.htaccess Generator complications

**GirlyGeekMN** · 06-22-2008, 09:48 PM

1) Script Title: .htaccess Password Generator

2) Script URL (on DD): http://tools.dynamicdrive.com/password/

3) Describe problem:
It seems to me I've done everything right...but I'm very new at this, so be gentle with me...
I'm using FrontPage, and I generated the files step by step. I want it to block the WHOLE site, so I left Step 3 blank (is that my problem?). Then I created the files in Notepad, left them titled ".htaccess" and ".htpasswd" (no, there is no .txt after them, I checked). I placed them in the folder I want protected (which covers the whole site), but when I published the site, nothing happened. Ideas for what I did wrong?

**jscheuer1** · 06-23-2008, 12:37 AM

Aside from any minor or major issues as regards following the directions is concerned - from what you say, I think you got at least the broad strokes right - FP (if that is the agent you are using to upload the files) will often alter files without informing you before uploading them. Also, none of this will work if your server isn't .htaccess capable and enabled for your domain. You can find out about that by reading your host's documentation, or by asking them.

**GirlyGeekMN** · 06-23-2008, 01:26 AM

Hmm, I guess I just assumed it was accepted my host. It should be, but I'm e-mailing them to confirm that.
What do you mean by FP altering files without telling me?
Thanks, by the way

**traq** · 06-23-2008, 02:15 AM

it means exactly that: FrontPage will rewrite your code when it includes something that Microsoft decided is written wrong, or that they just don't like.

after you save your work, re-check your code to make sure it hasn't changed. if you can't get FP to leave it alone, then copy the whole bit (in html view) and paste it into notepad and save your webpage that way.

**jscheuer1** · 06-23-2008, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by GirlyGeekMN

What do you mean by FP altering files without telling me?

Originally Posted by traq

it means exactly that: FrontPage will rewrite your code when it includes something that Microsoft decided is written wrong, or that they just don't like.

Yep, it's worse than that though. Say you write your code in a text only editor and are only using FP to publish it. It will rewrite - overwrite it before publishing.

There's a way, with HTML at least, to prevent this (webbot comment tags). But for other types of files, I'm not sure. There may be ways in FP's own configuration to change this behavior. I don't know because I gave up on using it long ago for this and several other reasons.

**traq** · 06-23-2008, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by jscheuer1

...There may be ways in FP's own configuration to change this behavior.

You can go to Tools > Page Options, go to the HTML Source tag, and check the box that says "Preserve existing HTML." Then go to the Compatibility tag and uncheck the box that says "Enabled with Microsoft FrontPage Extensions."

This will solve most, but not all, of your FP-related problems. Unfortunately (if you happen to like them) you won't be able to use FP Server Extensions -stuff like the automatic nav menus, forms, custom header and footers, etc. But there are ways to make all those things without using FP, and once you figure them out, you'll be better off anyway.

**GirlyGeekMN** · 06-24-2008, 08:30 PM

I knew it did some weird stuff with my code. But I didn't know that if I edited it in Notepad, it could change it on me again! Thanks, and now I'm going to go under Tools>Options and try to fix that
...
By the way, might using frames be a problem?

**jscheuer1** · 06-24-2008, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by GirlyGeekMN

I knew it did some weird stuff with my code. But I didn't know that if I edited it in Notepad, it could change it on me again! Thanks, and now I'm going to go under Tools>Options and try to fix that

It can and often will change things, all that is required for that is that you open, view, do whatever with the file in FP after you've edited it in any other editor.

And what traq mentioned as a fix for this, he/she also mentioned that it will not always work. If you want to be able to upload files to your server without worrying about this at all, get a separate FTP file upload program (if your host allows its use - most do. Or use your host's live upload interface, if they have one).

By the way, might using frames be a problem?

Probably not as far as .htaccess goes. It operates on files and/or directories. However, if the problem is that nothing will display in the browser even after giving the correct password, or nothing displays in the browser and there is no opportunity to give a password, it might. What exactly is the issue here?

**GirlyGeekMN** · 06-25-2008, 12:46 AM

Here's the problem:
The file goes into FP and then disappears off the file list. So I try uploading it and go to a page the .htaccess should cover. Nothing happens. But interestingly, I typed in the address the .htaccess should be at, and there it was (well, it said "Forbidden," but that means it must be published to the web). At this point, I think I'm just gonna blame it on frames.

**traq** · 06-25-2008, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by jscheuer1

traq...he/she

...he

Originally Posted by GirlyGeekMN

Here's the problem:
The file goes into FP and then disappears off the file list. So I try uploading it and go to a page the .htaccess should cover. Nothing happens. But interestingly, I typed in the address the .htaccess should be at, and there it was (well, it said "Forbidden," but that means it must be published to the web). At this point, I think I'm just gonna blame it on frames.

well, try uploading it with FTP and see if the same thing happens. make a test page without frames and see what happens. that'll tell you where the problem lies, anyway.