Re: [cobalt-users] Raq4i - Front Page and .htaccess problems

["Carrie Linn Bartkowiak" <ravencarrie@xxxxxxxx>]

> Raq4:
>
> Front Page enabled virtual site
> Attempting to put in Custom Err in .htacess
> I overwrote the FP .htaccess on server
>
> FP extensions are broke now.
> I attempted to write back (FTP) the
> original FP .htaccess but extensions still broke.
>
>  Is it because of uid ?
>  Was: 'nobody'
>  Now: 'admin'

Yes. This is one of the reasons why you're not supposed to FTP into a site
you manage with FrontPage. To fix it, you'll have to telnet into your
machine, su to root, then change the ownership of the .htaccess file back to
nobody.
1. Login to telnet as admin
2. type "su" (without quotes)
3. enter your root password (it's the same as admin's password unless you've
changed it)
4. cd to the directory where the .htaccess file is
5. type "chown nobody .htaccess" without quotes.

>  I want to be able to install custom 404, etc
>  messages, and also url redirects in the .htacess
>  for FP enabled virtual sites.

For global changes across the entire server, change the .htaccess data in
your srm.conf file: /etc/httpd/conf directory
Then tell your users just to put the files you specify into their Web
directory - that way they (or you) don't have to do custom .htaccess files
for each site, and end up breaking the FP extensions again.

>  I would try to disable FP extension on the site,
>  and re enable them, but last time I did that on
>  a site, the Raq4 had problems, wouldn't re-enabled
>  the FP ..

No need to do this, you'll just mess things up further. Just change the
ownership of the file back to nobody:
$root >  chown nobody .htaccess
(while in that directory)

>  Q. So how does one reset the pswd for FP enabled sites ?
>     what if a user forgets their FP password ?

You will have to go into the Cobalt's GUI and give them a new FP password,
that's all.

>  Q. Is there a good FAQ or site dedicated to
>     compatibility of FP extended sites and
>     normal FTP use of the site files ??

Not that I know of, but I can make one for ya right here:
FAQ 1: If FP is enabled, do not touch FP-created files/folders with your FTP
program.
FAQ 2: If you've uploaded files with FTP, do not touch those files through
your FP web.
FAQ 3: If you're going to maintain your site with FTP, write your HTML and
other files by hand in a plain-text editor.

<grin>
Note: If you su to root and do *anything* to your machine, you're most
likely voiding your wonderful (cough) Cobalt warranty. However, it's cases
like this where you need to, and Cobalt hasn't given us much choice in the
matter because these types of issues aren't addressed through the GUI.

Carrie Bartkowiak