Static page problem

[smyhte]

hi. i wish to add a new html page to the site. i created custom template in admin and keep getting various errors.

1) here is one line from the link.

<li class="next"><a href="<%$tpl_base%>/indexnext.html">Next Step</a></li>

error:

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /folder/themes/kosmos/indexnext.html on this server.

2) next try with new link code:

<li class="next"><a href="<%$site_url%>/indexnext.html">>Next Step</a></li>

error:

Error 404 - Page Not Found

The requested URL /folder/indexnext.html was not found on this server.

3) next try with another link ref:

<li class="next"><a href="indexnext.html">>Next Step</a></li>.

error:

Error 404 - Page Not Found

The requested URL was not found on this server.

here is .htaccess file:

# DO NOT CHANGE THE FOLLOWING LINES
# status: 1
# pattern_category: {$cat_path}/more{$page}.html
# pattern_detail: detail/{$link_id}/{$link_title}.html

Options -MultiViews
RewriteEngine On

RewriteRule ^detail/(.*)/(.*).html detail.php?linkid=$1
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-l
RewriteRule ^.* browse.php

Version: 5.3

all permissions are correct because it is on windows testing server using WAMP. think i need to adjust access file?

where to now guys and more importantly, why is one of these codes not working. Is it to do with .htaccess file? i thought that if i added template through admin, this would take care display. i have searched the forum with no luck and baring in mind the manual (or lack of)! pretty much a hit & miss affair. I purchased x-cart for one of my e-commerce sites and the support & manuals that they provide are second to none. cuts done on asking stupid straight forward questions like this in a forum. Thanks for your help.

[Bruceper]

The only good thing about x-cart is the manual. Two years ago I thought that it was a great cart until I had to deal with it in live situations. I've since convcinced them to make the switch over to OSCommerce and it's a slow process but it's going wonderfully.

As for your issue, all .html pages need a corresponding .php page in your root folder. This isn't exactly detailed anywhere that I know of.

The easiest way to get it done is to copy the index.php and rename it. If you're going to use indexnext.html then rename a copy of index.php to indexnext.php and it will work.

Perhaps there is another way, but not that i'm aware of as I don't really use custom pages.

[smyhte]

thanks bruceper. If this is the scenario, what is the point of having an option to create custom templates if no-one is aware that you need to also create a corresponding php file. Cannot see the logic behind that, but no doubt, some wise guy will set me straight :-)

In my experience, x-cart over the last 2 upgrades, has come on leaps and bounds. i have been using live for some time now and apart from the odd hiccup which turned out to be 90% my fault :-).

i shall try what u suggested bruceper and report back. thanks once again. all the best.

[smyhte]

no joy. exactly the same prob. thought it may have been the line:

DisplayTemplate($theme_path . "index.html", "\$category");

in the index.php file that i renamed. so changed it to:

DisplayTemplate($theme_path . "indexnext.html", "\$category");

still no joy. same errors as above. then i tried both absolute and relative paths. exactly the same. do not even know the best way to start troubleshooting this. because there is no manual as such, not sure what switches do what etc. i thought it would have been a case of creating the html in admin and the program would set the defaults etc. how wrong can one be. this is where webmaster mode would really be of use :-) instead, i have a webmaster that is running around in circles trying to make a program work. oh well, such is life. will keep plugging away. cheers.

ps: one thing that is strange is why getting forbidden error when all permissions are correct. what permissions would need to be set for html file in windows environment?

[inspireme]

create the html file (somepage.html) then upload to template folder.

create a link like this :
http://www.yourdomain.com/page.php?id=somepage

[smyhte]

inspireme. that did the trick. thanks very very much. also thanks to bruceper for the input. cheers guys. still think a manual would help

[Bruceper]

That's all I had to do to make it work perfectly.

Since I know nohting about windows hosting all I can tell you is that both files would need read permissions. But this should be inherent to all files within the web folder on a windows machine unless settings were done improperly.

Just reading a page quickly at the MS site, you might also need to set Script source access to be enabled as well (I don't know, this is just a guess but you could try it).

[smyhte]

i am only using MS to design the site and iron most of the flaws before transfering to unix. that is when the fun begins i have a large dedicated server so i am also looking to host selected sites for a modest fee. all usual bells etc using cpanel to configure. i also use whm (web host manager) to update software and system. very easy. easier than configuring this program all the best and thanks.

[Bruceper]

Good luck with the server, I've run my own for years and it's not as easy as it sounds especially with users doing really stupid things and using insecure scripts or poorly written passwords.

One tip - generate a password for your users cpanel and do not let them change it on their own.

[smyhte]

thanks for advice bruceper. using whm as you probably know, when you create an account you have options to offer clients, such as cgi, shell access etc. all passes will be generated by me using whm. if you ever need any space, you know where to come good luck m8.