[Xerte] Page does not finish loading when pulled from web server, works locally

Thu Jan 17 09:10:06 GMT 2008

Yes, I know. You have a Microsoft server, right? A recent IIS release
made it mandatory for the server's administrator to specify every MIME
type. Previously, they could set * to allow all files to be served
properly. 

An .rlo file is simply xml. The .rlo extension allows us to associate
the Xerte application with .rlo files, which is very useful. You
wouldn't want to associate Xerte with all .xml files, so we use the .rlo
extension. There is no reason why a server administrator shouldn't allow
the MIME type. A bigger issue is that users experiencing this issue
don't know what to do about it, so I will document it.

There is a workaround. Rename the .rlo file to .xml and in the index.htm
change the references to the file to .xml as well. As long as .xml has
it's MIME type set on the server, things will work. 

If this is a big issue for people, it would be possible to get Xerte to
publish the files this way, negating the need for the .rlo MIME type on
the server. However, that would bring some drawbacks too, as you'd end
up with two files to maintain, and it's good to easily see .rlo files
amongst any other .xml files you have in project folders. I think most
folk that have found this issue have easily had it fixed.

I can add it to the help file in the FAQs. There are a couple of other
security-related issues that need documenting as well.

Julian

________________________________

From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of William
Laakkonen
Sent: 16 January 2008 17:01
To: Xerte discussion list
Subject: Re: [Xerte] Page does not finish loading when pulled from web
server,works locally

	Hi Julian,

	I did run into a minor issue with MIME types upon publishing to
a web server. While not a XERTE issue, it will likely come up again.
When I published to IIS and viewed in browser, I got the message of
something like "download complete" but the status bar remained. IIS does
not have .RLO as a default MIME type and it must be set correctly for
the page to work. As I self-host, it is no problem to adjust them. If
one is using a hosting provider, it may be more of a challenge to get
the provider to change the mime types. As the extension .RLO seems to be
required, it would be good to list in the requirements that you may need
to adjust MIME types, and list some of the potential MIME types needed. 

	Most admins should know how to add the following but should
perhaps be reminded to do so: Add MIME types of .RLO as "text/plain" for
the RLO files, and .FLV as "flv-application/octet-stream" if using flash
video. 

	This above would be potentially helpful if placed in the FAQ on
the site with perhaps a pointer to a howto for MIME types on Apache and
IIS. 

	I did get my 20 minute (creation time) demo published to a web
server and it works as expected with embedded flash video and controls.
Wow- so simple. 

	Once again, great work! 

	Cheers,

	Bill Laakkonen
	AVATAVA

	On Jan 16, 2008 3:52 AM, Tenney Julian
<Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk > wrote:

		thanks,

________________________________

			From: xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of William
Laakkonen

			Sent: 15 January 2008 16:13 

			To: Xerte discussion list
			Subject: Re: [Xerte] Error at Publish- version
1.9

			You may absolutely use the quote. But please fix
my spelling mistake on accessible (done below).

			Thanks

			Bill

			On Jan 15, 2008 10:35 AM, Tenney Julian <
Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk <mailto:Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk> >
wrote:

				The solutions are easy - it's the
problems that are hard to figure out. 

				Would you mind if we quote you in some
publicity material?

				"I am delighted to use this wonderful
tool. It is a huge head-start for creating accessible learning content
and I had no trouble creating some basic content straight away. It is
exciting to see such a useful tool offered to the world to freely use.
Great work and documentation rivals many commercial works."

				thanks again,

				Julian

________________________________

				From:
xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk ] On Behalf Of William
Laakkonen

				Sent: 15 January 2008 15:19 

				To: Xerte discussion list
				Subject: Re: [Xerte] Error at Publish-
version 1.9

				Thanks Julian- it works for me now! 

				I did not have a choice about the catch-
you desrve the credit for the resolution. Thank you again!

				On Jan 15, 2008 9:58 AM, Tenney Julian <
Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk <mailto:Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk> >
wrote:

				For some reason the MainPreloader file
was missing from the latest setup.

				Download it again now and give it
another try,

				good catch! thanks.

________________________________

				From:
xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk ] On Behalf Of William
Laakkonen

				Sent: 15 January 2008 13:59 

				To: Xerte discussion list
				Subject: Re: [Xerte] Error at Publish-
version 1.9

				The piece does not function in the
browser. I did not have in preview mode at publish.

				Monitoring the folder, I get the "Cannot
copy" error (apparently) at the moment the index.htm is created. It is
hard to tell if just before or just after the index.htm appears in the
folder window. After clicking OK I then get resources.swf,
XMLEngine.swf, and rloObject.js only. No MainPreloder.swf file created. 

