Format File Not Found

[glennw]

Format File Not Found

I continue to get this error on a survey form i'm trying to publish online after I hit the submit button. I know the file is there because I can go to the "ip address/thanks.htm" and get right to it. I used this same reply htm file with another database and it works fine. Any suggestions and can two DB's use the same results or reply htm file? This is driving me nuts thanks.

The format file "thanks.htm" could not be found.

Click the Back button on your browser to return to the view you were working on.

[ February 20, 2002, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: GRW ]

[Garry Claridge]

Is the format file located in the 'Web' folder within the FM program folder? This is where all format files need to be.

Hope this helps.

Garry

[slstrother]

You should double check your code on your form that points to the thankyou.htm. Extra spaces, missing " or open tags will cause this kind of problem.

Good Luck

[glennw]

Ok I copied and pasted in new files, then I also check and double checked the hidden codes then copied the hidden codes to the one that isn't working from the one that is working, changed over the fields I needed to and still nothing. Just doesn't make sense to me. I could od a total scratch one and see I guess.

[Vaughan]

Look in Web Companion's action log -- set it to detailed -- to see exactly the code that it's getting from the url. That might provide a clue to the problem.

[Keith M. Davie]

I have received similar messages. I switch to a fake lan to run tests and forget the simple things. Messages seem to occur when db connectivity has not taken place. Make sure WC is plugged in. Make sure Sharing is active. Check your paths to make sure you are connecting with an action to a db. Check you Web Security db for the proper record.

[ February 20, 2002, 02:56 PM: Message edited by: Keith M. Davie ]

[glennw]

I think I have it as simple as possible, no passwords or permissions set. I have checked the -db to make sure it's pointing to the right database and everything for now is in the root folder under "Web".

I can get my first samplesurvey to work just fine, so I copied the hidden files out of there and put them into the page that I have been having problems, with this I changed to point to the right database, both are using the same thanks.htm file.

To make sure I was hitting the DB I closed it and tried submitting my survey and I got the proper response that the database was not open.

Here is what the log stated:

2/20/02 3:05:53 PM xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx /FMPro

2/20/02 3:05:53 PM -db=staffsurvey.fm&-format=thanks.htm&-error=surveyerrors.htm&-lay=Web&Date=-currentdate&q17=2&q18=3&q19=4&q20=3&q21=2&q25=1&name=&comments=&-new=Submit

2/20/02 3:05:53 PM Sending reply. Elapsed time: 60 millisec.

2/20/02 3:05:53 PM xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/

2/20/02 3:05:53 PM /

2/20/02 3:05:53 PM Sending reply. Elapsed time: 0 millisec.

2/20/02 3:06:15 PM xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/FMPro

2/20/02 3:06:15 PM -db=staffsurvey.fm&-format=thanks.htm&-error=surveyerrors.htm&-lay=Web&Date=-currentdate&q17=2&q18=3&q19=4&q20=3&q21=2&q25=1&name=&comments=&-new=Submit

ERROR: -1. Could not find format file.

2/20/02 3:06:15 PM Sending reply. Elapsed time: 110 millisec.

[Keith M. Davie]

Since there is another thanks.htm, you might try changing the one name to thanks0.htm. I've had experiences where a same-named db was opened (erroneously in my opinion) by FMP, I would not be surprised if it could get confused by a same-named format file, even though it shouldn't.

Another thought is that you could be resubmitting from browser cache. Clear your cache to make sure before your second submit.

Another thought is that when you get to thanks.htm have you tried browser reloading that page? If you haven't, you really should. Then look at the db.

[glennw]

Yes all of the files are under the web folder on the FM box. I am using this same file with another DB that I created and it's working fine with it. I can go to the FM box/thanks.htm and get directly to the file but not after I submit my online form. Thanks for the reply still looking for an answer.

Oh I got it to work just one time after making a copy of the thanks.htm file and changing it in my form, but after that I got the error again. I'm running FMPro4.0 serv. pack 3 I believe. Thanks again.

