Microsoft Front Page

MS FrontPage restrictions

Installing the FrontPage extensions will remove some advanced administrative functions. This is done intentionally so those FrontPage users do not corrupt their sites. FTP access is removed for this reason.

The applications disabled are Ad Manager, Business Card, Plug-in scripts, File Manager, Website Security and Database Manager.

It is extremely important to remember that once you have installed the Front Page extensions, your FTP WILL BE DISABLED! If you ever wish to re-enable FTP access to your web site, your Front Page extension will be corrupted!

Microsoft Front Page Overview

• Installing the FrontPage extensions
• Definition of access control files
• Installing on domains without access control files
• Installing on domains with access control files
• Uninstalling FrontPage extensions Note: Doing so will corrupt your Front Page Extensions!

Publishing your FrontPage website tutorial

• Logging in to WebsiteOS
• Installing the FrontPage Extensions
• Publishing your website
• Some important notes
• Solving FrontPage access problems
• Setting-Changing FrontPage passwords

Microsoft Front Page Overview

Installing the FrontPage extensions

If you want to use Microsoft FrontPage to develop your website, you must first install FrontPage extensions. The FrontPage Manager function will automatically install the 2002 extensions for you.

To access the FrontPage Manager, select Site Builders from the main menu and select FrontPage Manager from the Site Builders menu.

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Definition of access control files

Access control files allow you to password protect a directory on your website.

They can be created and edited via the Website Security function of WebsiteOS.

Access control files are .htaccess files that contain webserver directives that control access to specific areas of a domain.

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Installing on domains without access control files

To install FrontPage extensions, select the Turn FrontPage ON (install) radio button. Warning messages concerning Front Page restrictions will be displayed:

Installing FrontPage will disable the following:

1. Ad Manager, Business Card, File Manager, Plug-in Scripts & Security menu options.

2. FTP access to your web site. You will only be able to transfer web pages to your site using the FrontPage publish facility.

After reading the warning messages, click the Next button. You will be prompted to set up a Front Page password. Enter a password in the supplied textbox and click the Next button. If you have no access control file on your domain, the extensions will be installed and the result of operation will be displayed.

The results of the last operation performed are always displayed in the Last Job results text area at the bottom of the FrontPage Manager main page. If you perform an installation for a domain that has FrontPage extensions already installed, the FrontPage Manager will upgrade the existing extensions.

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Installing on domains with access control files

When attempting to install the FrontPage extensions on a domain with *Access Control Files, FrontPage Manager finds these files and performs the following operations in order to complete the installation:

1. The FrontPage Mangager renames the access control file to a temporary name.
   
   Note: Renaming the control access file will OPEN access to the directory associated with it until install is complete.
   
   

2. An attempt to Turn FrontPage ON (install) is done again. If there are more access files, the second one will be found and renamed temporarily. This will continue until there are no more access files and the FrontPage extensions are installed.

3. The FrontPage Manager returns the access control file(s) to its original name. This will re-SECURE access to this directory.

If the installation process is interrupted or cancelled for any reason before the last step is complete, one or more access control files will become orphaned. This means that they will not return to their original name. As a result, directories associated with those access files will no longer be secure and can be accessed without any restriction. In this case, the next time you access FrontPage Manager, you will be notified and prompted to either rename the orphaned access control file to its original name or delete it. The latter will result in an open access to the associated directory.

To install the FrontPage extensions on a domain with access control files, select the Turn FrontPage ON (install) radio button and click the Next button . Read the warning messages and click the Next button to continue. Enter a password in the Enter a Password textbox and click the Next button. The FrontPage Manager checks for the access control files and prompts you to rename them in order to complete the operation. Read the warning messages and click the Next button. This step will be repeated until the last control access file is found and renamed. At this point the extensions are installed and the result of operation will be displayed in the Results panel. Click the Done button to return to the FrontPage Manager main page.

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Uninstalling FrontPage extensions
Note: Doing so will corrupt your Front Page Extensions!

To uninstall the FrontPage extensions, select the Turn FrontPage OFF (uninstall) radio button. A list of directories and files related to the extensions, which will be deleted as a result of uninstall, is displayed. After reviewing the list, click the Next button to complete the operation

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Publishing your FrontPage website tutorial

This tutorial contains a step-by-step lesson on how to install FrontPage extensions on your domain and how to successfully publish your website.

Logging in to WebsiteOS

Log in to your account through the WebsiteOS at http://hosting.netins.net/OS4/.

Enter your domain (in the form of yourdomain.ext) and your Admin password. Click the Continue button to continue.

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Installing the FrontPage Extensions

If you have not already installed the FrontPage extensions on your domain, you must install them before you can publish your website.

From the WebsiteOS Control Panel click on FrontPage. The FrontPage function allows you to install the FrontPage extensions. These server extensions allow your site to use FrontPage specific components like form submission and shared borders.

For the definition of access control files, click here.

For instruction on how to install the FrontPage extensions on a domain without access control files, click here.

For instruction on how to install the FrontPage extensions on a domain with access control files, click here.

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Publishing your website

Now that the FrontPage extensions are installed on your domain, it is time to publish your site.

In FrontPage, from the File menu, choose the Publish Web option. You will be prompted to provide a URL to publish your web to. Enter your domain (in the form of yourdomain.ext). This will publish your web to your domain and place it in the /public directory.

IMPORTANT: If you registered your domain name or changed your domain's name servers in the last 24-48 hours, the DNS for your domain name may not have propagated over the entire Internet yet. If you would like to publish your FrontPage site within this time period, you should follow the publishing instructions above, but enter your URL in the form of yourdomain.ext.previewmysite.com. For example, if your domain name is bobscars.com, your URL should be entered as bobscars.com.previewmysite.com.

After specifying the address to publish to, you have the choice of publishing the entire web, or just the pages that have been changed. If you are publishing for the first time, choose Publish all pages.

The Include subwebs option is for webs that parent multiple webs. If you're not sure if you have subwebs, chances are you don't. In this case, leave the box unchecked.

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Some important notes

1. Be sure to install the FrontPage extensions on your domain BEFORE publishing your website.

2. Publish your site using FrontPage's Publish Web function. Your publishing address is your domain (in the form of yourdomain.ext).

3. Installing the FrontPage extensions disables regular FTP access along with other Website OS functions!

4. Once your web site is published, use a browser and check to make sure all your changes occurred. If they haven't, try refreshing your browser and clearing the cache (temporary Internet files) before making further changes to your site.

5. If all else fails, email our support department.

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Solving FrontPage access problems

Certain situations, such as an unexpected disconnection or multiple users trying to connect to a FrontPage website simultaneously, can prevent you from logging into your account. When this occurs, two files are modified (frontpg.lck and service.lck) and access to the web is denied.

To correct this problem, select the Unlock FrontPage Web radio button and click Next. The _vti_pvt/frontpg.lck and _vti_pvt/service.lck files will be deleted and access to the web will be restored.

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Setting-Changing FrontPage passwords

When you first install the FrontPage extensions on your domain, you will be prompted for a password. This password is used to secure access to your FrontPage website. When you access your web with the FrontPage client, you will be prompted for this password.

The FrontPage password is independent of your domain password. It is used exclusively for accessing your FrontPage website with the FrontPage client.

Once the FrontPage password is set, selecting the Change FrontPage Password radio button from the FrontPage Manager main page can change it. You can change your FrontPage password after installing the extensions on your domain.

Select the Change FrontPage Password and click the Next button. Enter the new password in the Enter New Password textbox and click the Next button to complete the operation. The results of operation will be displayed in the result panel. Click the Done button to return to the FrontPage Manager main page.

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