Filebox - Frequently Asked Questions

Does Filebox support CGI/PERL, ASP, PHP, JSP, etc.?

Does Filebox support Frontpage extensions?

Why am I able to edit some files using the Web interface, but not others?

May I keep my Filebox account if I leave Virginia Tech?

Can I put a Web form on my Filebox page?

If you have additional questions regarding Filebox, please send an e-mail message to filebox@vt.edu.

Does Filebox support CGI/PERL, ASP, PHP, JSP, etc.?

No, currently Filebox does not support any server-sided scripting language. However, we provide some ready-made tools and scripts for commonly requested services. For more information, see the Webmaster's toolkit (http://computing.vt.edu/internet_and_web/web_publishing/webmasters_toolkit/index.html).

If you just need limited dynamic functionality (current date, last modified date, file includes) consider using Server Side Includes (SSI).

Does Filebox support Frontpage extensions?

Frontpage extensions (method to update files on a Web server and run predefined scripts) are not installed. Nevertheless, you can use Frontpage in conjunction with WebDrive for convenient update of your Web pages.

Why am I able to edit some files using the Web interface, but not others?

Only HTML and text files (file extensions .htm, .html, .txt, .xml) can be edited using the Web interface and therefore have a little edit button appearing beside their names. Also, a 100 KB size limitation applies. Files exceeding this limit cannot be edited via the Web. It is ok if you edit a file and it exceeds 100 KB due to the additions you made, as long as the total size after edit is smaller than 200 KB.

These restrictions were put in place to avoid performance problems with big files and the destruction of binary files like executables, and Microsoft Word or Excel files.

If you have a file with a file extension differing from the ones listed above but you still want to edit the file, just rename the file extension to .txt temporarily, edit the file and rename it back. Only use this method on ASCII files. Binary files should not be edited this way.

May I keep my account if I leave Virginia Tech?

No, we delete fileboxes of former students, faculty and staff who have been gone from Virginia Tech for 6 months.  Virginia Tech alums can get an alumni PID, but it will not have log on access to Filebox (even though it may be identical to the previous student PID).

Therefore, please make sure that you keep a backup of everything in your filebox that you do not want to lose when you graduate or otherwise leave Virginia Tech.  After your PID is deleted, even though the filebox may still exist, your access at best will be 'read only', if you haven't further restricted access.  

We will archive all fileboxes prior to deleting them. Archived fileboxes will be retained for 2 years past the date that they were archived.

If you know that you do not want the contents of your filebox after leaving Virginia Tech, please send an e-mail message to filebox@vt.edu requesting that your filebox be deleted. In this case, we will not archive the filebox.

For any questions about the filebox deletion policy, please contact filebox@vt.edu.

Can I put a Web form on my Filebox page that will send me an e-mail message with the results of data entered in the form?

Although Filebox does not allow CGI programs to run, Virginia Tech does provide a Web Form Mailer that will allow you to have simple form data sent to you via e-mail. For more information, go to the Web Form Mailer page.