[Garry Claridge]

There has been a thread about format files going 'missing'. The conclusion was that some sort of corruption was happening to the file and that creating a new file (copy and paste old contents) was the work-around.

I'm a bit vague on this, however some other people have first hand experience at this phenomenon.

Good Luck.

Garry

[Jeff Spall]

Hi, just a thought.

Filemaker returns "can't find the format file" when the format file is available, but the error page file is missing. This is not a helpful message!

regards, jeff

[glennw]

I definately appreciate all ideas and help here. Here is what I know after reading a few of the posts.

1) I never get even one submission, it never finds the file so resubmission isn't the problem right now. Cache has been cleared and I did try reloading still didn't work. I think looked at the folder to make sure the errors.html file is there and it is so I don't think that is the problem. Like I said I have another DB using this file and it works so I thought maybe it puts a hook in it that the file is in use. So I created another file same content just a different name, that didn't work. I'm to the point of recreating the whole form and db and folder structure or possibly reloaded the FMPro see if something got corrupted. I know this seems extreme but i'm running out of ideas here. Thanks again for all suggestions and help.

[Keith M. Davie]

I recently had a corruption of SimpleText, the app. I use to create format files from scratch.

Forms were not submitting.

I had to clear and relaod. Fine since. This has happened on two Macs which also had MS Word. I also got rid of that app. I can live quite comfortably without MS. Never had the porblem on a Mac without MS.

[glennw]

Well I finally figured out my problem but it took some time and Jeff had the most correct answer. See I renamed the "Errors.htm" file and didn't catch that in my code, however for some unknown reason the original file still worked. Still don't understand that one but once I noticed that the "-error" had the wrong value it worked. Nothing to do with the Thanks.htm file which I must agree it's not a very helpful message. None the less thanks to all that tried giving me a hand, I learned quite a bit in the last 2 days on CDML and these surveys.

[Keith M. Davie]

Glad you are learning. Earlier I posted a suggestion, "Another thought is that when you get to thanks.htm have you tried browser reloading that page? If you haven't, you really should. Then look at the db."

Did you try that as well?

[glennw]

Keith,

I did try reloading the browser but it didn't seem to help, I even cleared all cache. I then turned on the logging and it wasn't very helpful. I have found that I didn't care for the lack of information that the error gave. It showed I had a problem with the Thanks.htm file but in fact the problem resided with the errors.htm file. Just something I guess I will have to get comfortable with if I'm going to use FM. Thanks again for all your suggestions.

[Keith M. Davie]

I'm not sure you got my point when you responded, "I did try reloading the browser but it didn't seem to help..."

You indicated that you had finally acheived success with the immediate problem. My suggestion was that now that you have found your success that since you have created a new record you should see what occurs if you reload the thanks.htm page from the browser. When you do so you might get a message asking you if you want to Repost Form Data. Most users click Yes or OK. The browser page thanks.htm reloads. But what occurs in your db? That is the question you need to answer. Do you have only one record? Do you have more than one record for the same person, item or whatever you have just created. You will noite I have assumed that your submit creates a new record.

Just trying to be helpful with something you might not have realized.

[glennw]

Keith,

I see what you mean. Now I have hopefully helped that scenario by saying "Thanks for your survey submission!" Click Home to return. Now the button is big enough that you would have to be a blithering idiot to screw it up but we all know what a user can do.

So, I tested your theory, and when I hit reload I got a dialog box that states "The page cannot be refreshed without resending the information. Click Retry to send the information again, or click Cancel to retun to the page that you were trying to view." and yes it does add another duplicate record. Not good. Now I assume there has to be a trick to get it not to repost the data entered correct? Thanks for bringing that to my att

[Keith M. Davie]

Use your favorite search engine on "meta". I think vancouver had a very useful paper. You might also try NN's info on html for meta. You are in need of information about the meta refresh. There is a bit to know about meta. You also would be advised to go through the cdml forum (I think) and find a thread I started about the nervous fingered client.

Or

http://www.simplifyfm.com:591/