Stop FP from making _vti_cnf folders & files

All these small files are using up too much space

[whats up skip]

How do you turn a 22MB site into a 70,000,000 byte site?

Easy if Frontpage makes lots of little folders and files to keep track of each file in your web site (the _vti_cnf).

My question is how do I stop it making these?

PS I have the site hosted so I cannot control the file allocation size.

[brotherhood of LAN]

I think the only answer is don't use Frontpage.

The more I've used it, the more I've noticed that some things are simply built into the program and you have no control over them.

Try the db results feature and try editing the HTML or ASP in html mode....it will reset your code regardless of whatever you want to do.

I think they are only there for the use of FP components and such....like in the example above...so that FP can reference some data that is HIDDEN, and will not interfere with its crazy intention of resetting your code...or anything out of the ordinary you may want to do.

[NeedScripts]

I think front page won't make those files and folders if you don't work in a web. I mean, just make your own folder and save pages in it - Don't create/make a web.

Or else use DreamWeaver [another good alternative :)]

[Woz]

Skip, that is a HUGE increase. The "housekeeping" files that FP makes are fairly small and shouldn't make the overall site size bloat that much. I suspect there is something else going on that you/we are not aware of.

Additionally, you could try a program called KISSfp which creates a version of your completed site without all the extra FP stuff so you can then upload a clean, and hence smaller, versions to you host. Might be worth looking into.

But, as I say, that increase seems out of whack, you might want to do some investigation as to what is going on.

Onya
Woz

[choster]

Actually, a large number of folders and small files can have a disproportionate impact on disk space, depending on the operating system (a recent thread was [webmasterworld.com...] ).

[richlowe]

a large number of folders and small files can have a disproportionate impact on disk space

It's based upon the cluster size of the disk. A disk with a cluster size of 64K means all files, no matter how small, are at least 64K in size. This can cause small files to eat up a huge amount of space.

What I do with frontpage is edit on my system in normal directories - not web's. The strange FP files and directories are then not needed. I then upload with FTP.

Richard Lowe

[brotherhood of LAN]

I deleted the same folders from a site and the overall size was reduced by 20%

On windows....went to the search function and searched the web folder for these directories....pressed CTRL+A and then delete :)

[rogerd]

I think it's illegal to delete those files, BoL... Check the Microsoft terms and conditions that you are bound by because you clicked "I Accept" when you installed the software.

Microsoft is in the process of acquiring the Mattress Police (the enforcement agency that tracks down those people who criminally remove the "Do Not Remove" tags on furniture and mattresses.) As soon as the acquisition is complete, a new division of this organization will begin looking for people who delete the files that Front Page legally and properly installed on their web site. Don't say you weren't warned... ;)

[brotherhood of LAN]

thanks for the clarification rogerd!

I guess my harddrive is bloated as it is. I best be deleting frontpage alongside their _folders. :)

In light of the above, may I suggest not deleting the _vti_cnf folders....and instead, have them, for whatever purpose Microsoft deems fit

[oilman]

I believe the files in question are what make webbots work and manage the publishing and so forth. If you are not using any of the proprietary FP stuff for froms et al and you are only using FP to hammer out your html and then you use your own scripts for everything else then you don't need the extensions. Just design your site in FP and ftp it up (excluding the crap folders of course).

[pageoneresults]

> Just design your site in FP and ftp it up (excluding the crap folders of course).

Haven't used FTP since 1996 for uploading sites. Ever since I found out about the Edit Feature in IE, that's all I ever use.

While your working live in your web, you go through the file > import command and browse to files on your local system. First select your web destination, i.e. /images/. Then select the files to upload and FP will seamlessly import and allow you to go on your merry way. I've uploaded 20 and 30MB files in a snap on our T1 or the Cable Modem at home.

Get away from that publishing feature. If you are a sole developer and the only one performing edits, do them live and then you can always FTP a backup to your local system. Keep your webs within the FTP directory on your local system.