I'm using DMX 4.0.1 and  have WebDAV 'allowed' on IIS and I updated the WebDAV verbs as instructed in the manual.   When I click 'Open in ..." the appropriate application is started, but I cannot save the file back to the site.  When using MS Word, the title shows that the file is "Read-Only".  Although I don't use the default location for files, I checked to ensure that the appropriate permissions exists (they are the same as those for the site).  I also checked to ensure that the files themselves are not write protected.  Going further (probabaly too far), I actually shared the directory and allowed the same permissions provided for the site.  Regardless, I cannot save a file back to the site.  Thoughts?

Thanks.

Scott

Hi Scott,

Is the module activated? Check by trying an edit or add through the web interface. The module will not allow an edit if not activated.

Peter

Hi Peter,

Yes, the module is activated and I am able to add a new document as well as edit the documents attributes. 

Thanks.

Scott

Peter,

I should add that the "Open in Word/Excel/..." feature is inconsistent.  Sometimes the application is started, but most of the time nothing happens.  If it helps, I have two servers; one for the database and the other for the application.  At this time, the directory for the DMX files resides on the app server, but on a different drive.  It is not located in the default location.  Lastly, I tried add the POST verb, but this did not work.  I'm looking at the Microsoft site for similar issues, but haven't found anything yet. 

Thanks.

Scott

Hi Scott,
I don't have an explanation for any inconsistency, but here's more info on WebDAV. There is a crucial stage to identify. When you select 'Open in Word' for instance, it is an already present ActiveX control that gets told to start up Word. Your browser needs to allow this to happen. This usually means moving the site to 'Local Intranet' and it will prompt for the activeX control to be allowed to start. You can check these settings in internet security. If prompted and you click OK then at least Word should start as program. It then attempts to download the file (you'll see a progress bar) and then open it. Can you see any of these discrete events happen?
Peter

Hi Peter,

Yes I do see these events and my site is in the "Local Intranet".  Sometimes the application starts, and sometimes it doesn't.  However, one thing that has been consistent; I haven't been able to save anything directly to the site.  In all instances, the application's title shows "Read-Only".  As such, when I try to save the file, the application automatically opens the "Save" dialog and attempts to save the file to my local drive.  Are there any access settings that I need to consider?

Thanks.
Scott

Hello Scott,

Do you have URLScan installed on the IIS Server?

Rob Ralston

Hi Rob,

Good idea and thanks for the feedback.  I didn't build the system, so I wasn't sure if URLScan was installed.  However, to be sure, I checked all of the apps and services and discovered that it is not installed. 

Thanks.
Scott

Hi Scott,

Compression, White space removers? DSLocalizator? Any of those installed? In fact: is there anything installed which might interfere with the http stream?

Peter

Hi Peter,

Together, you and Rob are quickly exposing my limited systems knowledge.    I used to be a software engineer, but moved into the business world about 6 years ago.  So, while I am somewhat conversant about these topics, I must admit that I'm a little rusty.  So, please forgive me if I don't respond adequately to your questions.

With regard to the HTTP stream interference, I don't believe that this is the case.  Please let me know if I'm incorrect.  From my limited knowledge, I'm assuming (and I know that this is a bad thing to do) that if I can right click on a file, start the application (like Word/Excel), and see the content, that the HTTP services are configured and working properly.

Anyway, I'm not sure that my analysis is correct.  My guess is something related to permissions or access since the file can be read but not saved.  Thanks.

Scott

I forgot to mention that I don't have any of those apps or services installed.  This is basically a plain vanilla Windows Server 2003 - Enterprise Edition - SP2.  Nothing fancy.  As for the network, that is a different story.  I don't know anything about it, and from what I understand it is fairly complicated (multiple firewalls, various subnets, etc.).  However, since I do get the app started and it does retrieve the file contents, I'm guessing that my access is configured properly.

Thanks.

