Can’t See Hidden Folders/File (FrontPage XP on Windows XP)

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We use PowerPoint to create on-line training. When saving the ppt files as webpages, a hidden folder and supporting files are created. My problem is NOT related to the PowerPoint conversion process. In FrontPage 2000, I could see all the hidden folders and hidden files created by PowerPoint. Now that I’ve converted over to FrontPage XP, I can’t see those items. (Note: The ppt files saved as webpages were done previously in PowerPoint 2000.)

I bet you’re thinking that I need to go to Tools , Web Settings , Advanced and check the box for Show hidden files and folders . It’s ALREADY checked! (In Windows Explorer, I also display hidden files and folders.)

Does anyone know how we can get around this problem.

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What is the format of the hidden file and folder names? If they are preceded by an underscore, FrontPage will not display them. The underscore is shorthand for hidden folders on a web server.

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Mark,

First, thanks for responding so quickly. Interestingly enough, the hidden folders and files that I can’t see do NOT have an underscore before the folder or file name. I CAN see hidden folders that do start with an underscore. I’m attaching a picture that is made up of two screen shots of the Folder views.

On the left side of the graphic you’ll see the FrontPage 2000 view that clearly shows the folders that I’m needing to see. If you look at MandatoryTraining – EmergencyManage folder you’ll see an additional subfolder named EmergencyManagement_files (which was created by PowerPoint and contains many files).

On the right side of the graphic you’ll see the FrontPage XP view that does NOT show those PowerPoint created folders. Once again look at MandatoryTraining – EmergencyManage folder. You’ll see that the EmergencyManagement_files folder appears to be missing!

Fortunately for the time being, I can still get to a PC that has FrontPage 2000. As we finish our rollout of XP, I will eventually lose access to FrontPage 2000. It would also be much more convenient not to have to move to a different PC for some of my work.

I’m fairly certain that this isn’t an issue of how XP (Windows and FrontPage) was installed on my PC because I know of some of my peers whose PCs weren’t imaged from the same image as mine. Their software was individually loaded from different locations.

Ideas?

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You forgot to attach the graphic.

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You forgot to attach the graphic.

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Mark,

First thanks for responding so quickly. Interestingly enough, I CAN see folders whose names are preceded with an underscore. The folders and files that I can’t see do NOT begin with an underscore. I’m attaching a picture comparing the Folder view of FrontPage 2000 to FrontPage XP (2002) to illustrate the problem.

On the left side of the graphic, you’ll see the FrontPage 2000 Folder view. You can clearly tell that I’m seeing hidden folders because they’re the ones with the preceding underscore (such as _tests). Look down to MandatoryTraining – EmergencyManage and you’ll see an additional subfolder entitled EmergencyManagement_files (created by PowerPoint when converting a ppt file to a webpage).

On the rightside of the graphic, you’ll see the FrontPage XP (2002) Folder view. Once again, you’ll notice that I can see hidden folders (e.g., _test). As you look down to MandatoryTraining – EmergencyManage folders you will NOT see the EmergencyManagement_files subfolder that appears to be missing!

Fortunately, for the time being I can still use a PC with FrontPage 2000. As soon as we finish our rollout of Windows/Office XP, I’ll lose that option. It would also be nice NOT to have to accomplish some of my work on a different PC just because of this issue!

I don’t think this is a problem of how my PC was imaged with Windows/Office XP. My peers who also use FrontPage XP experience the same problem that I have and yet their software was NOT loaded from the same image as mine. Their software was loaded directly from the installation CDs.

Any ideas?

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In fact, I do have an idea. I noted that the folders that are missing – none were files, so far as I could tell – were all saved in the way that Internet Explorer and Office applications store complete web pages. That is to say, for example, FirePrevention has a subfolder named FirePrevention_files which contains all of the scripts, images, and anything that is not the HTML document itself. You are saving PowerPoint presentations as Web Page, Complete. This creates the subfolder.

With me so far?

The problem here is that Windows treats the folders and the master file, both FirePrevention and FirePrevention_files as one file, one cohesive unit. If you delete the master document, the folder goes with it. They are linked within Windows. My guess is that FrontPage 2002 knows the difference and FrontPage 2000 was not aware of this “feature.”

You can get around this a few different ways. One, you can install TweakUI and change the setting for connected files as shown in the attached graphic. Or, you can copy the contents of those folders into a new folder, and fix the documents. Not a tasty option, methinks.

Try that and see if it gets you anywhere.

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Mark,

I do understand what you’re saying. In the past I had inadvertently deleted the primary .htm file and realized that it deleted the corresponding subfolder. Fortunately I was able to reverse the delete!

