custom 404 error page Q

[Larry]

I have created a custom 404 Not Found error page and am trying to
display the url of the requested page. I found a parameter <!--#echo
var="REQUEST_URI" --> which displays the pagename but I would like to
display the full url. Does anyone know which parameter does this? Also
is there somewhere a list of which parameters can be used in this
manner? I haven't been able to find one so far.

I also wanted to show the 'referring page' but this field always appears
blank. i.e. <!--#echo var="HTTP_REFERRER" -->

To see what is displayed goto test 404 error page:
http://www.bed-and-breakfast-travel.com/5index.html

Larry

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[Steve Easton]

Comments if I may.
I wouldn't do what you want to do and here's why:
1. As a webmaster, if I were to hit a 404 page like that my first instinct is to close it.
2. Also as a web master, I know you have server logs you can check to see if people are clicking
broken links.
3. What if a visitor is clicking an incomplete link sent to them by a friend who is recommending
your site / services to them, and they get this error page that displays their user agent, IP and
referring link?? My guess is you will lose the visitor. Referring links by the way are not always
what they seem, sometimes it can be the last site visited which has nothing to do with "where they
were where when they clicked a link to your site.
4. As a webmaster with a site that has received well over 2 million hits, believe me when I say you
will be lucky if 1 in 100,000 visitors will "assist" you with broken links or forward comments about
your site.

5. <imho>
Save the server tricks for a hobby site, and for a 404 page for a "professional" site simply state
that there must have been a server error, give them the list of links as you have done at the bottom
of the page and also a site search option.
What you want to do will cost you customers.
You want your visitor to have the fastest possible, most hassle free way there is to "get into" your
web site.
Asking them to submit a form on an error page won't work.
</imho>

fwiw, I spent $634 last month at a B&B in Rome Italy that I found on the internet. Had I hit an
error page like that, I would have gone on to the next site in the list I found with Google when I
was searching.



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Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
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[Jon Spivey]

Agree with that advice 100%. I'd also add make some code so you're aware of
any errrors, whether you log them to a database email them to you whatever
you need to know whats happening. I have 500s sent to my cell and 404s
logged to a database. If you generate an error you've probably lost the guy
(from my stats I'd put the figure at 1 in 100 that will email to tell
you/ask for help) but it's very important to know exactly what caused the
error. I'd agree nobody is going to fill in that form on the OPs site.

 

[Larry]

Thanks for the advice. The current page was/is a test version to try and
get the info sent to me automatically when the page is entered. I was
trying to find a way to save the url so I could send it to myself
automatically. I agree as it is it's ugly and will fix it. Back to
checking the logs I guess.

Larry

Agree with that advice 100%. I'd also add make some code so you're aware of
any errrors, whether you log them to a database email them to you whatever
you need to know whats happening. I have 500s sent to my cell and 404s
logged to a database. If you generate an error you've probably lost the guy
(from my stats I'd put the figure at 1 in 100 that will email to tell
you/ask for help) but it's very important to know exactly what caused the
error. I'd agree nobody is going to fill in that form on the OPs site.

--
For your security and peace of mind ALL emails are automatically scanned
with the latest Norton AV Virus Definitions. Not that I have any virus'
but why not be careful! I get virus signature updates regularly!

A Belt and Suspenders are the best security invented!

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

You would need to use a server-side script, such as ASP, ASP.net or PHP to accomplish having a email
sent automatically or to update a text file or database, which one to use all depends on the OS and
what is supported by your web host.

--
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Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
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