I'm using the trial version of EW.  I've opened a site with FTP, using Open/Site.  The site opens in EW.  When I go to publish
it to an empty site that I created on my hard drive, I get the error:

"server error: The URL 'program files/common files/microsoft shared/web server extensions/40/_vti_bin' is invalid.  It may refer to a nonexistent
file or folder, or refer to a valid file or folder that is not in the current web."

I've also tried the above using Import/website, same result. 

The path that is shown in the error message is a valid path, although it is missing the c:/ part of the path in the error message.

I've tried this on two different computers, same result on both.

Any ideas?

 

First, have you activated your trial and rebooted the computer. In some cases not all functions are available until you have done so.

Second. try File > New > Website and create a new empty web on your hard drive first. Then File > Publish and connect to your production site. Then publish it down or use the synchronize button. If your server has folders you don't want to publish down such as a log, stats or control panel folder create a new folder in Expression Web with the same name as the folders you don't want to synchronize then right click on each folder and use "convert to web" (Do all this in the Folder List) before you synchronize.

I did activate the trial with the product key they provided.  And Microsoft says the trial is "fully functioning"   http://www.microsoft.com/Expression/products/download.aspx?key=web

I tried publishing the way you suggested, I get the same error message.

By the way, it does create a few folders on my hard drive, images, statistics, etc, but puts no files in them. 

The publish log shows an error when it tries to copy a folder called .hcc.thumbs, says it cannot publish a folder name that begins with a period.  Then the log shows the error I posted about.  Maybe that folder is the problem???  I'll contact the designer, maybe see what that is about?

Thanks

The designer knows nothing about that folder.  (It contains a number of template files with the extension .gif+t.) I saved a copy of it using an FTP client, then deleted it. After that, my publish username and PW are not accepted by EW when I try to open the site.  I put the folder back in, using FTP client, then EW accepts my PW again.

Sounds like it is something about the way the server is configured. Ephesians uses the Windows FTP client. Try chez the FTP mode from active to passive or the other way around.

You might also want to run Steve Easton's FPCleaner to fix any cache corruption. if that doesn't work file a bug on http://connectmicrosoft.com.. Normally I'd suggest an uninstall and reinstall but with a trial uninstalling terminates the trial.

One other suggestion, right click on folders like the stats folder in your local copy and "convert to web" that way Expression will ignore them when it syncs.. If the file you are choking on is in a folder convert it to a web. If it is an individual file right *** and made "do not publish". Maybe telling Expression to ignore the file will let you finish your publishing.

Edit: Ooops, I didn't see your post above before I posted this.  I will try your sugggestion. 

Well, I deleted that folder again, changed the PW, and now I can log in again.  But I still cannot publish to my hard drive, get the same error.

Here is the log entry:

Thursday, November 15, 2007	8:02:22 PM	Ignoring "stats/.statspwd"; cannot publish files/folders that begin with a period.
Thursday, November 15, 2007	8:02:25 PM	Server error: The URL 'Program Files/Common Files/Microsoft Shared/web server extensions/40/_vti_bin' is invalid. It may refer to a nonexistent file or folder, or refer to a valid file or folder that is not in the current Web.

.

Thanks

 

cdwise:

Sounds like it is something about the way the server is configured. Ephesians uses the Windows FTP client. Try chez the FTP mode from active to passive or the other way around.

You might also want to run Steve Easton's FPCleaner to fix any cache corruption. if that doesn't work file a bug on http://connectmicrosoft.com.. Normally I'd suggest an uninstall and reinstall but with a trial uninstalling terminates the trial.

What is Ephesians?  How do I chez the FTP mode?
Seems unlikely it is an install problem since this is happening on both my computers, don't you think?

Thanks

You said your stats folder was created in  Expression Web's folder list without the files being downloaded. Right chick on the starts folder in your local site (in Folder List Task Pane). The first option on the context menu should be " convert to web" double chick to convert the stats folder to a subweb. By default Expression Web ignores subwebs when o publishes and/or syncs boat and remote sites.

What is Ephesians?  How do I chez the FTP mode?
Seems unlikely it is an install problem since this is happening on both my computers, don't you thin

Should have been Expression, to change the mode see: http://by-expression.com/web/faq.aspx#ftp3  but I think convert to web and "do not publish" for any fits in the root or other folders will fix the problem.

I've got it working now.  Seems like the problem was a folder that was on the server, did not need to be there and had so oddball files in it that must have caused EW to choke.  I deleted it and now it is working fairly well. 

I do notice that since I deleted some folder from the server, I have some trouble connecting.  If I go Open Site, it rejects my FTP password.  But if I open a blank web first, in the local pane, then open the server in the remote pane, it connects just fine. 

Thanks