Recreate Domain File?

I created a web site to publish to my own server/domain name. Since then, somehow my Domain file on the hard drive is gone, but i still have all of the website files in the local folder I published to before I ftp'ed to the server. Is there a way to recreate the Domain file using the website files? Or will I have to start all over and recreate the site.
Also, I am a new mac user, but is there any way to "revert back" to a previous date and the hard drive on that date (this is a common trick for Windows XP to recover from a virus, etc)
thanks
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.7)

oldpcuser...
I'm sorry to be the one to break this to you (and I sense that you already know this is coming), but there is no way for you to recreate the Domain file once it is deleted. There is no way to "import" already published website files back into iWeb for editing. This is simply not the way things work with iWeb. So you will have to recreate your site in this situation.
As far as you missing Domain file goes, is there any reason that it might be missing? Have you ever moved it from its default location? (Users/yourname/Library/Application Support/iWeb/) Have you done a Spotlight search on Domain or Domain.sites?
There is no way to do a system restore to a previous date like on Windows. I think the next version of OSX is going to give us something similar with "Time Machine"...but that is off in the future.

Similar Messages

"short" urls and multiple domain files

In http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=655367&tstart=0,
Apnewbie said:
"If you have separate sites with separate Domain files and published separately to .Mac, they will be listed on your iDisk in alphabetical order and your short .Mac url will point to the one at the top of the list on the iDisk."
I'm thinking about splitting my domain file, as my sites are growing large and it is time consuming for iWeb to recreate all the pages when I've only changed one site. I'd like to keep a particular "site" (consisting of one page with links to my other "real" sites) at the top of the list so it is always what appears when folks go to my short url. Are than any non-alphanumeric characters that I can use at the begin that won't cause problems for browsers?
Does this mean that if my preferred "top site" is in domain file A and I publish domain file B after I've published domain A, the "top site" will still be the site at the short url?
Also, can somebody please remind me again how to use a link in the forums here but have text other than the full url show up? I think I've done it before, but I've forgotten.
iBook G4 14 in Mac OS X (10.4.7) iMac 400 MHz G3 OS 9.2.2

Apnewbie said:
"If you have separate sites with separate Domain
files and published separately to .Mac, they will be
listed on your iDisk in alphabetical order and your
short .Mac url will point to the one at the top of
the list on the iDisk."
I spoke too soon on this and a correction is needed. When you publish to .Mac using individual Domain files, your short url will point to the most recently published index.html file, which will then take you to your most recently published site. I tested this just prior to that last statement in that post and my browser cache tripped me up here.
I'm thinking about splitting my domain file, as my
sites are growing large and it is time consuming for
iWeb to recreate all the pages when I've only changed
one site. I'd like to keep a particular "site"
(consisting of one page with links to my other "real"
sites) at the top of the list so it is always what
appears when folks go to my short url. Are than any
non-alphanumeric characters that I can use at the
begin that won't cause problems for browsers?
I don't think that's necessary; you can keep a copy of the index.html file which points to your preferred site and place it back on your iDisk after publishing any site to force your short url to point to the site of your choice.
Does this mean that if my preferred "top site" is in
domain file A and I publish domain file B
after I've published domain A, the "top site"
will still be the site at the short url?
Again, the short url will point to the most recently published index.html file in .Mac. Sorry for the confusion.

Please Help! Can't Find iWeb Domain File!

Hi! Need to know if I'm jacked up or if a miracle can occur!
I created a website in December using iWeb. Site was published and everything was fine. When I went to update it yesterday, it no longer shows up in iWeb! All of the supporting files are on my iDisk in the Web/Sites folder. However, when I searched for the domain in the ~/Library/Application Support/iWeb files and double-clicked it, a different site that I was training on opens up. The training site's supporting files are in their own folder on iDisk. Also, the training site was named differently than my published site. I did a search for all domains and opened them, but none are my published site.
Is there a way to get back the domain file or do I have to recreate the site again?
Any help is appreciated--thanks!