I don’t have access to TweakUI but one of my peers does and can test this for me (and him too!). Out of curiosity, I went back into Windows Explorer , Tools , Folder Options , and noticed that the XP setting for Managing pairs of Web pages and folders was set to Show and manage the pair as a single file . So, I changed it to Show both parts and manage them individually . That did NOT make any difference in either Windows Explorer or the FrontPage Folder view. In theory, should it? If so, then I might have an Active Directory group policy issue.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction (hopefully).

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[indent]

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In theory, should it?

---

[/indent]I honestly do not know. What I can see in your attached graphic indicates that the problem lies with how Windows manages file and folder pairs. There could be a group policy in effect, but that is something you need to determine for yourself, as I obviously cannot!

This is definitely an interesting phenomenon, and I will be toying with it myself to see if I can duplicate it. I noted in your profile that you believe there is a workaround or solution to every problem, and I feel the same way. It would seem that this one just requires some research.

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[indent]

---

In theory, should it?

---

[/indent]I honestly do not know. What I can see in your attached graphic indicates that the problem lies with how Windows manages file and folder pairs. There could be a group policy in effect, but that is something you need to determine for yourself, as I obviously cannot!

This is definitely an interesting phenomenon, and I will be toying with it myself to see if I can duplicate it. I noted in your profile that you believe there is a workaround or solution to every problem, and I feel the same way. It would seem that this one just requires some research.

Reply | Quote

Mark,

I do understand what you’re saying. In the past I had inadvertently deleted the primary .htm file and realized that it deleted the corresponding subfolder. Fortunately I was able to reverse the delete!

I don’t have access to TweakUI but one of my peers does and can test this for me (and him too!). Out of curiosity, I went back into Windows Explorer , Tools , Folder Options , and noticed that the XP setting for Managing pairs of Web pages and folders was set to Show and manage the pair as a single file . So, I changed it to Show both parts and manage them individually . That did NOT make any difference in either Windows Explorer or the FrontPage Folder view. In theory, should it? If so, then I might have an Active Directory group policy issue.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction (hopefully).

Reply | Quote

In fact, I do have an idea. I noted that the folders that are missing – none were files, so far as I could tell – were all saved in the way that Internet Explorer and Office applications store complete web pages. That is to say, for example, FirePrevention has a subfolder named FirePrevention_files which contains all of the scripts, images, and anything that is not the HTML document itself. You are saving PowerPoint presentations as Web Page, Complete. This creates the subfolder.

With me so far?

The problem here is that Windows treats the folders and the master file, both FirePrevention and FirePrevention_files as one file, one cohesive unit. If you delete the master document, the folder goes with it. They are linked within Windows. My guess is that FrontPage 2002 knows the difference and FrontPage 2000 was not aware of this “feature.”

You can get around this a few different ways. One, you can install TweakUI and change the setting for connected files as shown in the attached graphic. Or, you can copy the contents of those folders into a new folder, and fix the documents. Not a tasty option, methinks.

Try that and see if it gets you anywhere.

Reply | Quote

Mark,

First thanks for responding so quickly. Interestingly enough, I CAN see folders whose names are preceded with an underscore. The folders and files that I can’t see do NOT begin with an underscore. I’m attaching a picture comparing the Folder view of FrontPage 2000 to FrontPage XP (2002) to illustrate the problem.

On the left side of the graphic, you’ll see the FrontPage 2000 Folder view. You can clearly tell that I’m seeing hidden folders because they’re the ones with the preceding underscore (such as _tests). Look down to MandatoryTraining – EmergencyManage and you’ll see an additional subfolder entitled EmergencyManagement_files (created by PowerPoint when converting a ppt file to a webpage).

On the rightside of the graphic, you’ll see the FrontPage XP (2002) Folder view. Once again, you’ll notice that I can see hidden folders (e.g., _test). As you look down to MandatoryTraining – EmergencyManage folders you will NOT see the EmergencyManagement_files subfolder that appears to be missing!

Fortunately, for the time being I can still use a PC with FrontPage 2000. As soon as we finish our rollout of Windows/Office XP, I’ll lose that option. It would also be nice NOT to have to accomplish some of my work on a different PC just because of this issue!

I don’t think this is a problem of how my PC was imaged with Windows/Office XP. My peers who also use FrontPage XP experience the same problem that I have and yet their software was NOT loaded from the same image as mine. Their software was loaded directly from the installation CDs.

Any ideas?

Reply | Quote

What is the format of the hidden file and folder names? If they are preceded by an underscore, FrontPage will not display them. The underscore is shorthand for hidden folders on a web server.

Reply | Quote