Frontpage can't see website on host server

[Andrea M.]

I created a folder on an existing site, while working live off the server
(earthlink). I moved a dozen pages into the new folder and frontpage
correctly updated all the links. Then the new folder disappeared! The
earthlink server has the folder and its contents. But frontpage put the
contents of the missing folder somewhere else on my computer: in the vti_cnf
folder, inside a backup copy of my web site (made 2 months ago). Now any
browser shows my web site, the new folder and its contents just fine. But I
cannot access the new folder from frontpage because frontpage put them in the
wrong place. What happened and why?

I wanted to backup the sever copy of my website onto my computer but now
frontpage finds only versions of my site that are on my computer. It says it
is looking at the earthlink server but it is not. And yet, I can still work
live on my site and make changes to the web site as it exists on the server.

I suspect that re-installing frontpage might be a good idea. But how to make
a backup copy of my correct website off the server? Frontpage can't do it.

 

[Funkadyleik Spynwhanker]

I created a folder on an existing site, while working live off the server
(earthlink). I moved a dozen pages into the new folder and frontpage
correctly updated all the links. Then the new folder disappeared!

Does the new folder start with an underscore? (i.e. _foldername)

If so, open the web, then go Tools, Web Settings (or site settings). In the
Advanced tab, check "show hidden files"

Underscores are an indication you want to hide something, so FP is doing
that.

The

earthlink server has the folder and its contents. But frontpage put the
contents of the missing folder somewhere else on my computer: in the
vti_cnf
folder, inside a backup copy of my web site (made 2 months ago).

Those are metadata used by FrontPage to track hyperlinks and so on. Don't
touch them. See above for a possible solution.

Now any

browser shows my web site, the new folder and its contents just fine. But
I
cannot access the new folder from frontpage because frontpage put them in
the
wrong place. What happened and why?

See above.

I wanted to backup the sever copy of my website onto my computer but now
frontpage finds only versions of my site that are on my computer. It says
it
is looking at the earthlink server but it is not. And yet, I can still
work
live on my site and make changes to the web site as it exists on the
server.

No clue what you are trying to ask here.

I suspect that re-installing frontpage might be a good idea. But how to
make
a backup copy of my correct website off the server? Frontpage can't do it.

Reinstalling will just waste time and could mess up things that work fine
now. Don't do that.

 

[Andrea M.]

THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I HAVE CLARIFIED MY PROBLEM BELOW. MY REPLY IS IN
CAPS. NOT SHOUTING JUST MAKING IT EASIER TO READ RESPONSES TO YOUR COMMENTS!

Does the new folder start with an underscore? (i.e. _foldername) NOPE

If so, open the web, then go Tools, Web Settings (or site settings). In the
Advanced tab, check "show hidden files" TRIED THIS ANYWAY BUT NO DIFFERENCE OCCURED

Underscores are an indication you want to hide something, so FP is doing
that.

The

Those are metadata used by FrontPage to track hyperlinks and so on. Don't
touch them. See above for a possible solution. I WON'T TOUCH BUT ISN'T IT A BIT WEIRD THAT FP SAVED A FOLDER INTO A DIFFERENT (BACKUP) COPY OF MY WEBSITE? I WAS NOT WORKING IN THE BACKUP COPY, IT WAS ON MY C DRIVE. I WAS EDITING THE LIVE SITE ON EARTHLINK'S SERVER. IT IS LIKE THERE ARE THREE VERSIONS OF MY WEB SITE: ONE BACK UP COPY WHICH I DON'T WORK ON, ONE "CORRECT" COPY ON EARTHLINK'S SERVER AND A THIRD KIND OF HYPRID OF THE TWO OTHERS WHICH FP SHOWS ME WHEN I ASK TO SEE THE LIVE SITE.

Now any

See above.


No clue what you are trying to ask here. OK. THE CORRECT VERSION OF MY WEB SITE IS ON EARTHLINK'S SERVER. I WANT TO MAKE A BACK UP COPY OF THIS SITE. I CAN'T.


Reinstalling will just waste time and could mess up things that work fine
now. Don't do that. OK, BUT HOW DO I GET FP TO SEE MY WEB SITE.

I SHOULD SEE MY WEB SITE AS IT EXISTS ON EARTHLINK WHEN I LOG INTO MY SITE
THRU FP. EARTHLINK CAN DO IT ON THEIR COMPUTERS RUNNING FP BUT I CAN'T DO IT.

I HOPE THAT IS A CLEARER DISCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM. PLUS EARTHLINK'S
COMMENT ON THE PROBLEM: "OOOOH WEIRD!!"

 

[Tom Willett]

Typing in all caps is considered yelling or screaming online. Those who type
in all caps are perceived as lazy and not being considerate of those who
will have to read their e-mail. Various studies on the topic reflect that it
is more difficult and takes longer to read text that is typed in all caps:

http://www.onlinenetiquette.com/courtesy1.html

 

[Funkadyleik Spynwhanker]

Ok, well, the caps, not a good idea.

Anyway, if it's not the underscore, it's probably a simple versioning
problem.

I would completely delete the two copies of the web site you have, and make
a new folder, and then try to download into that as a new web. Chances are
you over-wrote something accidentally and there is no mystery at all. (Or
just make copies and put them where FP can't find them.)

FP will open the last web site you opened without you telling it to. So you
must slow down and think, and read carefully all URLs before acting. Pay
attention to what you are doing, write down a "process" and then follow it.
It is really easy to get tripped up and do the wrong thing.

Also, Earthlink = Garbage. Don't waste your time calling them, they will
know nothing or care nothing if your stuff works or not. You have to learn
to be self-sufficient.

 

[Andrea M.]

Thanks for your reply and sorry again about the caps. I'm well aware of the
rule. I hoped caps would make reading easier than forcing you to sort out my
replies to your replies to my question!


Your information that FP opens the last web site I opened told me what I
need to know.

Here's what I ended up doing. I located several past backups of the site and
moved them, as you said. where FP couldn't find them. That didn't do the
trick because I had already mixed it all up previously. (From your
explanation I think I see how) So, I went to the earthlink file manager and
re-edited my site, live - really live! I found, curiously, that the live site
at earthlink had just one folder in it that FP could not see. I made a test
web page and moved it into and out of the "blind" folder until I understood
what happens. Then I simply created a new folder in FP, closed FP and opened
my file manager live site and moved all the contents from the blind folder
into the new, good folder; testing a few times along the way.
Now FP sees the web site accurately and I can save a backup to my computer.
I think the final step, then, is to put the back up where FP can't see it and
I can't accidently navigate to it while working in FP.

Thank you from Andrea at www.photolaboratory.com