Fetch Softworks

Can't Delete Directories (6 posts)

• Started 20 years ago by normanb
• Latest reply 19 years ago from Jim Matthews

• normanb Member

  I have Fetch 4.0.3 under OS 10.2.6. When I try to delete a sub directory in the www directory of our web server by hitting the command-delete key, all the items are deleted in the sub directory, but the empty directory itself remains. I get a Fetch error message that says, "Server file error mydiretoryname. The directory is not empty." I've notified the administrator of our server (an outside provider) and he says he has no problem deleting directories and says he is helpless since he doesn't use a Mac but concludes that it must be a problem with my FTP program (i.e. Fetch). Can you help? Be gentle. I'm not real techy.

  Posted 20 years ago #

• Jim Matthews Administrator

  The problem is that the directory is not empty, but the server is telling Fetch that it is (and Fetch can't delete items that it can't see). One possible work-around is to check "Send LIST -al to UNIX servers" in the "Obscure Options" menu in the Misc. section of Preferences.

  Thanks,

  Jim Matthews
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 20 years ago #

• bingalls Member

  I had the same problem. Admin. told me there were files in there that my mac was not letting me see. Probably got there by uploading entire directory from mac rather then one file at a time.

  Your solution allowed me to delete th entire directory without any error messages. My question is what dioes that obscure command tell the Unix box to do?

  Thank you.

  Posted 19 years ago #

• Jim Matthews Administrator

  Servers are supposed to tell FTP clients about all the files in a folder, but some don't unless the FTP client (i.e. Fetch) sends a non-standard command (LIST -al). That works around the server bug.

  Thanks,

  Jim Matthews
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 19 years ago #

• alchemydesign Member

  Sorry for resurrecting an old post, but I wanted to add something. This works for UNIX servers but does anyone have a workaround for Windows servers? The invisible .DS_Store files that sometimes get uploaded with sites cause this error all the time when I am trying to delete directories.

  Posted 19 years ago #

• Jim Matthews Administrator

  We're working on extending the "Send LIST -al" option to cover Windows servers as well. Currently you can use the "Send FTP Command(s)..." command in the Remote menu to send the "LIST -al" command and see the name of the invisible file or files. Then you can choose "Delete directory or file..." with the Option key pressed to delete a file that is not in the file list.

  Thanks,

  Jim Matthews
  Fetch Softworks

  Posted 19 years ago #