Can't update or refresh development web site

[russell king]

Hi

I am having difficulty with updating my offline development copy of our Actinic v7 website.

I setup a full offline copy fro development purposes on a laptop as per the detailed instructions in the advanced user guide (install apache, WarFTP , PErl etc, etc...) ages ago. I can simply switch the network settings from live to local values and it works.

This set up has worked fine for months with no problems. Yesterday I decided to do some offline development/testing and switched the network settings over to local values as usual. However when I click update or refresh website (or download orders) nothing happens, no dialog box appears, I get no error message, nothing. However if I press enter/return after clicking update I get the error message 'the parameter is incorrect'.

I know that all the security settings are OK (its not a firewall issue) and that the apache server, FTP server etc are running ok so this has to be an Actinic issue.

If i switch back to the live settings everything works fine....?

Any ideas?

[NormanRouxel]

Run the Advanced / Network Setup / Network Test, while using local settings.

[russell king]

Tried that and lots of other stuff too

Norman

Tried that, it passes the tests (well, except the email server connection test - but that always fails, and isn't necessary for the offline development copy)

Ive also tried refreshing the entire site through the Troubleshooting option - but again this does nothing (just like the update or refresh website options)

Ive tried turning off my firewall, disconnecting from my internet connection, rebooting (lots!), disabling and renabling FTP server, Apache server, etc etc...

Tried everything I can think of....

[russell king]

I have also tried..

I also tried changing all references in the network setup from 'localhost' to 127.0.0.1

Tried changing 'use passive FTP' settings - both on and off

This didn't help either.

[russell king]

This is now a major issue for me - help anyone?

Hi

I have spent hours trying to get this to work with no success.

Has anyone else seen this problem, or have a solution??

many thanks

[Dragon Slayer]

Hi Russell,

I had a similar problem some time ago although I wasn't getting the 'incorrect parameter' message, just that Actinic couldn't connect to the server.

I eventually de-installed WarFTP and re-installed it and all was fine. This happened again a few weeks ago and I noticed that the 'demo' user settings in WarFTP had disappeared - how odd was that ! Again, I did a de-install/re-install and all was back to normal again. May be worth checking that the 'demo' user settings are all OK as per the Actinic guide.

Graham

[russell king]

do you actually need FTP...?

Thanks Graham, I'll give that a try.

As an aside, do you actually need to use an FTP server when creating a local development copy? Can you just copy files over from the Site1 directory into the Apache htdocs directory??

Or am i missing something?

[pinbrook]

I thought you needed warftp, so you can upload to local apache server in exactly the same manner as you would upload to webspace, the advanced user guide has full instructions how to set it up

[NormanRouxel]

Manually copying files isn't the way to go. Actinic is designed to upload via FTP and to also run some scripts after upload.

[Virtuaffinity]

I'm having the same issue, I've returned to a website I was working on a few months back today and when I go to update or refresh the options are greyed out so I can't do anything.

Whats all that about?

[russell king]

Still struggling with this

I have uninstalled and reinstalled WARFTP - i have checked and double checked that everything is setup as per the advanced user guide (page 94 onwards)

still however when I click update or refresh NOTHING happens???!!

My only remaining option at present is to take a snapshot of site, uninstall Actinic and start afresh

Actinic : Any suggestions???

[NormanRouxel]

If all you are doing is changing network settings, then this is so unlikely to be an Actinic problem that I can't see why you'd want to do something so drastic.

Some things to consider:-

What does the Actinic Network Test return?

Have you successfully FTP'd to / from your server using some other FTP client?

Can you serve HTTP pages from it?

Can you run Perl Scripts on it?

Have you tried installing the Apache / Perl / WarFTPd onto a spare system and see if you can connect to that?

[russell king]

What does the Actinic Network Test return?

Test works fine - except for email server but that always fails...

Have you successfully FTP'd to / from your server using some other FTP client?

Yes - can FTP using XP and dos

Can you serve HTTP pages from it?

Yes - Apache is working fine, all pages work correctly. I can ping the site using localhost and 127.0.0.1.

Can you run Perl Scripts on it?

I presume so as the local website copy works fine (including all cart functions)

Have you tried installing the Apache / Perl / WarFTPd onto a spare system and see if you can connect to that?

I don't have a 'spare' system...

...this is so unlikely to be an Actinic problem ...

I disagree, this is to me an issue with Actinic. If for example you change the CGI-BIN network parameter to something invalid (eg http://localhost<span style="color:R...span>/cgi-bin/) then the update dialog comes up and the process starts. It then drops out however when trying to merge files or it drops out during file transfer.

There is obviously an issue with Actinic whereby it thinks that all CGI-BIN settings are correct (ie it passes the tests) but then fails. Also the fact that Actinic does NOTHING (gives no visible errors etc) makes me think this is an Actinic issue. Also I see from this thread that others have had similar issues...
AND the main point is, I have changed NOTHING, it just stopped working??

[NormanRouxel]

AND the main point is, I have changed NOTHING, it just stopped working..

However Microsoft will undoubtedly have changed something if you're running Windows Updates. Also your Anti-virus / Firewall software will likewise be frequently updated.

For example I recently changed nothing but MSN messenger inexplicably started misbehaving - culprit ZoneAlarm Security Suite updating itself.

A maxim for mystery problems is to divide and conquer. Borrowing another system would help a lot.

[RuralWeb]

culprit ZoneAlarm Security Suite updating itself.

I have to agree with norm on this one. Many of the errors/faults I am asked to sort out with Actinic can be traced to a third party MS, hosting, anti virus etc etc. So always always look at what else is going on.