Frontpage 2003 won't connect to remote site

[ChrisB]

I have a website hosted on an ISP (Easyspace), who provides FP Extensions.

About 3 months ago FP2003 stopped recognising that the extensions are
installed. I've had my ISP re-install them (three times) including cleaning
out all the files with FTP.

I'm convinced FP Ext are there (the pages I previously published using forms
are still working), but FP refuses to connect.

I've tried all the tests in MS Knowledge base under Q324843 which confirm
extensions are there. I'm convinced its FP2003 not providing the right
authentication when connecting ?

The only hint I get is if I view a page in IE and then say "Edit page in
Frontpage" I get an Error 403 as follows

Easyspace Error 403 Permission denied/HTAccess Error
Error 403: Permission denied/HTAccess Error Please refer to the setup
and troubleshooting guides Document: /_vti_bin/_vti_aut/author.exe Time:
Friday, 15-Jul-05 16:39:33 BST Remote host: 81.144.175.180

NB - the file /_vti_bin/_vti_aut/author.exe does not exist on the web

Help please .......

 

[Mark Fitzpatrick]

Chris,
The author.exe file should be in a virtual directory, ie: it isn't
really in the web space itself as it doesn't need to be included in each web
site directly, that would be a waste of duplication. Usually when it comes
to authoring permissoins, it's a permissions error that may not even exist
in your web. Usually it's actually on the file itself that FP uses to author
to, in this case the author.exe that exists elsewhere as part of the
extensions. So, no matter what your host is doing, they're not doing it
right. They may be applying the extensions to the site, but that may not be
effecting the author.exe at all since it doesn't exist within your site.
They probably have the permissions messed up on the file in it's home
location. Unfortunately, it's been a long time since I messed with the
UNIX/Linux version of the extensions so I can't say exactly where the file
may be. Have them check out the following document though, it should shed
light on exactly what the permissions requirements are:
ttp://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/sts/2001/all/proddocs/en-us/admindoc/ows000.mspx

Hope this helps,
Mark Fitzpatrick
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage

 

[MikeR]

If you used FTP, you may have trashed th FP extensions. Ask your ISP to re-install and/or
run a health check.
MikeR 1st