that one would hope that the MVP FrontPage "experts"
would be informed enough to answer directly, if they can answer it at all.
 
S

Steve Easton

Inline below even though I'm not normally a bottom poster.

Orest Kinasevych said:
We're not any closer to a solution to our original correspondent's
problem.

His insistence on keeping the file naming scheme that he has instituted
on his web site is perfectly understandable and reasonable.

Why, because he made his site that way.??
Rename the home page to index.html and FrontPage will rename
every link to it in the time it takes to click OK.
What earthly difference does it make, what the file name of the home page
is.
It's invisible to everyone but the web author when he's viewing the site in
folder view anyway.
Whether or not his decision generates 404 errors is not the issue.
Besides missing the point, your insistence that a 404 error *would*
occur is wrong. It *might* occur if "index.htm" isn't listed in the
Apache DirectoryIndex directive. (See
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/mod/mod_dir.html#directoryindex for an
explanation.)


Would occur, might occur whatever. Using the "default" required by
the server eliminates the error. Also the only index that needs to be
index.html
is the one in the root.
However, by the information already conveyed in this thread, it sounds
like "index.htm" might well be listed in the DirectoryIndex directive.
In an earlier post, Thomas A. Rowe suggested that "index.htm" ought to
be moved to the top of the default document list. However, changing the
order of DirectoryIndex file names in an operational -- and very likely
shared -- web hosting environment can potentially break many, many web
sites already on the server.

Your assumption that the host has changed the default document list is also
in error.
All of my sites are hosted on Apache, and they all have index.html as the
default.
Always have. It's just one of those things I was aware of, and had the
poster read the
FAQ's at his hosting service he would have probably known that.
The issue is we have someone ( like many ) that created a web site, then
looked for hosting, or changed hosts without realizing that different
servers require
different "default page names."

So your site is hosted on Apache/UNIX with FP extensions and PHP, and your
home page can be index.php. He unfortunately doesn't have that option.
And once again it is a hosting issue, not a FrontPage or a Microsoft or an
MVP issue.

The issue is that there is some mechanism, somewhere, that is renaming
his files. Whatever mechanism it is, it is making the blatantly
incorrect assumption that our correspondent would appreciate having his
files renamed. This renaming feature is the root of the stated problem
and is the issue that one would hope that the MVP FrontPage "experts"
would be informed enough to answer directly, if they can answer it at all.

It's not a blatantly incorrect assumption. It's a Programmed result of
FrontPage
determining the requirements of the server and publishing the web in a
manner that ensures functionality.

The other issue is that the Extensions for Apache/UNIX aren't created or
maintained
by MSFT nor are the MVP's privy to how they are constructed.
The are authored by RTR software. However there is a news group dedicated
to UNIX servers: microsoft.public.frontpage.extensions.unix

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

As for changing the order of the names in the default document list (at
least under a Windows IIS on 2000 or 2003 server), the setting can be set
uniquely for each web site hosted.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
S

Steve Easton

Hi Thomas,
the poster is running on Apache/UNIX

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer
 
T

Thomas A. Rowe

Ok, so does Apache support unique default documents on a per web basis or is
it server wide?

If it is server wide, then the user has to rename his home page that which
is required by the web host, unless it can be set in the .htaccess file or
whatever is use to configure a web site on Apache.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
 
S

Steve Easton

It can be either.
If the host allows server overrides to
be added to the .htaccess file in the
virtual *aka* domain directory, then each domain can specify
the default page file extension.
If not, regardless of what is entered in the .htaccess for
the domain, the "server" will ignore it and and use the default
established for the server.
I just went into one of my webs via CPanel to take a look,
and I can edit the .htaccess at will. The problem is that there's
more than one and if you change one you have to change them all.
imho it's not worth the effort.

Besides, I personally don't care if it has to be index.rumplestiltskin
If it works what difference does it make.

<g>

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer
 
P

Paul S. Wolf

It can be either.
If the host allows server overrides to
be added to the .htaccess file in the
virtual *aka* domain directory, then each domain can specify
the default page file extension.
If not, regardless of what is entered in the .htaccess for
the domain, the "server" will ignore it and and use the default
established for the server.
I just went into one of my webs via CPanel to take a look,
and I can edit the .htaccess at will. The problem is that there's
more than one and if you change one you have to change them all.
imho it's not worth the effort.

Besides, I personally don't care if it has to be index.rumplestiltskin
If it works what difference does it make.

<g>

I have one other suggestion for the OP.

Create a file named index.html and have it be a redirect page to
index.htm. Use this code:

<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; URL=index.htm">
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>

Then upload both index.htm and index.html. Publish the index.html file
first, THEN the index.htm file. That way the extensions on the server
will not remname your htm file with the html extension, since there will
be a file with the right name there, first.

That way the DEFAULT page on the server will be what the server wants,
and your home page will be what YOU want. In either case, if a user
tries to go to http://yourdomain.com http://yourdomain.com/index.html or
http://yourdomain.com/index.htm he will wind up on the page named
http://yourdomain.com/index.htm as you wish.
 

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