SID-01268: file:// no longer work with Explorer

Status:	Answered	TWiki version:	4.3.1	Perl version:
Category:	CategoryRendering	Server OS:	Ubuntu	Last update:	14 years ago

Hi

Our Twiki has ran for years without issues. We have a lot pages with documents linked to the file server using file://fileserver/directory/filename

Suddently for the past few days, nobody can access the files using Explorer. When you click on the link, nothing happens.

As far as I know, nothing changed on twiki. I rebooted the server, but it made no difference.

Would someone know what I can do to debug and hopefully fix the issue?

Thanks

-- VincentCommarieu - 2011-09-07

Discussion and Answer

Look at the raw HTML text of a rendered TWiki page, here on TWiki.org on FF above link renders as: <a href="file://fileserver/directory/filename" target="_top">file://fileserver/directory/filename</a>

The following configure setting (in twiki/lib/LocalSite.cfg) determines what protocols are linked automatically:

$TWiki::cfg{LinkProtocolPattern} = '(file|ftp|gopher|https|http|irc|mailto|news|nntp|telnet)';

-- PeterThoeny - 2011-09-08

Also check, does your IT prohibit file links by policy?

-- PeterThoeny - 2011-09-08

Thanks Peter for your help.

I am no expert, so please bear with me. I looked at the source page and here is one example: <li> <a href="file:///\\Hydra\hr\Forms\LeaveForm.doc" target="_top">Leave Approval Form</a>

I removed the /// at the beginning but it did not make a difference.

I checked the LocalSite.cfg and it looks the same as yours

What do you mean by 'prohibit file links by policy?

Because the issue affects all users, and in so many areas of the twiki, it looks like something major has changed somewhere, but I have no idea where.

Thanks

-- VincentCommarieu - 2011-09-08

Try variants of the link, such as <a href="file://\\Hydra\hr\Forms\LeaveForm.doc" target="_top">Leave Approval Form</a>

Some IT orgs push policies to Windows machines. Not sure if possible, but it could be that your IT prohibits (e.g. disables) file:// links in IE.

-- PeterThoeny - 2011-09-08

No difference with the variant. We do not have group policies for IE.

I copied/pasted file://\\Hydra\hr\Forms\LeaveForm.doc directly to IE and it does work.

What else could it be?!!

-- VincentCommarieu - 2011-09-08

What URL do you get in your browser when you click on file://\\Hydra\hr\Forms\LeaveForm.doc here on twiki.org?

-- PeterThoeny - 2011-09-08

Nothing. same as in the office!

-- VincentCommarieu - 2011-09-09

-- VincentCommarieu - 2011-09-09

I have found the problem! In IE, in Securty settings, I added the twiki web site to the "Trusted Sites" and everything worked.

Not sure why it is needed now, my guess is that a Microsoft update must have changed all our IE security settings

Thanks again for your help

-- VincentCommarieu - 2011-09-09

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