FP2003 -- Publishing does not delete files on remote server

[John Blaustein]

Hi,

I recently upgraded to FP 2003.

I can edit my site with no problem on my PC -- Windows XP Home. When I
Publish the site, it works fine -- all new and changed pages are uploaded
and when I view them in IE, they look fine.

Here's the problem: In View>Remote Web site, I see my local files on the
left, and the remove files on the right. I am seeing lots of folders (and
files) on the remote site that have not been deleted by publishing the site.
In the past, when I deleted pages (files and folders) from my local site and
then published the site, FP would delete those pages from the remote site,
so both the local and remote sites were in sync.

In FP2003, in the Remote Web site View, in the lower right corner, there are
three options: Local to remote--arrow pointing right, Remote to Local-arrow
pointing left, and Synchronize--arrows pointing two ways. Whenever I
publish, I want the remote site to end up having all the files (and only the
files) on the local site, not visa versa. If I delete pages from the local
site, I want "Publish" to delete them from the remote site, thereby keeping
the local and remote in sync.

How do I get FP to delete files and folders on the remote site that have
been deleted on my local site? Do I use the Synchronize button? If so, how
do I make sure that files that are still left on the remote server (not
previously deleted as I thought they were) from being copied from the remote
site to my local site?

I should note that in Remote Web Site Properties>Remote Web Site, I have
FrontPage or SharePoint Services selected. My site is shown as:
http://www.johnblaustein.com. In the Publishing tab, Publish is set to
Changed pages only. (I have no subsites, so that's unchecked.) Changes is
set to "Determine changes by comparing source and destination sites."
Should I be using "Use source file timestamps to determine changes since
last publish?"

I hope I've explained the problem clearly, and I sure will be grateful for
any help.

Thank you.

John

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

You must publish with the Change Pages Only option selected for content to be deleted.

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

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

 

[John Blaustein]

Thomas,

Thank you for the quick reply.

Actually, I already have "Changed pages only" selected. On that same tab,
under "Changes," I have "Determine changes by comparing source and
destination sites." (The other choice there is "Use source file timestamps
to determine changes since last publish.)

In View>Remote Web Site, the dropdown View list shows Folder Contents, but
if I select Files in Conflict, I see all the files on the remote site that
should have been deleted, but haven't been deleted.

Since I'm already using "Changed pages only," and that's not working, what
now?

John

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

Try using Source file timestamps option. If that doesn't open the live site and delete the folders
and files that should have been deleted, then publish to your local.

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

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

 

[John Blaustein]

"Source file timestamps" didn't work. The files remained on the remote site
after publishing.

I can open the remote site and delete the files and folders, but that
doesn't explain why FP isn't doing it for me when it is supposed to. I've
sent a message to my Web hosting service -- westhost.com. They are very
good about tech support, so I trust I'll hear back from them shortly and
perhaps they'll have an explanation. I'll post back here if I learn
anything new.

When you say "open the live site and delete the folders and files that
should have been deleted, then publish to your local," do you mean that
after manually deleting the unwanted files from the remote site, I should
publish from the remote back to the local? If I delete the unwanted files,
shouldn't the local and remote then be in sync? What will publishing from
remote to local do for me? (I don't doubt you are right, I'm just no clear
about why, or if maybe I should use the Sync setting after manually deleting
the files.)

John

 

[Stefan B Rusynko]

You actually don't even have to open your remote web site
Open your local site and select Remote Web Site View (log in)
In your remote web site window (on the right) right click the unwanted folder and select delete
- you can use Local Site window (on the left) as a guide

When done, to make sure the Meta files on each site are updated, you can do a Syncronize or Publish Changes from Local to Remote
- that process runs a Tools Recalculate Hyperlinks on both sites and updates the saves FP meta web cache files (*.web) on your PC

