HTTP Commander common FAQ
I can't install the application. Is anybody can help me?
Answer: You can run diagnostics and look known problems. If you can't run the application or configure folders, we offer free installation assistance for both trial and commercial licenses. You can get help via email, instant messenger or via remote access to your server. You need few minutes to get online help.
How can I restart the application?
Answer: To restart application, you can make some changes in the Web.config file (e.g. add a spacer in any comment). The Application will restart automatically.
For full application restart (only if you have some system errors!):
- Stop all w3w.exe (aspnet_wp.exe in Windows 2000) processes;
- Delete C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\[.NET version]\Temporary ASP.NET Files\HTCOMNET folder.
How can I change logo or top header?
Answer: You can add logo to the toolbar or to the top header (at the bottom of toolbar).
1. To show logo at the toolbar you need to modify toolbarButtons parameter at web.config file: add "logo" to the toolbarButtons parameter value.
To modify logo (set your own image):
- Place logo image to HTCOMNET\Scripts\ folder.
- Open file HTCOMNET\Styles.css at Notepad and find ".x-logo-icon" style at the bottom. Set your image width and height at the width and height parameters. Save file.
- Open file HTCOMNET\Scripts\Main.js at Notepad. Find "var logoBtn" string at the top of file. Set the URL for logo button (set empty value if it is not link), tooltip and logo image file name. Save file.
2. To change logo or text at the top header check that showLogoHeader parameter at web.config set to true.
Also open file Scripts\Main.js in Notepad and modify HTML code for header (logoHeader var. at the begin of file)
How does HTTP Commander control user's count?
Answer: HTTP Commander controls user session count and unique users names. New session is created for every visitor. Each user can have few sessions if he don't clicked logout button. But after 1 hour sesion is closed automatically. To terminate existing sessions by yourself, you need to restart the application.
How can I use the HTTP Commander with SSL?
Answer: You can use SSL (HTTPS) for HTTP Commander. You should enable it at IIS like for any other website or application.
To make self signed SSL, you need:
- Download Microsoft IIS resource kit (supports IIS 5,6,7) at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=56FC92EE-A71A-4C73-B628-ADE629C89499&displaylang=en.
- Install IIS resource kit on server.
- Run Start-> Programs-> IIS Resources-> Self SSL-> SelfSSL
- See the instructions how to run command to create your own SSL.
Run the command: selfssl.exe /N:CN=DOMAINNAME /K:1024 /V:7 /S:1 /P:443
- Now you can open https://localhost/HTCOMNET/ in a browser.
- To disabled non-SSL connections, open IIS manager, expand web site tree, right-click the HTCOMNET application, select "Properties", open Directory Security tab, click "Edit...", check "Require secure channel (SSL)".
How can I skip Forms authentication?
Answer: If you have provided an access to some files for all visitors, but there's no need to use Forms authentication for all users or only some of them, you can use the following methods:
- Method 1:
- Create a user with a name (e.g. "Visitor") and a password (e.g. "anypassword") in the Admin panel or in the XML file.
- Set necessary folders for "Visitor" user.
- If you want to skip authentication for some users you can pass username and password or passwordhash in URL. See details
- Use the link
HTCOMNET/Default.aspx
for other users which require authentication.
- Method 2. You need to modify 2 lines of code:
- Create a user with the name "Visitor" and any password in the Admin panel or in the XML file.
- Set necessary folders for "Visitor" user.
- Open the Default.aspx file at Notepad
- Search for the line
"ValidateUserResult validateUserResult = ValidateUserResult.Failure;"
- Add two new lines after it. So you should have:
- Save the file.
- Now all your visitors will logon as "Visitor" user automatically.
Can the first loading process be faster?
Answer: The HTTP Commander has AJAX and 100% Java Script interface so it works rather quickly like a local application. When a visitor logons the HTTP Commander for the first time, it takes some time to load *.js and *.css files. Such files are stored in a browser cache within some months, so next logons will be much quicker.
You can make even the first loading process faster if you enable gzip compression in the IIS settings. With gzip enabled, the loading is 4-5 times faster. You need to enable gzip for static content only (*.js and *.css files). See article how to enable compression in IIS 7 (Win 2008) or for IIS 6 (Win 2003).
Download the trial HTTP Sniffer to test if the compression works successfully.
Can I make application faster?
Answer: Yes. There are few things that can help you to make application faster. You can make all or only some of them:
- It is recommended to enable gzip compression
- You can setup content expiration for Images\ folder so images will be loaded to user once and requests "if-modified" willn't be sent more while next logon. This can increase perfomance in some cases becouse application uses many images.
To setup content expiration:
For IIS 7: expand HTCOMNET\Images\ folder, then in the right panel open "HTTP Response Headers". Choose action "Set common Headers..." and set content expiration on 2020 year (for nearest 10 years).
For IIS 6: open HTCOMNET\Images\ folder settings at IIS, open "HTTP Headers" tab and set "Expire on" 2020 year (for nearest 10 years).>
- You can disable tree view or make it not auto collapsible. This makes application faster becouse no requests for tree updates needed. To disable tree set "isTreeVisible" parameter at web.config file to the "false" or set parameter "TreeView" value to "1" .
- Don't use many columnes for files grid at "displayedDefaultColumnsInList" parameter of Web.config. Rendering files grid needs some time at users side if many files at the folder.
- Note! Don't test application perfomance at Internet Explorer 8. This version works uneffective with java scripts and HTML objects. More popular browsers like FireFox, Chrome, IE 9 are few times faster.
If I map folder I got error "The folder you entered does not appear to be valid..." ?
