BUG: Default Web Pages Are Renamed When They Are Deployed with Copy Web (198434)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0
This article was previously published under Q198434

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Copy Web Application option to deploy a Web project, the Default.htm or Default.asp page may be renamed on the destination server. The most common example is when Default.asp is renamed to Default.htm.

In addition, if any of the copied files have HTML references to the renamed page, those references subsequently reference the new page name.

CAUSE

Visual InterDev assumes that either Default.htm or Default.asp is intended to be the default page at the destination. It queries the default document of the root Web of the virtual server (for example, Default Web Site) on the destination computer. Then Visual InterDev renames Default.htm or Default.asp to the default document of the virtual server to which you are copying. Even if the destination for your project is an existing virtual folder, Copy Web still uses the name of the primary default document for the virtual server's root Web, not the virtual directory.

RESOLUTION

Because almost all Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) servers are set to use Default.htm as their primary default document, these workarounds are written for this case. If your target server uses a different default document, you must adjust these workarounds.
  • If your project has a Default.asp page but no Default.htm page, add a Default.htm page. You can delete this extra page after Copy Web completes. If you do not want to delete it, you can also leave the page in place. You can also include a "refresh" meta tag in Default.htm. This tag redirects anyone who browses the page to your actual default page. Use the following syntax to include a "refresh" meta tag:
    <META HTTP-EQUIV="REFRESH" CONTENT="0; URL=yourstartpage.asp">
  • Use a different deployment method. For example, use the deploy functions of Visual InterDev. You can also use Microsoft Windows file copy and FTP.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

How to View or Change the List of Default Documents

To view or change the list of default documents, follow these steps:
  1. Open Internet Services Manager.
  2. Right-click the root Web site, and then click Properties. This is typically named Default Web Site.
  3. Click the Documents tab to view or change the list of default documents.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Verify that the primary default document on the destination server is Default.htm
  2. Create a new project in Visual InterDev 6.0.
  3. Add an Active Server Pages (ASP) page to the project, and name it Default.asp.
  4. From the Project menu, click Web Project, and then click Copy Web Application.
  5. Under Destination Web Server, select your current Web server. Under Web Project, type the name of a new virtual directory.
  6. Because this is the first attempt at Copy Web to a new directory, clear the Copy Changed Files Only and Add To Existing Web Project check boxes. After you complete the project, notice that the project on the destination server lists Default.htm instead of Default.asp

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

246757 HOWTO: Use Copy Web to Deploy a Web Application

219050 HOWTO: Deploy Web Applications with Visual InterDev 6.0

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/15/2002
Keywords:kbBug kbDeployment kbDSupport KB198434
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.