FP has never fully cleaned out empty unused folders during publishing




| "Source file timestamps" didn't work. The files remained on the remote site
| after publishing.
|
| I can open the remote site and delete the files and folders, but that
| doesn't explain why FP isn't doing it for me when it is supposed to. I've
| sent a message to my Web hosting service -- westhost.com. They are very
| good about tech support, so I trust I'll hear back from them shortly and
| perhaps they'll have an explanation. I'll post back here if I learn
| anything new.
|
| When you say "open the live site and delete the folders and files that
| should have been deleted, then publish to your local," do you mean that
| after manually deleting the unwanted files from the remote site, I should
| publish from the remote back to the local? If I delete the unwanted files,
| shouldn't the local and remote then be in sync? What will publishing from
| remote to local do for me? (I don't doubt you are right, I'm just no clear
| about why, or if maybe I should use the Sync setting after manually deleting
| the files.)
|
| John
|
|
| | > Try using Source file timestamps option. If that doesn't open the live
| site and delete the folders
| > and files that should have been deleted, then publish to your local.
| >
| > --
| > ==============================================
| > Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
| > WEBMASTER Resources(tm)
| >
| > FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
| > ==============================================
| > To assist you in getting the best answers for FrontPage support see:
| > http://www.net-sites.com/sitebuilder/newsgroups.asp
| >
| | > > Thomas,
| > >
| > > Thank you for the quick reply.
| > >
| > > Actually, I already have "Changed pages only" selected. On that same
| tab,
| > > under "Changes," I have "Determine changes by comparing source and
| > > destination sites." (The other choice there is "Use source file
| timestamps
| > > to determine changes since last publish.)
| > >
| > > In View>Remote Web Site, the dropdown View list shows Folder Contents,
| but
| > > if I select Files in Conflict, I see all the files on the remote site
| that
| > > should have been deleted, but haven't been deleted.
| > >
| > > Since I'm already using "Changed pages only," and that's not working,
| what
| > > now?
| > >
| > > John
| > >
| > >
| > > | > > > You must publish with the Change Pages Only option selected for
| content to
| > > be deleted.
| > > >
| > > > --
| > > > ==============================================
| > > > Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
| > > > WEBMASTER Resources(tm)
| > > >
| > > > FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
| > > > ==============================================
| > > > To assist you in getting the best answers for FrontPage support see:
| > > > http://www.net-sites.com/sitebuilder/newsgroups.asp
| > > >
| > > | > > > > Hi,
| > > > >
| > > > > I recently upgraded to FP 2003.
| > > > >
| > > > > I can edit my site with no problem on my PC -- Windows XP Home.
| When I
| > > > > Publish the site, it works fine -- all new and changed pages are
| > > uploaded
| > > > > and when I view them in IE, they look fine.
| > > > >
| > > > > Here's the problem: In View>Remote Web site, I see my local files
| on
| > > the
| > > > > left, and the remove files on the right. I am seeing lots of
| folders
| > > (and
| > > > > files) on the remote site that have not been deleted by publishing
| the
| > > site.
| > > > > In the past, when I deleted pages (files and folders) from my local
| site
| > > and
| > > > > then published the site, FP would delete those pages from the remote
| > > site,
| > > > > so both the local and remote sites were in sync.
| > > > >
| > > > > In FP2003, in the Remote Web site View, in the lower right corner,
| there
| > > are
| > > > > three options: Local to remote--arrow pointing right, Remote to
| > > Local-arrow
| > > > > pointing left, and Synchronize--arrows pointing two ways. Whenever
| I
| > > > > publish, I want the remote site to end up having all the files (and
| only
| > > the
| > > > > files) on the local site, not visa versa. If I delete pages from
| the
| > > local
| > > > > site, I want "Publish" to delete them from the remote site, thereby
| > > keeping
| > > > > the local and remote in sync.
| > > > >
| > > > > How do I get FP to delete files and folders on the remote site that
| have
| > > > > been deleted on my local site? Do I use the Synchronize button? If
| so,
| > > how
| > > > > do I make sure that files that are still left on the remote server
| (not
| > > > > previously deleted as I thought they were) from being copied from
| the
| > > remote
| > > > > site to my local site?
| > > > >
| > > > > I should note that in Remote Web Site Properties>Remote Web Site, I
| have
| > > > > FrontPage or SharePoint Services selected. My site is shown as:
| > > > > http://www.johnblaustein.com. In the Publishing tab, Publish is set
| to
| > > > > Changed pages only. (I have no subsites, so that's unchecked.)
| Changes
| > > is
| > > > > set to "Determine changes by comparing source and destination
| sites."
| > > > > Should I be using "Use source file timestamps to determine changes
| since
| > > > > last publish?"
| > > > >
| > > > > I hope I've explained the problem clearly, and I sure will be
| grateful
| > > for
| > > > > any help.
| > > > >
| > > > > Thank you.
| > > > >
| > > > > John
| > > > >
| > > > >
| > > >
| > > >
| > >
| > >
| >
| >
|
|

 

[John Blaustein]

Stefan and Thomas,

I think I've discovered my problem and why FP hasn't been deleting folders
and files from the remote site after I delete them on my local site. As is
so often the case, it's an issue of my not doing something correctly.

I am a photographer and I use Photoshop CS to create web galleries of images
for my clients to review. I use a file manager program called PowerDesk Pro
5.0 (similar to Windows Explorer, but better) to create a folder in my web,
then I use Photoshop to build a web gallery within that folder. Then, I
open FP and Publish. Each web gallery has its own index.htm file, and none
of the web galleries are linked to my home page or any other pages in my
site. My clients access their galleries with a link like this:
http://www.johnblaustein.com/client

When my client is finished reviewing their images, I delete the pages using
FP and then Publish. The files are deleted on my local site, but not on the
server. I am now assuming this is because I have not actually created the
pages using FP. The gallery folders and files are contained within my site,
along with all the folders and pages that were actually created by FP, but I
put them their "manually," rather than building them with FP.

I tested this by opening FP, creating a new folder, creating a new page
called index.htm, adding a couple of lines of text, then Publishing. That
worked fine. I then used FP to delete the test folder, and then Published.
As I suspected, the folder and test file was deleted from the remote site.
Based on this test, I'm concluding that my web galleries aren't being
deleted from the remote server because they were not created from within FP.

Using Thomas and Stefan's suggestions, along with a suggestion from Steve
Easton (in reply to another similar thread this morning), I now know what to
do. I'll give it all a try and report back. (Actually, I won't need to do
everything suggested, but a combination.)