Answer: First, try to map folder "http://demo.element-it.com/examples/demowindows/hcwebdav" (without quotes). If it don't show error and asks for credentials then it works. If maping demo folder works but not maps your application link then the problem with application or WebDav configuration. Check web folders mapping setup or contact with us.
You cannot map folders at Server OS like Windows 2003 or 2008 by default. So, please test maping from non-server PC.
If you want to map to Server OS then you need to do some actions:
- For Server 2008: Click Start->Administration Tools->ServerManager->Features->Add Features-> check 'Desktop Experience' and click 'Install' button
- For Server 2003: Start "WebClient" service at Administration Tools->Services
I got "Access to path '...' is denied" error.
Answer: The problem is related to the NTFS permissions. Check the NTFS permissions for HTCOMNET, data and your main content folders. See NTFS Permissions section of the Documentation.
I got "The page cannot be found" (error 404) error when I open http://localhost/HTCOMNET/default.aspx file
Answer: If you are sure that the path http://localhost/HTCOMNET/default.aspx exists but you are still getting such error, so it means that the IIS doesn't execute ASP.NET code.
You should allow ASP.NET 2.0 running in Web service extension list. See "Application Install" section of the Documentation.
I see the page with ASP.NET tags at the top e.g. "<%@ Page Language="C#" %>"
Answer: ASP.NET has not started on server and you have opened pages like clear HTML. See the "Application Install" section.
I got "Required permissions cannot be acquired" error
I got "Request for the permission of type 'System.Security.Permissions... error
Answer: Both errors can be related to "Full trust" level. Check if "Full trust" is enabled for HTCOMNET application. For windows 2008 see the "Application Install" section.
For windows 2003 open file C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\CONFIG\web.config and add code below, save file.
Check also permissions for "NETWORK SERVICE" or "IIS APPPOOL\DefaultAppPool" user to HTCOMNET folder as well. See the NTFS permissions section.
I got Request for the permission of type 'System.Web.AspNetHostingPermission... error
Answer: Problem related to latest Windows 2008 security. You need to unblock all *.dll files at HTTP Commander Bin\ and \App_Code folders becouse they came from another PC (Internet) and then Restart application (Close all w3w.exe procceses). See Installation section how to unblock files.
I got "Internet Explorer cannot download Download.ashx from [domainname]" error while a file was being downloaded.
Answer:
If you are using SSL, check Internet Explorer settings: Tools-> Internet Options-> Advanced-> Security-> uncheck "Do not save encrypted pages to disk". By defaut this option is unchecked.
If the option is checked, the files cannot be saved from any SSL website.
I got "Server Application Unavailable"
error.
Answer: There are two reasons for such error:
- The problem can appear because ASP.NET 2.0 and ASP.NET 1.1 applictions are being used at the same pool. Check all your applications in IIS and set one application pool for the applications running under ASP.NET 2.0 and another pool for applictions running under ASP.NET 1.1.
- There is not enough NTFS permissions to HTCOMNET folder. See NTFS permissions section of the Documentation.
There can also be some other reasons. You may try to restart the application
.
I open "Silverlight" file uploader tab but the window is empty.
Answer:
- If you are running IIS 6 (windows 2003), you need to check if MIME type is added for Silverlight .xap files in IIS. See Application install in IIS 6 section.
- If you see Silverlight installation button or a dialog window, and nothing is happening after Silverlight is installed, click F5 to refresh a browser.
Is HTTP Commander supports Web garden or Web farm?
Answer:
No. HTTP Commander running but don't works correctly if you have web garden or web farm enabled at IIS. Check if you have enabled web garden at application pool settings and disable it or create new pool for HTTP Commander. You shoud use only one worker process for application.
Is HTTP Commander supports DFS folders, UNC folders, ABE, NAS
Answer: Yes, it supports DFS, UNC, ABE, NAS and most other file related Windows Server technologies. Then you setup folder at admin panel then type path to DFS folder like \\domain\foldername or UNC like \\servername\share\folder.
How Can I configure documents management features like Google docs, MS Office and OpenOffice online edit?
Answer:
All info related to documents management features is described at web.config parameters section.
Can my users type address and other info while self registration?
Answer:
Yes,
there is special free custom field at Accounts.xml to store any extra info. At the Default.aspx code page you can find txtRegisterExtraInfo textarea-this textarea visible at registration form. You can make its size greater if you need. Also at localization XML files there is parameter: <RegisterExtraInfo>Extra info</RegisterExtraInfo>. You can replace "Extra info" text with your custom like "Type your address here".
Can I pass default language and other settings in URL?
Answer:
Yes,
You can pass some setting in URL:
- Use "Default.aspx?Language=English" to pass default language.
- Use "Default.aspx?Mobile=" to show mobile interface(Smartphones) by default.
- Use "Default.aspx?Standard=" to show standard interface (non Mobile) by default.
- Use "Default.aspx?username=jdoe&password=mypassword" to pass username and password.
- Use "Default.aspx?username=jdoe&passwordhash=MD5passwordhash" to pass username and password MD5 hash.
Note! This option is disbaled by default for security reason. To enable it open Default.aspx file at Notepad and remove first 2 symbols "//" at line of code: "// validateUserResult = Utils.AccountsManager.ValidateUserHash(userName, passwordHash);"
Use any online utility to generate password MD5 hash (like this)
- You can include all parameters like "Default.aspx?Language=English&Mobile=&username=jdoe&password=mypassword"
- Use "Default.aspx?Register=" to show self registration page
- Use "Default.aspx?RecoverPassword=" to show password recovery page
- Use "Default.aspx?ChangeEmail=" to show change email page