Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question to view the answer.
- Why am I getting a "Forbidden" error when I try to view my website?
- Why am I asked for a "session" password after I've already entered my MyUWG password?
- Help! I don't have a public_html folder!
- Why Do We Require A Secure FTP Connection?
- Why are my images not showing up on my website?
- Why are my links broken on my website?
- Why can't I connect to the FTP server?
- Can I use Microsoft FrontPage or Netscape Composer?
Why am I getting a "Forbidden" error when I try to view my website?
The "Forbidden" error is normally used when the server has been instructed NOT to provide access to a file. However, you will also see this on the stu.westga.edu web server when a page is NOT FOUND. This is more or less because the server has been instructed not to provide you with a directory listing of your files.
If you feel the file should be there, connect to your directory using secure FTP and make sure of the following:
- The file is INSIDE the public_html directory.
- The file name is spelled correctly. In some browsers, this INCLUDES changes in case.
- The file has the correct file extension. (i.e. if you're linking to a file named "mypage.htm" and the file is actually named "mypage.html")
- If you've uploaded a NEW directory INSIDE your public_html folder, you have two options. Either add the name of the directory to your url (i.e. http://stu.westga.edu/~username/DIRECTORY_NAME/) OR move the files out of the directory and just inside the public_html folder. The latter is the recommended method.
Finally, if you're still having problems viewing your site, check the permissions on your public_html folder. The minimum recommended setting is -rwx--x--x or the octal value 711. Most users prefer a higher setting such as -rwxr-xr-x or the octal value 755. If you find that the minimum recommended setting is not working, try the higher setting. (*On the other hand, if you think your settings are too high, you might try a lower setting which only allows read access to anyone besides the owner. This setting is -rwxr--r-- or the octal value 644.) The permissions are usually listed in most FTP clients beside the file modified date. To change them, try right clicking the file and select "Properties." If you do not see the permissions there, right click and select "CHMOD."
Why am I asked for a "session" password after I've already entered my MyUWG password?
If you're being asked for a session password AFTER you've already provided your MyUWG password, there could be a problem with your account.
- First verify that your password is correct by logging into MyUWG at http://myuwg.westga.edu/.
- If you're able to log in successfully, check your FTP client and make sure you're using a secure connection using SSH.
- If you're still having problems, send an email including your username and student ID number to techlife@westga.edu.
Help! I don't have a public_html folder!
Apparently some of our accounts did not create the public_html folder automatically. No problem, you can actually create this directory yourself. Just be sure the spelling and case is EXACTLY "public_html" (excluding the quotations, of course).
Once you've created the folder, then set the permissions for this folder. The recommended setting is -rwx--x--x or the octal value 711. The permissions are usually listed in most FTP clients beside the file modified date. To change them, try right clicking the file and select "Properties." If you do not see the permissions there, right click and select "CHMOD."
Why do we require a secure FTP connection?
Simply for your protection. Since your MyUWG id and password are used for access to MyUWG, Banweb, WebCT, as well as web publishing, it's important that we protect this information in every way possible. Unauthorized access to this information could provide someone with access to very sensitive and private information.
Why are my images not showing up on my website?
With web pages, images remain independent files that are simply referred to in the web page. This means that when you upload/publish your webpages, you'll need to also publish any images or even other files that you link to within your page.
You must also be sure that your web page knows where to find these files. For example, if you publish your web pages and your images to the same directory, but the link you created references your "My Picture" directory, you'll have broken image links.
If you know your image files have been published to the correct directory and the image links are correct, double check the spelling of your image files and your links to them. Differences in case, spaces and special characters can be problematic with web pages.
Why are my links broken on my website?
If your links refer to other pages you've created, first make sure you've published those files as well to the correct directory.
Also, verify the spelling and the path of those file names and of your links to them. Differences in case, spaces and special characters can be problematic with web pages.
Why can't I connect to the FTP server?
First, be sure that you're using an ftp client capable of a secure connection using SSH. Some clients may support a secure connection but NOT using SSH.
Also, be sure that you're using the correct log in information. The correct information is below.
| Host: | stu.westga.edu |
| User ID: | Your MyUWG User ID |
| Password: | Your MyUWG Password |
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Can I use Microsoft FrontPage or Netscape Composer?
You can use either of these editors to create or edit your pages, but you will not be able to publish directly from them since they do not support Secure FTP.
Also, Frontpage users should be aware that we do not support special Frontpage extensions on the server.