Scott

Hi Scott,
I don't think anyone in IT can quite grasp all the complexities. At this point my mind draws a blank on this issue. Is there a way I could see the installation from here? Drop me an email if you like.
Peter

Peter:

I am also experiencing this problem. WebDAV is configured as specified, triple checked. When I read the direction I see no mention of set WebDav "allowed" on IIS. Am I missing something?

Also when "Accessing WebDAV from MS Office", when I direct Word to dmxdav.axd on site.com, I don't see anything and cannot save a new file. There are currently 500 documents and collections in DMX.

Hi Laverne,

You need to make the adjustment in IIS as described in the installation manual. That's all. There is no 'allowed' setting on IIS.
What url did you use to get to the content? 'http://mysite/dmxdav.axd', 'http://mysite/dmxdav.axd/', or 'http://mysite/dmxdav.axd/foobar', etc?

Peter

Hi Peter,

Actually there is an 'Allowed' setting in IIS.  In the Web Server Extensions, you have to 'allow' WebDAV.  I believe the default is set to 'Prohibit'.  I'm not positive, but if this is not allowed, I don't believe the module will work.

Scott

I forgot to mention that I have WebDAV allowed and also carefully reviewed the Installation instructions that you provided.  I even checked each one off as it was accomplised, then went back and circled the checks when I confirmed my work.  Thanks.

Scott

Peter:
As a further check I had an partner verify my settings and all is right.

I used "http://mysite/dmxdav.axd".
To use Windows Exploer is browsing the same structure as:
e.g. In DMX:
Document Exchange
Admin
Publications

So should I use:
http://mysite.ca/dmxdav.axd/admin
http://mysite.ca/dmxdav.axd/publications

Thanx

Scott:

Is this in reference to the WebDAV installation described from Microsoft. They want to setup WebDAV using Add/Remove Windows Components. This is a subcomponenet of the World Wide Web Service. 

I do not have the Web Server Extensions tab available on my server.

Thanx

Laverne

Hi Laverne,

Interesting.  I didn't actually build the develoment server that I'm referencing with regard to this particular problem.  Unfortunately, I also don't recall what I did when building the production server.  I may have used the Add/Remove components or I may have selected an option to add WebDAV during the installation process.  I vaguely recall using the add/remove components. 

The Web Server Extensions should be visible from the IIS Manager and include items like, Active Server Pages, ASP.NET, FrontPage Server Extensions, Internet Data Connector, Server Side Includes, and WebDAV.  For each, there is an 'Allow', 'Prohibit' and 'Properties' button. 

If you add the Web Server Extensions, I believe it will install (or at least reference) httpext.dll for the WebDAV features.  I'll be very interested to see if you get this resolved by adding the extensions. 

Scott

 

The WebDAV extension in IIS is a different beast. It does not touch the DNN installation. The WebDAV in DMX was custom written and provides the same functionality. AFAIK IIS does not use the allow setting to interfere with traffic to DNN/DMX. It is purely meant so you can set up a WebDAV drive somewhere on your server.

Peter:

Perfect, exactly what I needed to know. That only leaves security on the web server as the culprit as to why things are not linking properly via WebDAV.

When using "View in Windows Explorer" and the challenge appears; is it asking for DNN security credentials?

Thanx

Laverne

Hi Peter,

Okay, this definitely changes things.  After prohibiting WebDAV in the Web Server Extensions, I now seem to have the problem described by Laverne.  I am now getting the Windows challenge for an account and password.  Once I enter a domain password that allows access to the location of the physical drive, Word opens and retrieves the file.  However, the file is still set to Read-Only.  I checked the properties on the server to ensure that the files are not set to read only.  Now, when I attempt to save the document, after prompting for a username and password, the application actually does attempt to save the document.  However, I have to rename it (due to the read-only status) and I get the following message: "There has been a network or file permission error".  I'm guessing this is a permission error rather than a network problem since I can successfully retrieve and view the contents of the file over the network.

Anyway, turning off WebDAV in IIS did alter the nature of this problem.  For the moment, I'm going to focus on permissions and assume that the DMX WebDAV is working correctly.  Please let me know If you have any thoughts about what might be causing the permissions errors.

