What is my index page?

I just started a new website

[ScottM]

I've been running a website hosted by *ahoo for 8 months now, and it was doing so well, I decided to start another website.

Based on recommendations of this forum, I chose a popular hosting service, and signed up for the 'webmaster' package.

I am still using FrontPage 2002, and tried to make up a homepage, but when I went to FP to open the site, I saw that there was an index.htm in my CGI directory.

Now *ahoo does not have CGI, nor any of the new things I'm seeing, so I don't know if the index.htm in my CGI directory is my REAL homepage or what it is.

I just want to get started and I'm afraid to create another index.htm under my domain for fear of overriding the one in my CGI.

So the questions are:

1. What is the CGI/index.htm page? And what is it for?

and 2. Am I safe to create an www.mydomain.com/index.htm form scratch? Or will it conflict with the one in question #1.

Thanks in advance.

[webdiversity]

You can have an index.htm in every sub-directory you want, but it makes things get a bit messy. Open up the one in your cgi directory and see what it says, chances are you'll be able to rename it or delete it. FP leaves lots of stuff lying around cluttering things up.
Invariably when you set up a new hosting account the provider puts an index.htm (home page) sort of as a welcome to your site, like a little chocolate on the pillow at a hotel, that sort of thing. If you type in [yourdomain.com...] it should give you a page that instructs you how to get access to your space and stuff. But as it is your space you ca do what you like with it, but check first.

[Mike_Mackin]

try using an FTP client to upload
you will have more control - imho
[ftpplanet.com...]

I'm thinking that there should be an index page in all sub-directories. Just a "ckick here" would do.

[GWJ]

Try using an FTP client to upload

I would heavily say do not do this or if you do use caution. Anypage with a FP "web bot" will get "broken" by FTPing (except maybe include pgages). I do use FP on a site and I do also FTP stuff out there just not pages with "web bots".
Brian

[Mike_Mackin]

GWJ
Forgot about [url=http://www.support.dsu.edu/FrontPage2/webbots/Web-Bots[/url]

[mdharrold]

>>What is the CGI/index.htm page? And what is it for?
The index.htm page is added to the directory to keep the file list from being displayed if some typed in "yourdomain.com/cgi-bin/".

The better way to restrict unwanted viewing is with ".htaccess".

>>Am I safe to create an www.mydomain.com/index.htm form scratch?

Yes.

[ScottM]

Thank you all so much for the help!