Web Pages not updating when viewing on Apache local server

spenland · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 02:26 PM

Hi everyone, I'm having a really weird problem. Whenever I make a change to a file on my website through Dreamweaver and view it on my local apache server that I setup through the Site Manager, the OLD version of the file appears without any of the new changes! WTF?

I've tried refreshing the site, restarting apache, restarting dreamweaver, nothing works. Of course if I upload the changed file to a live site, it shows up fine.

What could be causing this? Is Dreamweaver or Apache holding on to an old cache somehow?

Also if I create a new file and try to view it, I get a "Not Found" error, like the page doesnt even exist!

Help!

littlegiant · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 06:29 PM

Maybe a dumb question but are you sure your local Apache server is started? I have a home development server set up as well (although I don't use Dreamweaver) but your problem sounds exactly like what happens to me when I'm working on a site and then I stop the server and then I go back to working on the site and I forget to start up the server again and I try to view the changes I made.

spenland · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 06:46 PM

littlegiant,

Yes it is definitely running, as I stated earlier I can see any webpage fine except for new pages I have created or recently changed.

I wonder if the server is on a different time clock or something

son · #4 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 05:04 AM

I have same problem, but also do not know the answer... In addition, I cannot upload files to certain domains (live sites) from within Dreamweaver (where the others just work fine). Might be a Dreamweaver issue...

Son

littlegiant · #5 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 09:40 AM

Spenland,

Just because you can see the page does not necessarily mean the server is actually running. What you may be seeing is cached versions of all the pages you loaded previously on your local server. This has fooled me a number of times too. Verify that the server is actually running by checking the Apache Service Monitor. You can do this by clicking on Start >> Run >> Type in 'services.msc' (without the quotes). Then when the 'Services' screen pops up, search in the list in the right column under the 'Name' tab for 'Apache'. When you locate the Apache entry, beside it under the 'Status' column, you should see 'Started'. If so, then yes your Apache server is running. If on the other hand, you don't see anything listed in the 'Status' column beside Apache then your server is NOT actually running.

spenland · #6 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 01:44 PM

Yes Apache is running in the services dialog. There is also an icon in the task bar the says 'Running all apache services' when you hover over it.

Any other ideas?

activeco · #7 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 03:57 PM

Are you sure it's not your browser cache?
Try flashing it or try from another PC.

littlegiant · #8 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spenland

Any other ideas?

Yeah, try accessing the page in several different web browsers and see if you get the same situation. If still no go then try clearing the cache in all the web browsers you tried and then accessing the page again in all the web browsers. If still no go then I would try making a test page with nothing on it at all but the word 'test' (with no formatting) and then save that and see if you can access it. If yes, then try changing the 'test' page (change the word 'test' to 'test2') and see if you can see the changes. If there's an option in Dreamweaver to make a new website then definitely put the test page in there, e.g., localhost/test or something like that. After trying all that and still no go then well I'd have to say I'd be really stumped (and equally frustrated). At that point, I'd think about maybe taking a fine tooth comb and plowing through the Dreamweaver documentation and seeing if there's some kind of weird obscure setting that is preventing you from seeing updates on your local server.

(edit)

Are you using some kind of proprietary 'preview' button in Dreamweaver? (Sorry I don't know the first thing about Dreamweaver.) Because if so then I would definitely try accessing the page simply by typing in the URL in your web browser instead. Dig into your Apache files folder and find the folder called 'htdocs'. In that folder, there should be another folder with the name of your website. So if your website folder is called 'example' then try typing http://localhost/example/ into browser address bar and hit Go. If you can access your site then try browsing through it and see if you can see the changes you made.

lumby · #9 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 08:08 AM

I have a problem which may be related concerning the permissions on files to which I may have an answer to the inquiry.

On a file creation, my server has been set up with permissions for only the user able to write to files and all able to read

When a file is created by php the user group is apache with restricted permissions that my user name cannot change

I understand that the restricted permissions on file creation is a server setting.

As I have my own server in my ISP's office, I have access to the 'Plesk' front end but so far have not found how to change.

DanLew · #10 (**permalink**) 08-06-2008, 11:01 PM

Are you using firefox 3? There are some slight bugs that I have found in this, including misalignment of some tables etc. This could maybe have differences when browsing locally or not?