Thanks.

Scott

OK, the challenge expects your regular DNN login account. Windows is not consulted by the application. So no domain names etc. Just the regular 'admin', 'dnnadmin' for example.
On this subject: it was made so that the DNN cookie would be used on first call. So if you're logged in the challenge should not occur.

What are the IIS directory security settings on your site?

Hi Peter,

YES!  This worked.  After 'prohibiting' WebDAV in the Web Server Extensions, and logging in, everything worked correctly!  Word starts without an authentication challenge, the content is retrieved, and I can save back to the site.  The promise of WebDAV is realized and my users will be happy.

As an intranet site, we don't require logins for all users.  About 85% of the information on the site is open for everyone.  Rather than requiring logins for everyone, we only require users having special permissions to login.  As such, only about 1200 users are actually registered on the site. 

• Is it possible to configure DMX so that the "Open in ..." option is only visible when the user is actually logged into the site and has the appropriate permission?  To avoid confusion, if the option isn't applicable, I'd rather that users without the appropriate permission don't see this option.

Peter, thanks for perservering through this issue with me.  I realize that you are extremely busy with a new release and responding to other customers while living several time zones away.  Thanks again.

Scott

Hi Scott,

Hurray!
I'll make a note of the menu issue. I think it makes sense to not allow the webDAV access if users are not allowed to edit/add.

Peter

Peter / Scott:

We are now working as advertising.

The funny thing is I was making the same suggestions about the Item menu under the UI section, then came here only to find Scott was doing the same.

Thanx for all the help.

Laverne

Excellent. I noticed with another user who experienced login screens that he had 'Windows Authentication' checked on the IIS directory security. I unchecked it and WebDAV worked.

Hi everybody.

After a few attempts I finally succedeed in having Word automatically starting up with the document to be edited.

Still, when I hit the save button i get a dialog with the following message "word did not save the document". Sniffing the HTTP traffic I found the following trace:

Request:

    PUT /dmxdav.axd/fattura%20pap%C3%A0.doc HTTP/1.1\r\n
        Request Method: PUT
        Request URI: /dmxdav.axd/fattura%20pap%C3%A0.doc
        Request Version: HTTP/1.1
    Content-Language: en-us\r\n
    Accept-Language: en-us\r\n
    If: ()\r\n
    Translate: f\r\n
    Content-Length: 29696
    User-Agent: Microsoft Data Access Internet Publishing Provider DAV\r\n
    Host: portal.proplast.it\r\n
    Connection: Keep-Alive\r\n
    Cookie: .ASPXANONYMOUS=Ok_kpz82yAEkAAAAMjY1YThmNDUtYTI0OC00YTJhLTgwMGUtMTExZWYzYzliNzQw0; _Module351_Visible=false; _Module352_Visible=false; _Module346_Visible=false; _Module347_Visible=false; dmxdavcookie=1863D8E56CC3E4F1DCA9A3B8AF00E419

Reply from server:

    HTTP/1.1 500 Error: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.\r\n
        Request Version: HTTP/1.1
        Response Code: 500
    Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:25:01 GMT\r\n
    Server: Microsoft-IIS/6.0\r\n
    X-Powered-By: ASP.NET\r\n
    X-AspNet-Version: 2.0.50727\r\n
    Content-Length: 0
    Cache-Control: private\r\n
    Content-Type: text/html\r\n

Request:

    PROPFIND /dmxdav.axd HTTP/1.1\r\n
        Request Method: PROPFIND
        Request URI: /dmxdav.axd
        Request Version: HTTP/1.1
    Content-Language: en-us\r\n
    Accept-Language: en-us\r\n
    Content-Type: text/xml\r\n
    Translate: f\r\n
    Depth: 1\r\n
    Content-Length: 489
    User-Agent: Microsoft Data Access Internet Publishing Provider DAV\r\n
    Host: portal.proplast.it\r\n
    Connection: Keep-Alive\r\n
    Cookie: .ASPXANONYMOUS=Ok_kpz82yAEkAAAAMjY1YThmNDUtYTI0OC00YTJhLTgwMGUtMTExZWYzYzliNzQw0; _Module351_Visible=false; _Module352_Visible=false; _Module346_Visible=false; _Module347_Visible=false; dmxdavcookie=1863D8E56CC3E4F1DCA9A3B8AF00E419
    \r\n
eXtensible Markup Language
            version="1.0"
        encoding="UTF-8"
        ?>
            xmlns:a="DAV:"
        xmlns:b="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:datatypes">
        
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
        

Reply:

    HTTP/1.1 207 Multi-Status\r\n
        Request Version: HTTP/1.1
        Response Code: 207
    Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:25:03 GMT\r\n
    Server: Microsoft-IIS/6.0\r\n
    X-Powered-By: ASP.NET\r\n
    X-AspNet-Version: 2.0.50727\r\n
    Content-Length: 1538
    Cache-Control: private\r\n
    Content-Type: text/xml\r\n
    \r\n
eXtensible Markup Language
            version="1.0"
        encoding="utf-8"
        ?>
            xmlns:d="DAV:">
        
            
                http://portal.xxx.it/dmxdav.axd/
                
            
                
                    HTTP/1.1 200 OK
                    
                
                    
                    
                        2007-09-27T19:52:23Z
                        
                    
                        Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:52:23 GMT
                        
                    
                    
                        dmxdav.axd
                        
                    
                        
                        
                    
                
            
                
                    HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found
                    
                
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                
            
        
            
                http://portal.xxx.xx/dmxd...tura%20pap%c3%a0.doc
                
            
                
                    HTTP/1.1 200 OK
                    
                
                    
                        application/msword
                        
                    
                        2007-09-27T19:52:23Z
                        
                    
                        Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:52:23 GMT
                        
                    
                        29184
                        
                    
                        fattura pap\303\240.doc
                        
                    
                    
                
            
                
                    HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found
                    
                
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                
            
        

Any thought on what is going wrong?

Thank you

Andrea 

Andrea,
Does this also occur when editing a document in a subfolder?
Peter

Peter,

actually WebDav in subfolders works perfectly!!!

Is this a 'by design' behaviour (WebDav not working in root folder) or am I missing some settings in my installation?

The root folder is only 'writable' for Admins and is not the best place to start your document management. I urge everyone to start subfolders first to start proper permission setting etc. There are other issues with the root folder that have to do with the Windows WebDAV client. Check out this post:

http://www.bring2mind.net...w/topic/Default.aspx

In all, best practice is to use subfolders.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but does WebDAV need to be installed on the server?  or did I read that DMX handled it on it's own?

I'm having the issue when opening documents where they are in read only mode and can't be saved to the server.

Thanks

You don't want WebDAV on the server. The WebDAV client is on each user's computer in the form of Windows XP, a program like WebDrive, or some other program. If you're opening in Word, then I believe it's Word itself handling the WebDAV calls, but it's an ActiveX call that'll start the whole process. Make sure you're not blocking the ActiveX call.
Fiddler truly is your friend when hunting down WebDAV issues. I'd suggest reading Peter's tutorial on using Fiddler to troubleshoot WebDAV, then letting us know what anomalies you're finding. I would say to make sure you're logged in as a normal (non-admin/host) user when trying to use WebDAV.

Hi Peter,

I purchase the Document Exchange 5.2 through snowcovered and I been having some issues ; I follow the installation guide that comes with installation package and I been reading some post in bring2mind.net forums and I still having the same problem. The problem is when I open the document and i try to save back to the server shows me some message error that say: "WORD CAN NOT SAVE THE DOCUMENT END OF AN ERROR BECAUSE OF PERMITS ON FILE", I checked to ensure that the appropriate permissions exists and I still cannot save a file back.

I will be waiting for your answer, Thanks.

Hi Jose,

Does it say "Read Only" in the Word title bar when you've opened the document?

Peter