• What is the correct path to Perl (and other pre-installed programs)?
   
• How do I create my own "404 Not found" error page?
   
• Basic Frontpage  configuration
   
• How do I contact support?
   
• How do I add entries to your DNS?
   

Directory Structure - Top

What are all the files and directories in my home directory?

/cgi-bin            This is where you would place your Perl/CGI scripts as well as any compiled executable
                         such as an *.exe, *.com or *.dll file.

/db                   This is where you would place your Microsoft Access, FoxPro or Visual FoxPro database files.

/images           This is where you would place your images.

index.htm        This is the default under construction document for your website.

Components

How do I run my own ASP or CGI programs? - Top

Simply copy your custom CGI or ASP files into your website using any FTP program or Microsoft FrontPage.  The typical path for Perl/CGI scripts is \cgi-bin, while ASP files are  typically placed throughout the website content. The Windows 2000 path for perl is # ! c:\perl\bin\perl.exe 
 

How do I use AspQMail or other installed server components?

AspQMail has been installed and registered on the server so that you can call it from any ASP you write.  The direct path is not needed.  This is true for any of the pre-installed components.  Please read the documentation provided with the component you wish to use for it's specific methods and properties.  Pre-installed components include the response object, file system object AspQMail.
 

How do I publish or upload my site content - Top

The process by which files are transferred to the web server is called "FTP" (File Transfer Protocol). You have unlimited access via FTP 24 hours a day. As such, you can create and maintain your web pages on your own computer and upload files to your web site at your leisure.

Online services which offer an Internet gateway, such as AOL, CompuServe, and Prodigy may have a built-in FTP interface. If you have a PPP Internet account, you need an FTP program.

If you are using FrontPage, you must create your new web on the "localhost" system. This is accomplished by selecting "create new web," and then entering "localhost" in the line where it asks for the web location. Once you have completed your web on your computer, you can then select the "publish web" option from the file menu in FrontPage Explorer. You will be prompted for your IP address and web name and then it will send it to our servers. Please note that you will be prompted for a user ID and password, and depending on your system configuration it may be the one that we issued you or it may be the one that you entered when you first installed FrontPage. If one does not work, then simply try the other. If you have forgotten what that password was, then you will need to reinstall FrontPage and select a new one.

NOTE: If you are using FrontPage, you should NEVER use regular FTP to upload your files. This can damage the extensions. Stick with one or the other all the time.  Instructions for using FrontPage are at the bottom of this page.
 

For instructions for the most popular FTP client software for both PC and Macintosh users, see the instructions to follow.

For PC Users (WS_FTP)

The following information is contained within your account activation notice and is needed to connect you to your website via FTP:

USERID
PASSWORD
FTP HOSTNAME

Each time you run WS_FTP the Session Profile window will be displayed. A profile contains the information needed to connect to your website. Creating a profile now will eliminate the need for you to configure the software each time you wish to connect to the web server via FTP. To create a profile, click the "New" button and enter a generic profile name at the top of the Session Profile window, such as "My Website." Next, enter your Host Name/Address (yourdomain.com), User ID (yourdomain), and Password for your website as illustrated in Figure 1A.
 

Figure 1A

Next you need to click "OK" to continue. This will connect you to the webserver, where you will connect directly to the root ("home") directory of your account. WS_FTP will display a split screen where files on the left-hand side are within your own computer. You will see several folders on the right-hand side such as _private, _vti_log (Frontpage extensions)  cgi-bin, db (for database files) , chat (if chat room is installed optional ), images, Merchant (if you have Miva Merchant shopping cart installed) and stats (Webtrends website statistics). you will also see a file named index.htm which is the home page of your web site. These are landmarks suggesting a successful connection to your website, as illustrated in Figure 1B.
 

Figure 1B

  - Top

This is where all your files will be uploaded or downloaded, and/or you will create subdirectories.  To make your home page load automatically, name the HTML document "index.htm" in lowercase and upload it to the directory of your account. To upload a file or files, simply highlight the file(s) on the left and click the right arrow button (->) in the center of the window. Be sure to upload HTML documents and scripts in ASCII mode and images in Binary mode. To transfer a file to a subdirectory, double-click the appropriate subdirectory to open it before transferring the desired file(s). To create a new directory, click on the MkDir button when you are inside the root directory or subdirectory.