Roxanne, when I do a search via spotlight mine doesn't show up either. Your domain.sites2 file is likely seen as a system file. Have you done a search via finder for a filename 'domain' that is of the kind 'system'?
If not, then do this. From finder, select command+F. When the finder window opens, search 'this mac'. Click on the 'kind' button, and if it is available select 'system files'. If that is not an option, then at the bottom of the list select 'other'. That will open up a new menu of items to include under your search items. Scroll down until you find 'System files'. Select the check box to the right of 'System files' so that they will show up in your search results.
When you go back to your search window you will now be able to search for files with the name 'domain' in them. Select 'System Files' in the 'kind' drop down menu, and then make sure you select 'ARE INCLUDED' in drop down menu right next to where it shows 'system files'.
If you'd like, click on this link for a screen shot of my finder set up to search for a system file with name domain.
I hope it turns up for you!
http://www.indy-archer.com/downloads/finder_screenshot.jpg

Quits unexpectedly, can not load Domain file

iWeb quits unexpectedly on loading of my Domain file. This issue began after my last update and save.. I also recently upgraded to 10.5.
I have tried repairing permissions, deleting the preferences, moving the Domain to my other Mac (which is also in 10.5) and nothing seems to work.
Is anyone else having this issue? Fortunately I have a pervious version of my Domain backed up, it still opens but once I make the same changes, adding galleries, it then because unusable.

Update...
I installed 10.4.11 on an external drive. Then I installed the iLife support files ONLY. I then opened my archived, working, Domain file. Once opened I then, made a change, saved, quit. Then I opened the same file, made a change, saved then quit, then I repeated this about 4 more times. THEN! switched back to 10.5 and opened the same Domain, made a change saved and quit and guess what? the Domain causes iWeb to unexpectedly quit!!!!! so my Domain file is fine, it is something to do with 10.5 that is causing the corruption (I should note that once saved under 10.5 the Domain no longer works in 10.4). UGH!!!
Also, I have studied the xml source pretty well and I was able, in 10.5, to recreate two of my sites just by (step 1) making a Domain that resembled my working Domain, including names of pages etc.. I did this so that iWeb would set up the correct format for the metadata. I then (step 2) copied the site-page content from the non-working Domain to the working Domain and all was well, working, savable, and able to be reopened, BUT, it takes time because some things need to be updated and I would rather not go this direction but it does seem to work.
So, my conclusion is that there is nothing wrong with the Domain until saved under 10.5 and that the xml in the index.xml file is still good regardless of the Domain not opening.. my feelings are that there is something up with permissions.. reason being that I was given a Flash file today and can not export a swf from it, says that the name is too long or that it is locked, neither is true and if I go to 10.4 I have no problem using it.
Not sure if any of this info helps anyone.
Message was edited by: Shawn Towne

Create a domain file for iweb

Hi all,
I've recently purchased a new MBP and would like to move the iWeb sites to the new computer. However, the domain in my user/ library/app support/iWeb has a domain from a really old site that I no longer use. How do I go about finding the domains fornthe current websites, or is there a way to recreate it?
Thanks

In Lion and Mountain Lion the Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
To open your domain file in Lion or Mt. Lion or to switch between multiple domain files Cyclosaurus has provided us with the following script that you can make into an Applescript application with Script Editor. Open Script Editor, copy and paste the script below into Script Editor's window and save as an application.
do shell script "/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.iWeb iWebDefaultsDocumentPath -boolean no"delay 1
tell application "iWeb" to activate
You can download an already compiled version with this link: iWeb Switch Domain.
Just launch the application, find and select the domain file you want to open and it will open with iWeb. It modifies the iWeb preference file each time it's launched so one can switch between domain files.
WARNING: iWeb Switch Domain will overwrite an existing Domain.sites2 file if you select to create a new domain in the same folder. So rename your domain files once they've been created to something other than the default name.
OT

How can I replace just the corrupt page(s) in the domain file of iWeb using Time Machine?

I back up with Time Machine and have an extensive elaborate website I created in iWeb '09 over a couple months and publish to a local folder and then upload to my server, but in the last few days I notice certain pages (that I haven't even worked on or touched) somehow become corrupted or "cross-contaminated" with elements and images from other pages. Once I see they are corrupt I make sure not to publish them (if the current published versions are the correct, non-corrupt versions) or if they did get published I can use Time Machine to retrieve the .html file and page files folder for that specific page and replace it in my published folder/server so it shows correctly on the Web. However, that does not replace the corrupted page(s) you see and work with when you launch iWeb and try to edit or continue working on that page.
I am confused as to how I go to the package contents of the domain file and replace just that page with a previous version from time machine. I don't want to replace the entire domain file because I have new changes I made to other pages even in the past hours. How can I keep the good pages and just get earlier, non-corrupted versions of the corrupt page(s)? I know it's not as easy as with the published site folder where you can just replace the page's .html file and folder, but I don't want to have to re-create the corrupted page(s) from scratch or have to replace it with the last non-corrupted domain file and then have to redo all my recent changes to new pages I made before discovering the corrupt page(s). Thanks for your help as now I can't make changes to the page(s) within iWeb itself.

Thanks for the response, Wyodor. I don't know what that is, but I'll have a look. Is it an alternative to iWeb or a way to transfer pre-existing iWeb sites? When you say merge domain files, is that like so multiple copies of the same site show up then you can pick and choose the non-corrupted pages and group them then delete the corrupted ones? I am on Snow Leopard with no plans or need to upgrade anytime soon.
And yes, I will read your links but just wanted to ask those questions. Maybe they'll answer my questions, maybe not.
I was able to discern that within the domain file is a domain folder with all the site folders, each with their own page ".gz" files which expand into ".xml" files. I was trying to figure out if you could simply drag the corrupt pages out that way and replace them with backup copies that are still good. I am having trouble discerning which pages are which as they all have random names like site-page-30F175E3-AE33-4F10-A490-1A096D9B185B.xml and although I expanded and opened each in Text Wrangler, I still couldn't discern which were which for sure, and trial and error proved cumbersome. Also, I did notice some of the later corrupted domain files had one or two more pages than the site itself has, so not sure how they got added or duplicated or what.
Again, I'll look at your links, but do you know about swapping out individual page .xml files this way within the domain file?

LOST MY DOMAIN FILE AND INDEX DOESNT WORK :(

HI, I got a really big problem here. Recently i got broken imagines on my web which i made it via iweb. Then sudently, my domain file is blank, and my index.html aswell! - i only have my other html files. SO are there anyway that could save me from this?! - I really dont hope that i have to start over. I read that iweb cant read html.file, but does apple have any apps that can read html files and publish it?
HELP ME PLEASE

What version of OS X are you using?

I can't open an old Domain file

About two years ago I made a website for my dad. www.larrylewisphotography.com. Well I have finally set up an etsy store to sell his photographs and I need to get back in and link the "order online" tab with the new domain for his etsy store. I have since purchased a new computer and have even upgraded HDD's over the past two years. I have saved the original Domain file which holds all the info for the website. When I tried to open it today with iWeb all it does is opens up a new templte for me!
I really don't want to have to redo everything on the webiste! When I checked in the package contents of the domain file everything is still there. iWeb just won't open it.
Does anybody have any suggestions?

In Lion the Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
Once you get the library visible remove the new domain file from the iWeb folder and put your original file there. Then open your domain file in Lion with the following script that Cyclosaurus has provided us with. You can compile it into an Applescript application with Script Editor. Open Script Editor, copy and paste the script below into Script Editor's window and save as an application.
Just launch the applicaiton, find and select the domain file you want to open and it will open with iWeb. It modifies the iWeb preference file each time it's launched so one can switch between domain files.
do shell script "/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.iWeb iWebDefaultsDocumentPath -boolean no"delay 1
tell application "iWeb" to activate
You can download an already compiiled version with this link: iWeb Switch Domain.
WARNING: iWeb Switch Domain will overwrite an existing Domain.sites2 file if you select to create a new domain in the same folder. So rename your domain files once they've been created to something other than the default name.
OT

HT2548 how do i copy the domain file from OS 10.4 to a lion OS computer? I made a copy of the domain file and copied it to my new computer, but it doesn't open in iweb when I double-click on it.

How do I import an iweb domain file from an ibook (OS 10.4) to an imac (OS 10.73)?
I copied the domain file from my ibook to my imac, but when I double-click on the file, it doesn't open in iweb.

In Lion the Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder. Then place the domain file in your Users/Home/Library/Application Support/iWeb folder.
To open your domain file in Lion or to switch between multiple domain files Cyclosaurus has provided us with the following script that you can make into an Applescript application with Script Editor. Open Script Editor, copy and paste the script below into Script Editor's window and save as an application.
do shell script "/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.iWeb iWebDefaultsDocumentPath -boolean no"delay 1
tell application "iWeb" to activate
You can download an already compiled version with this link: iWeb Switch Domain.
Just launch the application, find and select the domain file you want to open and it will open with iWeb. It modifies the iWeb preference file each time it's launched so one can switch between domain files.
WARNING: iWeb Switch Domain will overwrite an existing Domain.sites2 file if you select to create a new domain in the same folder. So rename your domain files once they've been created to something other than the default name.
OT

IWeb "Domain" File Not Opening in Mavericks

I just bought a new Mac Pro and converted everything over from my early 2008 Mac Pro. However, my iWeb Domain file will not open in the new Mac. It defaults to the start up iWeb page asking me to choose a new template.
Facts:
1- Both systems are running same version of Mavericks.
2- Both systems are running same version of iWeb.
3- In the Early Mac system, when I open iWeb, the Domain automatically opens. In new Mac it opens to the "choose a template for your webpage" option. Same result if I double click on the actual Domain file.
Troubleshooting already done:
1- Confirmed this is the only Domain file on the system
2- Opened same file on old system to ensure it is a valid Domain file
3- Re saved in old system and transferred over to new system. Same result when opening.
Thank you in advance for any insights on this.

To open your domain file in Lion or Mountain Lion or to switch between multiple domain files Cyclosaurus has provided us with the following script that you can make into an Applescript application with Script Editor. Open Script Editor, copy and paste the script below into Script Editor's window and save as an application.
do shell script "/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.iWeb iWebDefaultsDocumentPath -boolean no"delay 1
tell application "iWeb" to activate
You can download an already compiled version with this link: iWeb Switch Domain.
Just launch the application, find and select the domain file in your Home/Library/Application Support/iWeb folder that you want to open and it will open with iWeb. It modifies the iWeb preference file each time it's launched so one can switch between domain files.
WARNING: iWeb Switch Domain will overwrite an existing Domain.sites2 file if you select to create a new domain in the same folder. So rename your domain files once they've been created to something other than the default name.
NOTE: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Home/Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible in Lion or Mt. Lion enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and press the Return key - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
For Mavericks, 10.9, go to your Home folder and use the View ➙ Show View Optionsmenu to bring the this window:
OT

Domain file does not open my iWeb websites after upgrading to Mavericks

I just upgraded to mavericks so i could use Media Composer to edit my new movie.
I backed up my computer and saved my domain file (which is over 1 gig large, as it has several websites I manage)
I went back to my original CD of iLife and re-installed iWeb
I then copied my backup of my domain file onto the library>application support>iWeb folder
iWeb program opens
but my website and their pages/files do not show on the left hand menu.
I have read on here that i need iWeb 09 (version 3.0) instead of iWeb 08 (version 2.0) but I cannot find such version in the apple website
When I check for upgrades it looks like my iWeb 2.0 (from my iLife 08) is the latest version.
Can someone help?
In the icon of the domain file which I backed up I see an image of the last page I updated before my back up.
I am assuming all the info is there but for some reason Mavericks is not allowing iWeb to see them?
Thanks in advance!

To open your domain file in Lion, Mountain Lion or Mavericks or to switch between multiple domain files Cyclosaurus has provided us with the following script that you can make into an Applescript application with Script Editor. Open Script Editor, copy and paste the script below into Script Editor's window and save as an application.
do shell script"/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.iWeb iWebDefaultsDocumentPath -boolean no"
delay 1
tell application "iWeb" to activate
You can download an already compiled version with this link: iWeb Switch Domain.
Just launch the application, find and select the domain file in your Home/Library/Application Support/iWeb folder that you want to open and it will open with iWeb. It modifies the iWeb preference file each time it's launched so one can switch between domain files.
WARNING: iWeb Switch Domain will overwrite an existing Domain.sites2 file if you select to create a new domain in the same folder. So rename your domain files once they've been created to something other than the default name.
NOTE: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Home/Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible in Lion or Mt. Lion enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and press the Return key - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
For Mavericks, 10.9, go to your Home folder and use the View ➙ Show View Optionsmenu to bring the this window:

Multiple Domain files, Multiple Sites, Publishing Problems

I am frustrated beyond belief. I'm an old hand-coder, coming from BBEdit, but I've been using iWeb almost exclusively since its release, because it really is a great product for quick, easy, stylish designs.
However.... In that year, my collection of sites has grown to 12. Discovering that iWeb becomes a major dog when dealing with that much material, I found and followed the instructions - today - to separate my sites into individual domain files, and edit them individually. iWeb is much snappier and publishing goes much more quickly.
The problem? Well... after editing, "Publish to .Mac" rarely works. Only "Publish All to .Mac" will get the site online (something about an error with the index.html file). But "Publish All to .Mac", I've just discovered, DELETES the other websites that I have previous published. All day I've been doing updates and publishing my sites, only to discover that the uploads have all been wiped out by the most recent one!
I'm a big enough fellow to admit that my knowledge isn't total nor perfect - so please, would someone out there with a better handle on iWeb than I (preferably someone who actually deals with multiple domain files rather than someone who thinks they can guess the problem) please clue me into how we make use of this program non-destructively?
I suppose I could always publish everything to folders and upload it to my iDisk (which itself remains ridiculously slow after how many years now? Sheesh!), but that detracts from the elegance of the .Mac integration, the counter features, - not to mention the little fact that I'm a paying .Mac customer and this darn thing should just work, no?

Mark:
I was where you were also. You should give iWebSites a try. It's to iWeb what iPhoto Library Manager is to iPhoto.
I use iWebSites to manage multiple sites.. It lets me create multiple sites and multiple domain files.
If you have multiple sites in one domain file here's the workflow I used to split them into individual site files with iWebSites. Be sure to make a backup copy of your Domain.sites files before starting the splitting process.
This lets me edit several sites and only republish the one I want. Just remember to put a copy of your current Domain.sites file somewhere else on your HD in case the splitting gets messed up. It went very smoothly for me and I now manage 19 or so sites.
Do you Twango?

How do i open iweb files on a different computer than what I created them on? - Domain file can't be opened

I started a web page in the lab at school and want to open the file here on my computer. I saved the application support/iweb/domain file and have tried to replace the old one with it, but that doesnt work. I looked up where you can delete the last string in the com.apple.iweb.plist file but that would not work either. I've got the site published to a folder and the domain file saved and with me but thats all

Put the copied domain file somewhere, or rename it and put it in the Application Support/iWeb folder, and double-click it. That should open it.

Multiple Domain Files

A lot of questions are asked in this forum about managing multiple domain files and splitting existing ones.
The "solutions" seem to be either to use an application such as iWebsites or to duplicate the domain file into folders and delete the appropriate sites.
When I first loaded iWeb '08, I kept a copy of a blank domain file and use this to start a new site by duplicating it into a new folder and double clicking it to launch iWeb.
My main reason for doing this was to overcome the inability of iWeb to create a new domain file from the "File" menu.
I have stayed with this, not only for speed and convenience, but because I read this...
http://11mystics.com/blog/2007/09/08/how-do-you-manage-multiple-domain-files-for -iweb/
and also this....
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6261141&#6261141
These comments are from two people who dig deep under the hood of iWeb and whose opinions I respect and have taken to heart.
Is this the best way to create new domain files?
Am I being over cautious?
Am I totally deluded?
The last question is open to psycho therapists only !

UUIDs are like finger prints in Domain.sites2. There are ways to start new Domain.sites2 without duplicate an existing one:
1) move the last accessed Domain.sites(2) from its location, or rename the holding folder.
2) change com.apple.iWeb.plist setting, I post the procedure here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6007612&#6007612
This can be done with AppleScript or Unix shell script. Doing so will get you new Domain with new UUID.
When you duplicate a blank domain, you also duplicate its UUIDs, as of now there seems to be OK as long as you keep domain separate. However, we do not know what Apple will do in the future releases, here is UUIDs usage progression in iWeb:
We did not see much of them in iWeb1, because iWeb1 Domain.sites is flat structure.
We see UUIDs everywhere in iWeb2 Domain.sites2, from top to bottom; every page has it own UUID.
So, I would be skeptic about having duplicate UUIDs; even in separate domain packages.
I ran a cross this when a friend asked me to merge his Domain.sites2 packages, and I thought people should be aware of it.
I ended up write Applescript applications to merge, extract sites and clean existing Domain.sites2 package by assign new UUIDs.

How do I get my Old iWeb Sites off my External HD (1 Domain file) and onto my new internal HD?

I justrecently had to replace my internal HD on my iMac. Before doing it, I backed up my 2 iWeb Sites (the Domain File) onto my external HD.
Now I have a new Internal HD on my iMac.
When I open my domain file located on my external HD, iWeb opens. Now I'd like to save the file back onto my internal HD.
How do I save my 2 web sites that I now see on the left back onto my internal HD. (When I click on "File", "Save", it just saves it again on the external HD, because it's reading the file from the external HD?)
Thanks....
Brian

You need to copy the domain.sites file from the external hard drive into your Users/Home/Library/Application Support/iWeb folder on the new hard drive. If there is no iWeb folder in the Applicaiton Support folder create one.
Be sure it's your home library that you're working in.
Happy Holidays

Recreate Domain File?

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