When "Re-Syinc Website..." I get the Above Error. It show up AFTER it says" "Currently Publishing: .htaccess" That's a file I added to my "RulesRegs" directory (directory added with your Edit/Add Files...) that contains all my Condo PDF files. I add all the PDF files in that directory, did your Publishing function which copied all those files over to your files/download directory. Then I add the file .htaccess the same way but I'm guessing that when your Publishing function tries to copy it to the file/download directory it dies and displays the error message.

This .htaccess file is supposed to password protect all the Condo PDF files that that RulesRegs directory. I can't seem to get it to work! I guess I really don't understand what is happening during the Publish function.

Help me
Richard Bowhall

I think, if I have this right, you will need to FTP that .htaccess file after you upload your site. DO NOT add it to VSD. Reason is that MOST servers will not allow you to upload that file as it poses a security risk if anyone can upload it. SOME servers will not let you FTP it either. In that case simply rename it as htaccess.txt and FTP it to your site, then rename it after it is uploaded.

That kind of makes sense, but do I upload to my files/download directory (on my server)???

You would publish your site to your ROOT, or to whatever sub-dir you want it in. As an example I have a 'test' site at
http://gunsmoke.me/h/coffee and if I were to use an .htaccess file for that site then that is where I would put it.

That said, I don't know everything. Some sites have an .htaccess file in the ROOT ( say http://gunsmoke.me) that affects other directories. I guess it would depend on what you are trying to do. Coffeecup has a PDF book explaining htaccess here https://www.coffeecup.com/store/ It's $8 but it might be worth looking at. Or you could just google and see what you get.

Ok... I finally got it to work the way I wanted it!!! Here's the story (if your interested):

My website is for the Condo I live in. Using this VSD program it was really easy to create my pages with all the links and stuff. Then I wanted to add our Condo Documents but have them password protected (per my Condo Director President).
So, using VSD I created a folder called "RulesRegs" using the 'Add Files' function under Edit. Then put all the PDF files that contain the rules & Regs. I also have about 4 other PDF files that I do not want password protected, and I put them in the ROOT directory. However, when you do the 'Publish' command, the VSD programs copies all my PDF files to their "files/download" directory. Putting .htacess in my "RulesRegs" directory doesn't work, because VSD looks in the 'files/download' directory....... If I put the .htacess in that 'files/download directory, then ALL the PDF files are PW protected. Including the 4 PDF files I mentioned! Still with me? So, either I'm doing something wrong, or ... I don't know!!
I can tell you how I fixed it if you're interested...

Rich

Okay, I wasn't sure what it was you were trying to do there. You're close. You don't have to use the Edit/add files option to add your PDFs to the site! What you do is create a link to your PDF, either a button or text, then use the 'link' button off the top menu. Then use the 'Add document' option from that link options box. This will add your pdf to VSD. Then to password protect just the folder OR just the individual PDF files you can use Coffeecups Website Access Manager (WAM). It will let you protect folders and/or specific files and grant access to them only if you have added the user to the access list and only if that user has the password you provide them. WAM creates the .htaccess files you need automatically.

However, if you have it working just disregard this!

This might be easier to do from within the hosting control panel/dashboard.
Create the password-protected folder, then use the add files browser to put the PDFs into it.

Don't include or upload any of those PDFs in VSD, just create your links in VSD, when the links are clicked the username/password panel will open.

Way to easy paintbrush!

If you go that route wouldn't all users with the password have access to all PDFs? I guess that works, but, if you want some users to access 1 PDF and others to only access another...well...

I would do a folder for all users who need access to the rules/regs PDFs. Or are there different PDFs for each user? Guess I assumed these PDFs would be made available to a limited group (the condo board for example).

I was going to have one username like: ILIVEHERE and a Password. Then when a condo owner wants to look at the docs, he has to ask the President of the condo.... or me.

I downloaded the Coffeecups Website Access Manager (WAM), and now I'm having problems with THAT!!! I add a user, give him access to ONE PDF file. and I get the following error message for any PDF file I try to open:

Internal Server Error
The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.
Please contact the server administrator, and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.
More information about this error may be available in the server error log.
Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

What the Heck