As soon as a file is uploaded to the web server, it is available for all to see. If, after uploading a file, you are still unable to see the updated file via Netscape, try hitting the "Refresh" or "Reload" button. If that fails, you need to clear both disk and browser cache. This function can be found by selecting Options>Network Preferences in Netscape. Remember that you must first be connected to the Internet through your local Internet service provider in order to connect to the web server.

For Mac Users (Fetch)

The following information is contained within your account activation notice and is needed to connect to your web site via FTP:

USERID
PASSWORD
FTP HOSTNAME

The hostname tells your FTP software to connect to the web server upon which your web site resides.

Each time you run Fetch, the New Connection... window will be displayed. A profile contains the information needed to connect to your web site. Creating a profile now will eliminate the need for you to configure the software each time you wish to connect to the web server via FTP. To create a new profile, select "New Connection..." from the File menu. Next, enter the Host (yourdomain.com), User ID (yourdomain), and password for your web site as illustrated in Figure 2A.
 

Figure 2A

- Top
 

Don't worry about the Directory option right now. When you have your Host, User ID, and Password entered, click on the OK button.

The next window which will pop up will look virtually the same as Figure 2B, except that yourdomain will be in the popup window.
 

Figure 2B


 

Bookmarking the Connection

You should take the time, now that you have established your connection, to make it easier for you to get here next time. Under the Customize menu, select New Shortcut. A window will pop up called Bookmark Editor, as shown in Figure 2C. It will already have your name, Host, and User ID filled in. Under Type, choose File from the popup menu. If you would like Fetch to remember your password so you won't have to type it in each time, type in your password in the Password field. Now, under the same Customize menu, choose Preferences, and under the General tab, make sure the connection you just entered is selected as the default shortcut. Next time you open up Fetch, your shortcut will be opened automatically and all you'll have to do is click the OK button!
 

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Figure 2C

 

How to Transfer Files - Top

Refer again to Figure 2B. This is where all your files will be uploaded or downloaded, and/or you will create subdirectories.  To make your home page load automatically, name the HTML document "default.htm" in lowercase and upload it to the directory of your account. To upload a file or files, simply drag them from your hard drive onto the Fetch window when you are in the appropriate directory or subdirectory. Be sure to upload HTML documents and scripts in Text mode and images in BINARY mode. Or to make life easier, click on the Automatic button as shown in Figure 2B, and Fetch will decide the proper format. To transfer a file to a subdirectory, double-click the appropriate subdirectory to open it before transferring the desired file(s).
 

To insure that the Automatic selection works properly, make sure the selections under the Upload tab in the Preferences window looks the same as Figure 2D below.
 

Figure 2D

 

As soon as a file is uploaded to the web server, it is available for all to see. If, after uploading a file, you are still unable to see the updated file via Netscape, you need to hit the Reload button in the Netscape button bar. Remember that you must first be connected to the Internet through your local Internet service provider in order to connect to the web server.
 

A good site for additional FTP programs is : http://www.download.com/

Imail 7.0x - Top

How do I create email aliases, and how do I redirect them?

1. Go to http://www.vbchosting.com:8383 and login. 
2. Click on host administration and create your standard aliases.
3. To redirect mail go to:: Change User  Information for the email account you want forwarded then go look for the the preference "forwarding:. Place the email address you want your email redirected to in the text field.  

How do I create email accounts (POP's), and how do I redirect them?

1. Go to http://www.vbchosting.com:8383 and login. 
2. Click on host administration and create your new accounts.
3.To redirect mail go to:: Change User  Information for the email account you want forwarded then go look for the the preference "forwarding:. Place the email address you want your email redirected to in the text field.  

How do I create and maintain my Imail mailing list?

1. Go to http://www.vbchosting.com:8383 and login.
2. Click on List Administration. Create a name and password for your list. This is also where you you will set all the parameters for your list. For instance, who can post, create a digest, create a moderated list and the messages to be sent to all subscribers. We will provide a more detailed explanation in our manual. For now go to http://www.ipswitch.com/ to view their Imail Server 7.0 manual.