IWeb quits 'unexpectedly'...how do I get it to work/

Question

I have a website on iWeb, and I have all of a sudden had a problem opening it. I click on the icon on my dock, and it starts to bounce, but after 15-20 seconds it gives me a message saying 'the application iWeb quit unexpectedly'. I have tried relaunching it, and even did a utility check and fix to make sure there wasn't something there making it do it.
Can't get it to work...help???
Mahalo...George

Answer 1

George:
If you install iLife 09, that will likely fix your problem. ( unless the problem isn't really iWeb)
Do copy your domain file and move it out of the <user/library/application support/iWeb/> before you run the iWeb 09 application. Yes, this is a straight forward drag and drop operation.
<user/library.......> is a description of the location of the domain file. Here's what it means:
<user> (a little house icon in the left-hand side bar of any folder, if the side bar isn't visible, click on the oval button in the upper right hand corner of a folder to hide/ display the side bar) is usually what you've named the folder of the computer that has your personal settings for applications etc.
Double click on your user icon ( the little house) and you should see a list of folders, find the folder called <library>, double click on it, find the folder called <application support>, double click on it to reveal it's contents, find the folder called < iWeb> and you should find your domain file in that folder. Copy it (the drag and drop operation to an external drive should copy it rather than just move it. You want to copy (as opposed to <move> it so it remains in the original folder and is duplicated to a safe place on an external hard drive.
When iWeb 09 opens the domain file it will modify it and iWeb 08 will no longer be able to edit the domain file. (but with a copy of the domain file safely out of the <user/library/application support/iWeb/> iWeb 08 will still be able to edit the domain file you copied and moved.
This is a safety precaution in case something goes wrong with the update process you will still be able to edit your existing work with iWeb 08. ( you could always reinstall 08 )
To try to clarify and answer part of your question:
iWeb only edits the domain file (located on your computer), this one file is where all your editing work is stored.
When you publish to a server (or folder for that matter) the iWeb application no longer interacts with the published site. iWeb only edits your domain file. only when you hit the publish button do the changes you've made to your domain file overwrite the published site.
The domain file and the published site are two completely different things.
Hope this helps, David