Can I show a directory list using HTML?

**OuTpaTienT** · February 5th, 2002, 09:42 PM

How can I make a default (index.html) page that will just show me the files in that directory?

I used to be able to just see the contents of any of my web site directories that didn't have a default page in them, but my new ISP provider restricts the viewing of open directories. I'd like to be able to do this without having to jump to FTP.

**Whir** · February 5th, 2002, 09:53 PM

You should be able to do it with VBA and the File Scripting Object... Ummm, it would take me a month to figure out, but I bet vass or strangerstill could tell ya quick.

-Whir

**^hyd^** · February 6th, 2002, 12:13 AM

hhmm, sounds like your other web servers had directory browsing enabled. AFAIK the only way you can do this now is to use a server-side scripting language.

To use VBA (or VB Script) and the FileSystem Object (FSO) for this you would have to make use of Active Server Pages(*.asp) since client-side vbscript with the FSO will be accessing the clients machine!! (been there and tried it with an older project of mine...) and it also gives an ugly warning when creating the FSO and only works in IE...

I think it kind of comes down to which(if any) server-side scripting language your web server has! But I'm sure whether it's asp, php, jsp, cfm etc that it's possible to do, but also pretty sure it'll have to be done via server-side scripting! (if anyone knows otherwise please correct me!)

anyways, cya later!

**OuTpaTienT** · February 6th, 2002, 12:49 AM

hmmm, well thanks for shedding some light on it. I don't think my crappy ISP runs any kind of scripting. I know I've tried to use Javascript in my pages and it wouldn't work...I then tried the same JS on an Apache server I ran on my own machine and it worked perfectly so I know the JS code was good.

???

**Socalgal** · February 7th, 2002, 10:50 PM

OuT, you mean like this?

http://tigert.gimp.org/files/photos/

I've done basically the same thing here, without the icons - check my source code.

http://socalgal.digitalmntsnow.com/stuff_other/

Anyway, I hope that's what you were looking for

**OuTpaTienT** · February 11th, 2002, 06:59 AM

Socal, is that page being generated as you view it, or did you hard code it?

Ya know what I mean? Say if you were to throw 5 new files into that directory (via FTP or whatever) then view that HTML page, would those 5 new files be visible? Or would you have to manually insert them into that page?

I would like to find a way to view the files in a directory in real time. My issue is this; I get a total of 60MB of web space from my ISP but they don't give it to us in a lump sum (I guess that would be too convenient.) We get 10MB per email address and we can have up to 6 email address. And even with all 6 activated each web space is it's own url with only 10mb. So I find myself shuffling files and stuff between these 6 urls plus all the sub-directories at each one.

I can always use the Windoze Explorer to connect via FTP to my web spaces and view what’s there (and that's what I do now) but it is sometimes a hassle because I cannot logon to multiple FTP sites. If I'm logged onto one and need to see what files I have at one of the other web sites then I need to log off the current FTP and then go log onto the one I want see the list of files. Argh.

But maybe this has been a good experience because the easiest solution I've found so far is to do my best to keep identical directories on my HD. So basically my web space URLs are mirrored on my HD, which means I shouldn't even need to access my web sites to know what files are there. This is assuming I keep all the mirrored directories in current, up to the minute, status. It's almost like being organized...kinda scares me.

Thanks.

uT

**^hyd^** · February 11th, 2002, 07:15 PM

"cannot logon to multiple FTP sites" ?? that's weird!!

K, so it sounds like your ftping through IE, which OS are you using? In 98 if you go into Windows Explorer there 'should' be Webfolders in the treeview on the left (there was in mine!). Form there you can add new web folders and point it to your ftp for your website(s). Then you can browse them just like they were on your machine! Kinda slow, but still handy!

Otherwise, if your OS is 2K, I just searched in 2K pro and there is no web folders in Explorer (that I can see), so what I did was r-clicked and created a shortcut, then pointed it to my ftp server's address/url. With this I was able to dbl-click and open/login to my ftp account. I then tried to open a second instance and log in again with another acount of mine and it worked fine for me!(ie: 2 different IE windows connected to 2 different ftp accounts) Might give that a shot!

good luck!

**Socalgal** · February 11th, 2002, 08:34 PM

Hi OuT~

Re that webpage, yes I hand coded that one in notepad and FTP'd up the image file and the new .html page .... as soon as it's FTP'd up I can view the changes.

Say if you were to throw 5 new files into that directory (via FTP or whatever) then view that HTML page, would those 5 new files be visible? Or would you have to manually insert them into that page?

Not sure what you mean.. but, I do the work here and upload the completed .html page/s and related files to the server. I don't do the actual work on the server side. And as soon as it's uploaded to the server, yes I can see it and the changes.

Re FTP'ing. Try what 'hyd' said. You should be able to open multiple FTPs, up or down, by opening a new window. Depends on how many users are allowed to be logged into the same account on your site server permissions.

I use WS-FTP, which saves the FTP address, passive/active, port number and other settings so all I have to do is hit that account and type in my password to open the FTP connection to my server. With 6 accounts (that must be a pain!

) for the same site, this could make for alot less typing. You can launch another FTP for multiple ftp'ing.

...best to keep identical directories on my HD...

I do this also on my hdd, so I know what is exactly on the site or page without having to go there, or open my FTP app, or heaven forbid, something gets whacked on the server.

I'm still not sure if I answered your question, though I hope so lol