You guys are the best! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't
know what I'd do without all of you MVPs. Your expertise and attentiveness
to end users like myself is invaluable and very much appreciated.

John

You actually don't even have to open your remote web site
Open your local site and select Remote Web Site View (log in)
In your remote web site window (on the right) right click the unwanted folder and select delete
- you can use Local Site window (on the left) as a guide

When done, to make sure the Meta files on each site are updated, you can

do a Syncronize or Publish Changes from Local to Remote

- that process runs a Tools Recalculate Hyperlinks on both sites and

updates the saves FP meta web cache files (*.web) on your PC

 

[John Blaustein]

Forgot to add...

The proper workflow for my situation probably should be this:

--Create Web gallery in Photoshop
--In FP, use the File>Import>Folder function to bring the gallery into FP
--Publish

I suspect that doing it this way, FP will add all the necessary code and
hidden pages, so that when it's time to delete everything, FP will be able
to do it.

Am I on the right track?

John

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

John,

Glad to see that you have solve this.

You can continue to use your current applications, just create the folder on your desktop instead of
within the web, then open your web in FP, select the folder on your desktop, then drag-n-drop the
folder into your current open FP web.

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

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

 

[John Blaustein]

OK, Thomas. That's even easier than using the Import function.

Thanks again!

John

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

You are welcome!


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

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

 

[Steve Easton]

John,

You can also open your local web, click View folders, right click a blank spot ( or click the folder
icon ) and create a new folder using FrontPage.
Also you can add Photoshop as your image editor in FrontPage, then in then launch Photoshop from
within FrontPage and then point Photoshop to your new folder to save the output. This way
FrontPage knows the new folder and files have been created and all you have to do is save and
publish. Everything will then be automatic.

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

 

[John Blaustein]

Steve... more good advice. I will add all of this to my ongoing "how to"
notes. These programs are incredibly powerful if one knows the right way to
use them.

Thanks so much for your help.

John

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

FYI: When you launch another application from within FP, the file is not created or updated in the
current open web, until you have saved and then closed the application. If you edit a file from
within FP, you are not working with the original file, you are working with a temp copy, which when
you save and close the application, FP will then take the temp file and replace the original.

I have found it safer to always work outside of FP in other application, then import or re-import
the new / updated files.

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

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

 

[John Blaustein]

Thanks for that warning Thomas. I like the drag-n-drop or the File>Import
approach mentioned earlier in the thread.

John

 

[John Blaustein]

Thomas,

Follow up...

I tried the drag-n-drop technique, then published, then viewed the site
online, then reopened FP and deleted the files I'd brought in by drag-n-drop
and they were successfully deleted from the remote site.

Problem solved! Thanks again!

John

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

John,

Thanks for the follow-up, good luck and you are welcome.

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

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

 

[Barry Stacy]

Hello Gentlemen,

I am having the same problem that John Blaustein was having withthe
exception that all my work was done within Frontpage 2003. I have Image
folders and have created multiple Photgalleries via the Frontpage web
component.

I deleted many of the image folders and the corresponding photogalleries.
(not the easiest task to find the correct photogallery but that is another
issue)
This morning I uploaded my site to the server (Same settings as John) but
was never prompted to remove the old files. Now I have all these old files
on the server. I know I could manually search through the folders on the
local and remote and compare but I am afraid I would
1) miss some files
or
2) worse yet delete some that need to be there.

If I use the syncronize feature will FrontPage prompt me on the different
files and folders?

Thank you for any assistance.

 

[Ronx]

Open your local copy and go into remote site view.
In the View drop down (just under the Web Site tag at the top of the window)
choose "Files in Conflict"
This will list the unmatched files in the remote site window.

Ron

 

[Ronx]

.... you can delete the files from this window.

Ron
--
Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.

Open your local copy and go into remote site view.
In the View drop down (just under the Web Site tag at the top of the window)
choose "Files in Conflict"
This will list the unmatched files in the remote site window.

Ron
--
Reply only to group - emails will be deleted unread.

Hello Gentlemen,

I am having the same problem that John Blaustein was having withthe
exception that all my work was done within Frontpage 2003. I have Image
folders and have created multiple Photgalleries via the Frontpage web
component.

I deleted many of the image folders and the corresponding photogalleries.
(not the easiest task to find the correct photogallery but that is another
issue)
This morning I uploaded my site to the server (Same settings as John) but
was never prompted to remove the old files. Now I have all these old files
on the server. I know I could manually search through the folders on the
local and remote and compare but I am afraid I would
1) miss some files
or
2) worse yet delete some that need to be there.

If I use the syncronize feature will FrontPage prompt me on the different
files and folders?

Thank you for any assistance.

is

not

file

and

click

a

then

in

all

you

create

the

on

your

index.htm

file,

other

pages

delete

the

creating
a new and

then

created

from

I

now

(log

in)

click

the

both

sites

from

them

folders

and

delete

the

publish

to

Links,

etc.

I
see my pointing

right,

pointing

two

having

all

I

delete

on

the

from

being

Publishing

tab,

I

sure