				Unfortunately, I have three different
machines I've duplicated this on. Shall I try some others? I have at
least 3 or 4 more I could try. I know it is difficult to determine what
the error is when you cannot duplicate it. 

				On Jan 15, 2008 8:27 AM, Tenney Julian
<Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk> wrote:

				Does the piece then function in the
browser OK?

				Do you have all of these files after
hitting publish:

				index.htm
				rloObject.js
				XMLEngine.swf
				MainPreloader.swf
				resources.swf

				Is Xerte in preview mode when you hit
publish?

				I still can't reproduce it.

________________________________

				From:
xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [mailto:
xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
<mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk> ] On Behalf Of William
Laakkonen

				Sent: 15 January 2008 13:18 

				To: Xerte discussion list
				Subject: Re: [Xerte] Error at Publish-
version 1.9

				I just downloaded (about 5 minutes ago)
to a Server 2003 and right click on desktop, create folder, right click
folder, new xerte file, double click to open, file->publish, get the
error. As a note- ALL have firefox as default browser, not IE 

				On Jan 15, 2008 8:00 AM, Tenney Julian
<Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk> wrote:

				just so we have the same version in
front of us, can you download the latest xerte and try it again?

				www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/downloads.php

________________________________

				From:
xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [mailto:
xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
<mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk> ] On Behalf Of William
Laakkonen

				Sent: 15 January 2008 12:56
				To: Xerte discussion list
				Subject: Re: [Xerte] Error at Publish-
version 1.9

				Hi Julian,

				That is indeed exactly what I am doing.
I am a local administrator on the XP machine, a standard domain user on
the 2000. On both the users have full access rights to the project
folders created on the desktop. 

				Best regards,

				Bill Laakkonen
				AVATAVA

				On Jan 15, 2008 7:29 AM, Tenney Julian
<Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk> wrote: 

				Thanks for the feedback.

				I can't replicate the error. If you make
a new folder on your desktop, right click in it and create a new RLO,
double click it to open it in Xerte and choose File -> Publish, do you
still get the error?

				Julian

________________________________

				From:
xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [mailto:
xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
<mailto:xerte-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk> ] On Behalf Of William
Laakkonen
				Sent: 15 January 2008 12:02
				To: xerte at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
				Subject: [Xerte] Error at Publish-
version 1.9

				Hi Guys,

				First off - I must say I am delighted to
use this wonderful tool. It is a huge head-start for creating accesible
learning content and I had no trouble creating some basic content
straight away. It is exciting to see such a useful tool offered to the
world to freely use. Great work and documentation rivals many commercial
works. 

				I unfortunately must report an error I
am experiencing upon attempts to publish my own files as well as example
files downloaded from the Xerte site. When I go to File->Publish I get
the following error:

				A dialog box labeled "Error Copying
File or Folder" with the message "Cannot copy file: Cannot read from
source file or disk" with a Button labeled "OK" followed immediately by
a dialog box titled "pcd_test.rlo" (one of the file names) with the
message "Publish Complete. All files for web deployment created"  and a
Button labeled "OK" 

				When I look into the associated project
folder, it appears the template file was copied (as it is from the
program directory). I have not modified the template files.

				I looked at the list archives and did
not see any other posts regarding this. I have not used a previous
version of Xerte on any machine here. 

				Here is what I am using to produce this
error with Xerte Version 1.9:

				Windows XP SP2 with IE7.0 and
Flashplayer 9

				I also attempted this on another
workstation here with the same result:

				Windows 2000 SP4 with IE6.0 and
Flashplayer 9

				Both workstations are part of a Server
2003 Windows domain. Both have Office Professional 2003. 

				Please let me know if I've left off any
details you guys may further need to help me resolve this issue. Or have
I missed a pre-requisite somewhere? 

				May I suggest you consider a couple of
additions to the error and publish dialogs?

				It may be easier to diagnose such an
error in the future should the "error copying file or folder" dialog box
be modified to contain the names of files and folders that have failed
to copy. It also may be helpful for new users should the box with the
"Publish Complete..." message explicitly refer to the path and files
created (or not) in the publish process. 

				Once again, I enjoy using this marvelous
tool as far as I've been able to use it. I hope this error is something
simple that I have missed and I look forward to resolving this with your
help.

				As another suggestion it would be nice
to see the program requisites and recommendations for OS and associated
programs listed on the web site; or have I missed the listings? 

				Thanks and best regards,

				Bill Laakkonen
				AVATAVA

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