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which index.html does the server use?

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09-May-09 21:55
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gemma1865 gemma1865's avatar Rank: none
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I understand that the server must find an index.html file (or index.php) on the server.
I have a webpage, but cannot find the index.html on the remote site which it is using. By changing the name index.html in all the possible locations I can find, and the site still works!
Why is this please?
Also, the remote site uses (I thought) a directory called www. Is there any significance in the choice www?
gemma1865
09-May-09 22:25
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matt matt's avatar Rank: gold
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From: Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia
An index file is not required. It is only used if the visitor attempts to browse a folder in the site, rather than view a specific page.

The 'www' folder is probably your document root (the top level of your site).

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Matt Doyle, Elated
Second Edition of my jQuery Mobile book out now! Learn to build mobile web apps. Free sample chapter: http://store.elated.com/
10-May-09 09:08
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gemma1865 gemma1865's avatar Rank: none
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Thanks for your quick reply.
Is it possible to change the root to the next level up, as I am trying to make changes simple for someone who is to update certain files?
How does the server "know" what file to run if there is no index.html file in the root?
I have put my own index.html in the (www) root, but it is not run!
gemma1865
11-May-09 02:50
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matt matt's avatar Rank: gold
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Posts: 3118
From: Southern Highlands, NSW, Australia
I'm not sure what you mean by "change the root to the next level up". The document root folder is defined in the Web server configuration. If you have root/admin access to the server then you can change the document root for the site there.

If there is no index file in a folder then the Web server usually displays a directory listing of all the files in the folder, unless this feature has been disabled in the server config.


--
Matt Doyle, Elated
Second Edition of my jQuery Mobile book out now! Learn to build mobile web apps. Free sample chapter: http://store.elated.com/
 
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