direct path to .pmf opens OK but URL not

[grnzbra]

Using IE 6, entering into the Address field, the direct path to a .pmf file, causes the map reader to open and display the map. If I enter the URL for the same file, I get a 404 message saying it can't find the file. If I do the same thing with a .pdf file in the same problem, the adobe reader opens and displays the document using both methods.

What could be causing this?

 

[smah]

Sounds like a server configuration problem (permissions on the .pmf file, maybe). Can you give more details?

 

[grnzbra]

There aren't many more details. The .pmf file is a published map file consisting of "layers" such as states, zipcodes, office locations etc. It is created on a program similar to Adobe and read with a program similar to Adobe reader. The people using the reader can turn layer on and off and can zoom in and out and print the result. They cannot see the underlying tables and cannot make changes. The only difference is that with the .pdf file, adobe seems to open within the IE window while when the .pmf file is opened by entering the direct path, the reader is opened as a separate application.

I've tried entering the URL into the address field of IE and have tried using a redirect. In both cases, it is the same; a .pdf or .html file in the same folder as the .pmf file will open but trying the same with the .pmf file gives the 404 error.

 

[smah]

As I read your post, when you say "url", this implies that a web server is serving the file to the client. When you say "path", this implies a file server is providing the file to the client. Each would have it's own configuration & permissions - it is quite possible that it can be read on the file server, but the web server might not have permission to read the file. Incedentally, both of these 'servers' can be the same physical machine.

 

[grnzbra]

That's about it. Finally solved the problem. Went to
Windows Explorer>Tools>Folder Options>File Types and looked up the .pmf extension to get the File type.

With that, I went to
Start>All Programs>Administrative Tools>Internet Information Services Manager
Right Click on the computer and select Properties
In the pop-up, click on MIME Types
In the next pop-up, click New and add the info on the new extension.

That solved the immediate problem of the 404 error.