Setting Database Write Permissions Using FrontPage

Article ID: KB101604

Some database templates may require you to have your ISP set read/write permissions on the database and database folder. If the permissions are not set correctly, you may receive errors like "cannot update database" or "database is read-only." However, a few simple steps will allow you to use FrontPage to set the correct permissions yourself.

The basic idea is this: Get a backup copy of the database onto your computer. Delete the database off of the web server, then use FrontPage to import the database back into the web site. FrontPage sets the permissions for you and you're on your way.

The specific steps may look different for each person, depending on how far along you are. One requirement is that your web server have FrontPage extensions so that you can open your web live off the server.

If you are just starting...

Follow these steps if you have not yet made any changes to the database from what was included with the original template.

1. The first few steps will allow you to get a copy of the database on your computer, separate from the rest of the template. First, create a new local web using the template.
   Learn about creating a new web
   Learn about specifying the location of the web site
2. Then, look for the .mdb file, which may be in a folder called "fpdb," "mydata," or something similar.
3. Cut this file and paste it to another location in your computer, outside of the web folder (for example, to your Desktop). The local web should now be missing the database.
4. Delete the global.asa file, if it exists, from the web folder as well. You may also delete the folder that contained the database if there's nothing else in it.
5. Now, publish your web site to the server as you normally would.
6. Close your local web, then open your web site live off the server.
7. Now we'll use FrontPage to put the database back onto the web server. It's very important to use FrontPage (and not any other FTP program) for this step, as it will automatically set the permissions for you. Import the .mdb database file into the live web site, into the root (main) folder of the web.
8. FrontPage will notice that you are importing a database file and ask if you want to create a new connection. Click OK.
9. FrontPage will also ask if you want to import the database into the "fpdb" folder. Click OK.
10. This step may vary depending on the template. For John Galt's Templates products, you will need to edit two files, includes/vConnectionString.inc and admin/includes/vConnectionString.inc. After opening these two files, all you have to change is mydata to fpdb. That should do it!

If you have already modified the database...

Follow these steps if you have made changes to the database.

1. The first few steps will allow you to get a copy of the database on your computer from your server. (If you have an FTP program and FTP access to your server, you can connect to your web server and FTP the database to your computer and skip to step 5.)
2. First, open your web site live off the server.
3. Then, look for the .mdb file, which may be in a folder called "fpdb," "mydata," or something similar.
4. Publish this file only to your computer (anywhere, as long as you remember where you put it). This publishes a copy of your database (with the changes that you've made) to your computer.
5. Delete the database file (.mdb), and global.asa file, if it exists, from the web server as well. You may also delete the folder that contained the database if there's nothing else in it.
6. Now we'll use FrontPage to put the database back onto the web server. It's very important to use FrontPage (and not any other FTP program) for this step, as it will automatically set the permissions for you. Import the .mdb database file into the live web site, into the root (main) folder of the web.
7. FrontPage will notice that you are importing a database file and ask if you want to create a new connection. Click OK.
8. FrontPage will also ask if you want to import the database into the "fpdb" folder. Click OK.
9. This step may vary depending on the template. For John Galt's Templates products, you will need to edit two files, includes/vConnectionString.inc and admin/includes/vConnectionString.inc. After opening these two files, all you have to change is mydata to fpdb. That should do it!

If you continue to experience problems with a read-only database after following these steps, please contact the developer of the product.

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