Dear Lisa,
In cases like this, including a URL is very helpful. Try to include a
link to the site in any future posts. I went to
http://webscapedesigns.com - it is throwing an error. Is that the site
you are having a problem with?
The folder you refer to, _vti_cnf (and all the rest of the _vti
folders), are created when FrontPage extensions are installed. Among
the functions of these hidden folders is to log the contents, and
changes, to a FP site. FrontPage is absolutely amazing in its ability
to manage a website. Many people hate FP (and its FP extensions)
because they do not understand the basic idea behind FP; it is not just
a site editor, it is a comprehensive website administration tool.
Using PHP scripts is your choice; while FP2003 supports them, there are
faster and easier ways to do everything a PHP script does using the
ASP/ASP.NET schema, and they can accomplish some things PHP never
dreamed of doing. If you decide to edit the function of any of your PHP
scripts, you will find yourself needing to learn a great deal about PHP
itself. There is a big learning curve there.
The best way to use FP is to have a complete local copy (local means on
your home computer) of your website, including everything: all pages
(.htm, .asp, .php, etc.) .csv/.txt, databases, java, .pdf, pictures,
subwebs, etc. Then, you simply open the local site in FP, and use
File... Publish Site... and choose your domain (e.g.
http://example.com) as the target, or remote, web. FrontPage will do
the rest. If you choose to FTP the site up, use that function in the
Publish Remote Site window. FP will automatically not publish web
directory (_vti folder) information; it will update those existing
folders.
On a Windows Server running IIS, you usually cannot alter, or
create/delete, those _vti folders, by design. If you have goofed up the
FP extensions, FTP your site up manually (without the _vti folders -
there's a _vti folder underneath every folder in your web), and ask
your host to reinstall the FP extensions. Good luck, Lisa, keep us
updated.
Nicholas Savalas -
http://savalas.tv