Files that are no longer used on the web

[completerookie]

Hi all,
I've written a utility that looks inside actinic identifying all files that could be uploaded and then tries to identify any files/pages/pics that are on the web server that are 'no longer used' - its the bane of our lives sometimes
The utility is 'harmless' in the sense that it never deletes anything, just offers 'suggestion lists'.

The suggestion list offers the correct syntax to allow the user to include lines into .htaccess to redirect users, search engines etc.

I've got the utility working, and it seems to handle many of the issues (may be not all, but certainly some) - It generates a web page that makes 'suggestions' but it would be down to the user to 'use it wisely and check if the generated suggestions are correct'

And now the problem, clearly, when looking at existing files, there are certain extensions that need to be ignored when compiling a list of 'files no longer used'
has anyone got a list of extensions that I should 'leave alone'
example *.occ, *.ocx, *.session, *.save and so on.

These extensions are files that Actinic generates on the web but never actually uploads them, and it would probably break the website if i suggested you delete them.

I've looked at files that I have on my site, but I don't use login's and so on, so there may be more extensions I don't know about.

I've got some more testing to be done, but once I've finished, I'll ask for a couple of beta testers and then release the code of how I did the concept. I'll let you know when the beta is ready

kev

[completerookie]

thanks for the 'thanks' but its only a concept so far, having said that, I'm determind to try to get something working.

I'm still working on it, and I keep coming up with things I haven't thought of,
eg, a list of actual file names that simply should never be deleted ie favicon.ico and so on.

kev

[Mike Hughes]

I might be confused about this but if you're talking about Actinic sites can you not just download orders, delete everything on the server* then refresh the site.

It'll take a little time to do but probably isn't something most of us need to do very often.

Mike

* except for any non-actinic files you might have such as robots.txt or .htaccess files.

[completerookie]

The idea is simply to identify (on a regular basis) which files are no longer used by actinic. Its all too easy to upload pages, delete them and then leave search engine entries lying around for those pages that are no longer relevent.

I, personally, believe its much better to try to tidy up as you go, and try to capture 'page no longer available' messages and re-point the user accordingly.

Refreshing the website does just that, gives you the "perfect website", bt you've still got all those pointers around.

on a side note, it can take quite a while to refresh a website. Somethig I don't want to do too often.

kev

[completerookie]

Anyway.
the utility is built. (albeit beta stage)
It consists of one brochure page, two text-files of the files and extensions you want to keep, and the single php page that tries to identify 'unused files'. It also involves a single transfer of a file via FTP.

I'm now looking for few volunteers (not too many please) to try the utility, I'm after people that already understand the implications of .htaccess files and can make subjective descisions as to whether a file really is 'no longer in use' but can also make helpful comments to try to improve the utility generally.

If you are willing to try the utility, can you private-email me and I'll send a document describing the utility (step by step instructions) and a small zip file to give all the code you need.

Anyone willing to try the Beta? - its totally non-destructive, I never delete/move anything, all the utility does is just generate some lists of what you can consider moving, re-pointing etc. Its up to you to actually make the desiscions.

kev