Thread

All page URLs are showing the default index page but completely un-styled, except for the home page itself, which looks normal.

I’ve only just started in building this site but have installed and built a couple of other EE sites in two different server environments with no major problems. In this web host, I installed EE, and moved the system folder above web level. No problems in accessing the Admin area etc. Then I set up channels and added my static HTML to templates. When I checked, I could only see the default index page, no matter where I went.

I’ve reinstalled and left the system folder in the normal position but I’m getting the same problem. I created channels and uploaded the templates (same names as the channels), but there are no entries yet – let alone future entries that might be interfering with some setting. Not using Pages or .htaccess. and no extra modules. Have checked folder and files permissions, tried forcing URL query strings, removing reference to index.php in general configuration (but not completely confident that templates are being recognised properly). Have tried recommendations in

http://ellislab.com/forums/viewthread/173852/
http://ellislab.com/forums/viewthread/179706/
http://ellislab.com/forums/viewthread/168410/

I’ve put the site off-line for the time being but can put it on-line again for kind helpers. I’ve read some suggestion that the problem’s due to the way that web hosts set up their servers. Thinking I may have to find a more EE-friendly web host. If I can’t find a solution, I’d like recommendations. Already have a few from my local Australian EE Meetup Group.

MerryK,

What version and build of EE are you using?

Not using Pages or .htaccess. and no extra modules. Have checked folder and files permissions, tried forcing URL query strings, removing reference to index.php in general configuration (but not completely confident that templates are being recognised properly).

Can you put back references to index.php for the moment. We don’t support the removal of this.
Can you also turn your site back on for use to have a look please

What type of hosting is this?

To confirm, is your system folder now back above the root after your reinstall

Can you also make sure you meet our requirements and have used our Server Wizard

Hi John

It’s a basic shared hosting account with 5 000 MB Server Disk Space. The ExpressionEngine 2.x Server Compatibility Wizard showed all “required”, “suggested” and “optional” features marked with a “Yes”.

I’m running the latest version of ExpressionEngine: Version 2.1.3 Build 20101220
After I reinstalled, I left files (including index.php ) and folders in the default positions. The only difference is the path I’m using to templates: public_html/themes/site_themes/default/default_site/

I’ve used that structure before for other sites, and it was fine. But this was the first site I tried to set up, and I had trouble with the thing from the start. So I left it, worked on a couple of other sites on other Web Hosts, and have just come back to it. I’m a bit worried about the “Basepath to Template File Directory” setting in Global Tempate Prefs. That’s at least one place where I could have done something dumb.

At the moment I can’t even see the default index page. I’m getting a blank file with “your config file does not appear to be formatted correctly”. I can believe it!
I can send you the admin access info (and for the web server control panel if that’s helpful).

Please ignore last part about the “your config file does not appear” etc. That was my fault - I know what I did and have fixed it. I can see the default index page again, but as before - it appears everywhere I should see other pages.

Hi MerryK,

The path you have specified as the location for your templates look as though it might be wrong. Typically you might expect this to be something like /home/yourusername/public_html/etc/ or /var/www/html/etc. To test this, please temporarily turn off saving templates as files and then paste your content directly into templates created within the CP. After making sure to adjust any CSS and image paths please then test these. Do they display and navigate properly?

Cheers

Greg

Hi Greg

Sorry to confuse things. In my question I left out the top part (/home/myusername/) and showed the template location abbreviated to public_html/themes/site_themes/default/default_site/

I’ve checked the path specified as the location for templates in Global Template Preferences. It was
/home/myusername/public_html/themes/site_themes/default/default_site/

I’ve also tried
/var/www/themes/site_themes/default/default_site/ 

These paths give the same result (the WWW folder at this level is just an alias to public_html). I turned off saving templates as files and resaved the content in the templates created within the CP. As before, I can see the dafault index file, but none of the others.

MerryK,

Have you got a link to your site?

Can you try turning Force URL query strings? on

Admin > System Preferences > Output and Debugging Preferences

Hi John

I turned on Force URL query strings just now, but it hasn’t made a difference. I tried this a while ago, to no effect and also asked the Web Host support if they could tell me anything about the way that the PATH_INFO variable was set up on their web server. I drew a blank - the response was

“Unfortunately scripting and development support is outside of the realm of our hosting support boundaries. Please check with your web developer or designer regarding your questions.

Alternatively, the abundance of scripting and website development support sites available via a google search should be able to provide you with what you need.”

The site is http://www.philipsalom.com/

It’s sooo embarassing drawing attention to it at such an early stage of development.

MerryK,

In the header of you templates can you add the absolute path to your CSS files please

<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://www.philipsalom.com/css/reset.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://www.philipsalom.com/css/960_24_col.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://www.philipsalom.com/css/text.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://www.philipsalom.com/css/ps.css" />

Also your main nav should be something like this

<ul>
<li class="nav1_home"><a href="/">HOME</a></li>
<li class="nav2_home"><a href="http://{path=bio/index}">BIO</a></li>
<li class="nav3_home"><a href="http://{path=books/index}">BOOKS</a></li>
<li class="nav4_home"><a href="http://{path=poetry/index}">POETRY</a></li>
<li class="nav5_home"><a href="http://{path=blog/index}">BLOG</a></li>
<li class="nav6_home"><a href="http://{path=shorts/index}">SHORTS</a></li>
<li class="nav7_home"><a href="http://{path=favourites/index}">FAVOURITES</a></li>
</ul>

Let us know if that works for you

Dear John

FIXED!! My humble thanks. I promise to pay more attenttion in future to the first stage of shifting from static html to templates. Guess I must have just winged it before, without learning some very basic lessons.

I also promise to be extra kind and patient when answering help requests for a very long time. Thanks again!

Very glad to see you all set. Please don’t hesitate to post again as needed.