Anyone know of a program that converts a tree of directories and files into an HTML file … ?
I have several CD-ROMs of documentation that I wish to make available but I need a www/subdirectory/index.html file. Needed is a file that customers can access in a CGI password protected folder in order to download the documentation.
Ethically, I prefer freeware instead of trial or shareware and there are other requirements. I use the libraries’ public computers with my USB drive so the programs I’ve found so far are unsuitable since they use setup programs that require Administrator Access even though I’m installing to my portable USB drive.
(Not all setup programs are the same. Some setup programs have installed successfully to a portable directory but alas none amongst this type of program I need.)
You just want to expose the directory structure, such that a user can click to follow subdirectories and click to download files? This is usually handled at the server level. If you’re using Apache it’s mod_autoindex. The password is handled at the server level as well.
I’ve accessed the intended directory via IE on public computers. It says I need an index file. So I figure an index file in that directory listing the many files available in the subdirectories will do.
Specific:
Enter URL in IE
Encounter CGI script asking for name and password
(Yep, I make that happen.)
Enter name and password.
Web site says, “You need an index.html file in this directory you dumbo.”
(Or something like this.)
Whoa Nellie Bell!
I’m one step above free web site hosting.
(The web mail program at crashes on an at least predictable basis.)
This is Script Kiddie Land me laddies. We be talking EZ-80 hereabouts.
Like I said, this is best handled at the server level. You only need to enable the setting in the config file and the server will do all the work for you. This will work even if you add or delete files and directories whereas the other way will require you to continually regenerate the index.html file with any changes.
Terminus is definitely on the right track… you could also password protect it as a server function (via .htaccess) without a CGI script doing the work for you.
Does your hosting have a control panel of some sort?
I misspoke earlier. To get a directory listing in Apache in the absence of an index.html file, you simply need to have “Options Indexes” turned on for the directory. The module I mentioned lets you do some fancier things, but is not necessary.
I have a web site. I have a directory on this web site that is only accessible by entering a name and a password. Within this password protected directory I wish to keep many directories and files of documentation.
I need a file within this directory which directs people to the files 'cause using a browser only gives me an error message that I need an index file.
Now I can’t just upload all the files and then use notepad to list them. Yep! Notepad is my HTML editor! I want, ever so desperately, to go to a public library computer, ever so gently slid my USB port into the slot, push the button and then slam the CD-ROM into the slot. Then before a cigarette, produce an HTML file listing the directories and files that I would soon upload into the mother of all web sites.
Right. What I’m trying to tell you is that if you have the webserver properly configured, all you have to do is upload your files. You won’t have to do anything else.
You can have a web site with a home page (index file). Clicking on a link on the home page brings up the password protection. Once past that, you can store the files in subdirectories since access to those subdirectories is protected. A sitemap tool merely automates the internal process for you.
This is a server configuration issue. Many web hosting companies have it turned on by default (as it appears so with you). The real question is whether your web host will allow you to selectively turn it off so you can view the contents of the directory. Some web hosts don’t allow their customers this option.
There is always the option when using PHP for example, that a PHP script will read the contents of a directory and populate the index page with the complete list and links to the files.
I don’t think he’s talking sitemaps. He’s talking listing the directory trees to download items.
Terminus’ point (and mine) is that he doesn’t need the HTML files he’s talking about to accomplish this… he just needs to configure his server (probably Apache) to display lists of file names in absence of the index.html file. It’s a pretty basic thing to do if your control panel allows it, but it may take an email/trouble ticket to the host for them to do it for you.
And no, .htaccess directory protection isn’t the same as CGI.
ETA: Duckster’s edits made my post totally irrelevant and late-looking. So feel free to disregard. I’m leaving it in tact only because it annoys me when Dopers delete their posts and leave me wondering what in the world they deleted.