Question: Frontage 2002 and the .htaccess file

[David Baxter]

A puzzler: In one of the forums, we were discussing changes to the
..htaccess file on an unrelated matter this lead to questions about the
..htaccess file for *nix servers with FP extensions installed.

Two users, both on Linux Apache servers, both using FrontPage 2002. I
noted that what I did was to add additional lines to the bottom of the
..htaccess file installed along with the FP Server extensions (2002)
using Notepad and then uploaded the edited version to the server using
FTP in ASCII mode. Everything works perfectly.

The other guy indicates that he did everything the same. His problem is
that any time he tries to publish updates to his site, he receives an
error message telling him that the FP server extensions are not
installed. If he uploads the original .htaccess file, his FP publish
works fine. Then he reloads the modified .htaccess file until he needs
to republish again.

Why would he need to do this?

 

[Andrew Murray]

I believe .htaccess is somehow related to how, and whether, the fp extensions
work (on unix based servers anyway).....not sure how.

It seems that way, given what you have said.

If he uploaded with FTP, then that would break or corrupt the server extensions -
he should be publishing via http: mode in frontpage.

Can you post back the exact contents of your .htaccess file - this might help
determine what is going on.

The publshing feature should only come back with an error about server extensions
not being installed if publishing in http: mode, not ftp: mode (or via 3rd party
ftp program).

 

[David Baxter]

Using FTP doesn't automatically break FP extensions, as long as it is a
file that isn't normally updated and tracked using _vti folders.

I often use FTP for quick uploads to a "misc" folder on the site that
isn't linked to anything in the rest of the site.

Also, I used FTP to upload my modified .htacess file and have had no
problems whatsoever. I'm going top investigate this a little more -- it
appears that the other guy is using a mod rewrite that may be
effectively hiding some of his files, including his FP password
directory... if so, that would explain the errors he's getting.