This document is addressed to web page subscribers and explains how webspace customers may update their web pages on the MCB.NET server without manual intervention from MCB.NET staff.
In addition to a public webspace directory, each web page subscriber is provided with a private ftpspace directory into which files may 'put' using anonymous FTP. Access to such ftpspace directories is protected by a security mechanism which prevents unauthorised access by other FTP users.
After transferring files to ftpspace, you may give a command to move the whole structure to your public webspace. You do this by communicating via simple control files with a program called web_update which runs on the MCB.NET server every few minutes.
The web_update program looks in your private ftpspace root directory and checks for the presence of control files with the names 0list, 0hold, 0delete, 0move, 0stay, 0unzipb, 0unzipt, 0killfile and 0killdir. The leading zero aids visibility of the control files when listing a large directory. The web_update program then takes action depending upon which file(s) it finds in the following order of priority:
0list - recursively list your public webspace files
0hold - ignore all other control files in your private ftpspace root directory apart from 0list
0delete - delete all files and sub-directories in your public webspace
0move - move all files and sub-directories from your private ftpspace to your public webspace and then deletes all the files and sub directories in your ftpspace.
0stay - moves all files and sub-directories from your private ftpspace to your public webspace but only deletes the 0stay file when it has finished. It does not delete the webpages, graphics or sub directories in your ftpspace. This command should be used when you are using an FTP tool that would upload all the files from your machine that do not already exist in the ftpspace. A new 0stay file needs uploading each time.
0unzipb - unzip the binary files in the file wupdateb.zip in your public webspace root directory and then delete the .zip file.
0unzipt - unzip the text files in the file wupdatet.zip in your public webspace root directory and then delete the .zip file.
0killfile - To remove a file or files create a list in a file called killfiles of those files to be removed before any uploading takes place. Include any sub-directory name as part of the filename. Thus rhubarb kills the file rhubarb in your home directory whereas level1/rhubarb kills the file rhubarb in your sub-directory level1. To instigate the kill create a zero length file named 0killfile and upload. Note the command is singular and the list is plural.
0killdir - To remove a directory tree, NB a tree and not just the files in the directory, create a list of directories in a file called killdirs. You can remove the bottom part of a tree by including the path to the start directory. Thus level1 removes all files and sub-directories below level1 and the directory level1 itself. level1/level2 removes all below level2 and the directory name level2 as well but should leave level1 alone. To instigate the kill command create a zero length file named 0killdir and upload. Note the command is singular and the list is plural.
You should assume that filenames with a leading zero and no dot extension are reserved for MCB.NET control files.
The contents of the control files are not significant - only the filenames. We suggest you keep copies of short files with these names on your system and use FTP to 'put' and 'del' them in your FTP webpage directory, thereby controlling the actions of the web_update program.
When you are ready to start updating your pages on the webserver:
1. Use FTP to 'put' a file named 0hold in your private ftpspace root directory. This will ensure that web_update will ignore any other control files (apart from 0list) until you have finished organising your files.
2. Use FTP to 'put' in your private ftpspace those files which you want installed in your public webspace. You may create and use sub directories using the appropriate FTP commands, but all control files must be in the root directory of your private ftpspace.
3. Use FTP to 'put' a file named 0move in your FTP webpage root directory (no action will be taken until after you have 0deleted the 0hold file).
4. If you want to clear your public webspace before the new files are moved, use FTP to 'put' a file named 0delete in your FTP webpage directory. NOTE you should only do this if you want to take your web pages off line or if you are making major changes to your webspace. In the latter case you should transfer a complete set of files to your ftpspace. If you are just updating existing files or adding new ones, do not use 0delete; 0move will overwrite an existing file with a new file of the same name.
5. When you are sure that you have prepared all your files, use deleted to 'del' the 0hold file, close your FTP connection and use your browser to check your new web pages. These should be installed in a few minutes (maximum 15 minutes, average 7.5 minutes).
6. After transferring your files from ftpspace to webspace, the web_update program will clear your ftpspace. The control files will not be transferred to webspace.
If you want a listing of the files and directories in your webspace, use the 0list control file. The next time web_update runs, it will execute the Unix command ls -lR on your public webspace, place the output in the file 0list.txt in your lists/pub/webserve/<your_dir>/incoming directory and delete the 0list control file. You can use FTP to transfer a copy of 0list.txt to your local system.