[Zope] Zope/IIS4.0 problems and a solution.

[Martijn Pieters]

Hello Zopistas,

I have found a solution to many of the problems that the IIS4.0/Zope
combination brings.

Microsoft prides itself on the clear error messages that IIS 4.0 presents,
when the user makes a mistake. These error messages are implemented in the
form of Custom Error handlers, that return a file, or URL to a user when a
certain error occurs.

This means, that when you forget to fill in an Id when you want to create,
say, a new SQL Method, Zope's clear error message is replaced by IIS's
totally irrelevant error message. Also, it completely breaks authentication
when the user uses IE5.0 when trying to log into a secure area of the
server. These Custom Error handlers are enabled by default.

Luckily, the handlers can quite easily be switched off:

Open the IIS website in the Management Console, and navigate to the folder
you put the PCGI executable in. If you named your Zope installation 'Zope',
it will be called 'Zope.exe'. Double-click on that file. A property page
will appear. Select the 'Custom Errors' tab. Now, select every HTTP Error
code in the listbox that doesn't have type 'Default', and click on the 'Set
to Default' button for each one. This will disable IIS overriding the error
message returned by Zope.

Click OK, and voila, Zope is allowed to tell the world what it thinks went
wrong.

--
Martijn Pieters, Web Developer
| Antraciet http://www.antraciet.nl
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