findinsite-ms Web.Config Options

You usually control findinsite-ms using its Control Panel. findinsite-ms stores its configuration information in the work directory.  If the default location for the work directory is not working or is not appropriate, then you can change it by setting a work appSettings parameter in Web.Config - see below for details of how to check it.

It is also a good idea to store your password, license id and EmailFromPassword as appSettings parameters.

<customErrors> section

The supplied file Web.Config contains a <customErrors> section that tells ASP.NET how to respond if there is a major error finding or processing a page. The supplied value produces detailed error information, which will be useful when you are setting up findinsite-ms:
  <customErrors mode="Off" />

Once happy with your installation, you can show 'friendly' messages:
  <customErrors mode="On" />

Work directory

The work appSettings parameter sets the work directory. Before you start testing findinsite-ms, it is important to check that the findinsite-ms work directory is in a suitable location.

By default, findinsite-ms tries to create a sub-directory FindData to use as the work directory - if you have installed findinsite-ms in directory findinsite/ then the work directory will be findinsite/FindData/. If this directory does not work, then findinsite-ms tries to use the application directory as the work directory, ie findinsite/.

ASP.NET systems are often set up so that findinsite-ms does not have the file write permission that is needed to create or use the work directory. Read how to set file permissions - or consult the instructions for various shared hosts.

findinsite-ms uses a work directory to store all its configuration information and search database files. It is important that this directory is secure from unwanted direct access, while still being available to findinsite-ms. Finally, it is also a good idea to backup the contents of the work directory regularly.

The Control Panel General section displays the current work directory. If this is not suitable then you need to change the work init parameter.

If the current work directory is not suitable then you must make a suitable (new) work directory and change the work appSettings parameter. The Test work directory field of the General section lets you prove that your new directory is usable by findinsite-ms. (Some directories may not be readable or writeable by findinsite-ms.)

Changing appSettings parameters

The appSettings parameters are stored in the Web.Config file. This is a text file (in UTF-8 format) found in the application installation directory, eg findinsite/ on your server.

To change Web.Config, you typically need to work with a local copy of the file, and then upload it to the server. If you do not already have a local copy of the file (ie in the findinsite-ms runtime directory), then use FTP or FrontPage Extensions to download it.

Edit Web.Config to make the changes (eg in Windows Notepad). Upload the file using FTP or FrontPage Extensions. Updating Web.Config usually stops the findinsite-ms application, so the next access will restart it to let you test any changes.

The <appSettings> section is towards the end of Web.Config. Add in an add tag with key and value attributes to specify the parameter name and value, eg as follows:

<appSettings>
 <add key="work" value="c:\FindData" />
</appSettings>

appSettings Parameter List