It is not obvious either from the PDF help nor from the videos that if even one user is selected for the Root, the entire site is locked. This should be, to borrow from an old song, in capital letters and quotated in the Help file and in the program.

It took way more time than it should have chasing down the reason why the entire site was password-protected.

Given the difficulty this can inadvertently cause, is there any particular reason why the root directory is selected by default - and must be de-selected on a user-by-user basis?

Paul, You may be having some difficulties but look at it this way. If your site was completely accessible before you used WAM and not accessible after, you now know you protected the ROOT. WAM is a very powerful program and once you kick the tires a few times you'll be manipulating you site access within a few seconds. I think the unfamiliarity is the biggest obstacle. I know it took me a few times of using it to get comfy.

Sorry, but that's akin to saying "If you car stopped before you replaced your own brakes and didn't stop after, you know you did something wrong." It's a preventable issue, and the suggested precautions should, IMO, be taken into consideration.

You follow the directions in the Help file and in the helpful videos (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4B2DD3C9D73C0457&feature=plcp) - and then carefully de-select the root folder (it's just a "/") from each user. Do not miss one!

(Rolly, I apologize for my initial cranky response - I'd been struggling for hours and made that frustrated post shortly after midnight. )



I certainly won't argue with that - it is a powerful program, and now that I know what to do, it's doing what I need.

If I might make another suggestion, and as long as we need to know what's going on "under the hood" in .htaccess, how about a way to edit the .htaccess file within the program? --With appropriate buzzers and Stern Warnings, of course. Or, perhaps, a means to add/delete certain parameters.

In my case, I've protected a directory, but wanted to change the default document in it to "member-index.html". I now need to use WAM to upload its files, then download .htaccess, add the DirectoryIndex parameter, and then re-upload it.

Okay, not to flog a dead horse here, but I need a very (VERY) basic explanation.

So, do I understand correctly?

- No matter HOW MANY users are shown in the root directory (/), so long as there are NO check marks next to the user names when that root directory is selected, the MAIN website is visible to the public.
- Any folder/page/etc. that shows even just ONE user with a check mark next to their name will be protected from the public and need a "supplied" password to access it.
- Any OTHER folder will be visible, no matter HOW MANY users are shown, so long as NO check marks are next to the user names.

Did I understand correctly?

That's basically the way it works. Check marks next to names when you click a directory means that user has access.

Thanks Rolly!
Seems simple enough but I got so frustrated with it 2 years ago, I quit trying to figure it out.
Ready for Round 2 now!