Format File Not Found

[glennw]

I hope this doesn't break any rules but I posted this on the Web Companion side and thought maybe the people that visit the CDML area might know how to fix this. Thanks for taking a look

Topic: Format File Not Found

GRW

Junior Member

Member # 6391

Rate Member posted February 20, 2002 09:55 AM

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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 ]

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Glenn

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Posts: 5 | From: Washington | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Garry Claridge

Member

Member # 2667

posted February 20, 2002 11:40 AM

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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

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Posts: 434 | From: Maleny, QLD, Australia | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

GRW

Junior Member

Member # 6391

Rate Member posted February 20, 2002 12:11 PM

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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.

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Glenn

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Posts: 5 | From: Washington | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Garry Claridge

Member

Member # 2667

posted February 20, 2002 12:43 PM

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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

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Posts: 434 | From: Maleny, QLD, Australia | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

slstrother

Junior Member

Member # 3614

Rate Member posted February 20, 2002 01:16 PM

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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

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Posts: 10 | From: Southern California | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

GRW

Junior Member

Member # 6391

Rate Member posted February 20, 2002 01:30 PM

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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.

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Glenn

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Posts: 5 | From: Washington | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Vaughan

Moderator

Member # 1000

Member Rated:

posted February 20, 2002 02:43 PM

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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.

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Vaughan Bromfield

Sydney, Australia

Please post questions and replies to the Forum. Back up your databases before making changes!

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Posts: 1759 | From: Sydney, Australia | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Keith M. Davie

Member

Member # 100

posted February 20, 2002 02:55 PM

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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 ]

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SIMPLIFY ...

Keith

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Posts: 579 | From: Jerome AZ | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

GRW

Junior Member

Member # 6391

Rate Member posted February 20, 2002 03:17 PM

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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.

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Glenn

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Posts: 5 | From: Washington | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Keith M. Davie

Member

Member # 100

posted February 20, 2002 08:14 PM

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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.

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SIMPLIFY ...

Keith

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Posts: 579 | From: Jerome AZ | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Jeff Spall

Member

Member # 2964

Member Rated:

posted February 21, 2002 02:46 AM

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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

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Posts: 129 | From: Crawley, Sussex, UK | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

GRW

Junior Member

Member # 6391

Rate Member posted February 21, 2002 08:29 AM

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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.

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Glenn

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Posts: 5 | From: Washington | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged