cPanel (A2hosting etc.) & WebDAV (Web Disk)

[omnibob]

I use A2hosting.com for web site hosting, and just found "Web Disk" in cPanel (where apps etc. are configured). Note: cPanel is available on some other hosting sites as well. Based on what I've read elsewhere, it appears that uses WebDAV. Anyone tried this out with OmniFocus yet? Just curious. I may have time to fiddle with it this weekend.

Bob

[dave_m]

my host uses cpanel webdisk, and it is indeed webDAV.

I had problems getting the first sync to work, so I copied my database from ~/Library/Application Support/OmniFocus to the server before turning on Sync and things seem to be going okay since. The symptom I was seeing before was "in progress" files littered all over the directory.

[omnibob]

That's promising, thanks.

[MrAleGuy]

I'm trying to get ready for the iPhone OF software. I've setup a WebDav server and can access it as a webdisk.

I could never get OF 1.1 to do the initial sync, it would only create empty folders with a name containing "copy-in-progress".

I followed the suggestion of some others in this forum and copied ~/Library/Application Support/OmniFocus/OmniFocus.ofocus to the WebDav share.

Attempts to sync after that don't complain, but aren't successful either. I end up with files which contain "write-in-progress" in the name. These are never renamed, leaving many "write-in-progress" files behind.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated. I've been waiting for iPhone OF for a LONG time and I need to get this working as quickly as I can.

Help!

[yann]

cPanel "Web Disk" is indeed webDAV.

I just setup a user and I can connect via Finder (Go > Connect to server) or using Transmit webDAV option...

Unfortunately, when I try to synch with OF, it does ask me for a password, so the initial connection seems to work but when I enter account info, I get:

"Unable to authenticate with WebDAV Server. Please check that the user name and password you provided are correct."

I copy+pasted those so something else is going on... Gonna try and check Apache logs and report back if I figure it out. In the meantime, if anyone got it working, please let us know if you did anything special... Thanks!

[MrAleGuy]

I get:

"Unable to authenticate with WebDAV Server. Please check that the user name and password you provided are correct."

I copy+pasted those so something else is going on...

You can look in cPanel webdisk section to double-check what it should be.

I think it expects the entire "username@domain.com" as your username. Did you try that?

I got past that but can't get past the "in progress" file problems.

Good luck.

[yann]

thanks for the reply - but yeah, I did - I can loggin WebDAV via Finder and Transmit... so that's not the problem... searching searching... :)

update: I'm now at my 3rd webdav server setup and I keep on getting the same error (while they all work fine via Finder and Transmit). I give up and will email omni support to try to get this fixed.

[jlowen]

Weird - I have A2 hosting and am trying to use the webdisk method. I put the url of the webdisk I set up into OF as "https://www.MYDOMAINNAME.com/webdavstorage/" (where webdavstorage is the name of the webdisk I created in cpanel)

When I try to sync all I get is an error that says "expired server certificate" with no opprotunity to input username or password.

Any thoughts? I will be buying the full application and its iphone counterpart if I can get them to work with my a2 hosting.

[MrAleGuy]

...
I put the url of the webdisk I set up into OF as "https://www.MYDOMAINNAME.com/webdavstorage/" (where webdavstorage is the name of the webdisk I created in cpanel)

When I try to sync all I get is an error that says "expired server certificate" with no opprotunity to input username or password.
...

I'm guessing "webdavstorage" is the username. So, try specifying the path as "https://www.MYDOMAINNAME.com/". It'll probably then ask for username and password, and when you enter them send you to the home directory for that user (which is https://www.MYDOMAINNAME.com/webdavstorage/).

Don't forget, it probably wants you to enter username as "webdavstorage@MYDOMAINNAME.com".

Good luck.

[dave_m]

When I try to sync all I get is an error that says "expired server certificate" with no opprotunity to input username or password.


Can you mount the share in the finder? If so you might be able to get around the certificate message by accepting it there.

[omnibob]

Don't forget, it probably wants you to enter username as "webdavstorage@MYDOMAINNAME.com".

I just created a Web Disk, and it indeed shows <username>@<domain>. By default, it created the directory inside public_html, then proceeds to give a warning about privacy (plus some instructions as to how to secure such a folder). I then noticed that there was a pre-existing web disk to my root, using the login name I use for cPanel. This username does not have @domain at the end. I was able to mount that volume after running the script the process supplies. Would this latter type of setup work (for synching OS X OF & iPhone OF when they're in the same proximity), assuming the volume is manually mounted on the Finder?

If a person uses only one Mac and one iPhone for OF use, is there any purpose in the frequent synchronizing OF on the iPhone to a WebDAV server (throughout the period one is using OF on his iPhone) other than being able to then sync to the computer when eventually back at one's Mac? I'm just trying to understand, and then keep synchronizing to a minimum.

Thanks, Bob

[jlowen]

SUCCESS!!

Here are the steps in case anyone else has problems with a2hosting webdav and OF -

1. I put the following into OF as my webdav location: http://MYDOMAIN.com:2077

2. I was then connected to a log in dialog where I used USERNAME@MYDOMAIN.COM and entered password (make sure you set a password in your cpanel on a2hosting)

3. Sweet sweet syncing goodness. Now I am off to make the requisite purchases.

Thanks everyone.

[MrAleGuy]

SUCCESS!!

...
1. I put the following into OF as my webdav location: http://MYDOMAIN.com:2077
...
3. Sweet sweet syncing goodness. Now I am off to make the requisite purchases.

Are you actually syncing with a second device or just not getting errors anymore?

Mine looks like I'm connected and syncing fine, but when I look at what's happening on the WebDAV server, I have lots of "in-progress" files being created.

Hopefully yours is working better than mine.

Also, the :2077 is appropriate for http, the secure port for https is probably :2078.

Peace.

[jlowen]

Are you actually syncing with a second device or just not getting errors anymore?

Mine looks like I'm connected and syncing fine, but when I look at what's happening on the WebDAV server, I have lots of "in-progress" files being created.

Hopefully yours is working better than mine.

Also, the :2077 is appropriate for http, the secure port for https is probably :2078.

Peace.

Damn - I think you are right. I also have "in-progress" errors on my webdisk and my recently purchased OF for Iphone app only gives me the following error:

"Cannot copy. Unable to get list of source files from: 'file://localhost/var/mobile/applications/........../documents/omnifocus.ofocus/'. "

[MrAleGuy]

I also have "in-progress" errors on my webdisk and my recently purchased OF for Iphone app only gives me the following error:

"Cannot copy. Unable to get list of source files from: 'file://localhost/var/mobile/applications/........../documents/omnifocus.ofocus/'. "

That's too bad. I sent a message to the support ninjas at omnifocus-iphone@omnigroup.com

My incident ID is [OG #307083].

Hopefully, I'll hear something back soon. I guess it wouldn't hurt for you to drop a line also so they can see it's more widespread than just one user...

If I get it working, I'll let you know, please do likewise.

Peace.

[jlowen]

Micro progress -

I used finder to mount the webdav - deleted all the empty "in progress" folders and copied over the omnifocus.ofocus document from ~/library/application support/omnifocus

upon sync of iphone, it did pull down the data from webdav - but creating a new item in the inbox of the desktop then syncing both will not make a new item in the inbox of the iphone and vice versa..

Perhaps the desktop is not truly syncing to the version on the webdav server?

[MrAleGuy]

Sounds like you and I are at the same spot. I even tried to rename the "in progress" files to see if the sync didn't finalize correctly but no luck.

Essentially, I have two systems syncing to the same WebDAV folder. Either of them can make an update and be told to manually sync to server. This causes an "in progress" file to get created, but any new actions don't become available on the other system regardless of what I try.

[jlowen]

I have also submitted an email to the support ninjas. My number is [OG #307156]

I will keep in touch with you If I hear anything, Please do the same.

After we get this resolved we can meet up in 40 years as veterans and remember the battle of OF webdav sync

[Lizard]

Which WebDAV service are you using? BingoDisk and Mobile Me seem to be the most cooperative.

You might also look at this post for setting WebDAV up on your own computer if you only need to sync while on the same local network.
http://manas.tungare.name/blog/2008/07/10/howto-setup-webdav-on-mac-os-x-leopard-for-syncing-omnifocus-to-iphone/

[MrAleGuy]

Which WebDAV service are you using? BingoDisk and Mobile Me seem to be the most cooperative.

You might also look at this post for setting WebDAV up on your own computer if you only need to sync while on the same local network.
http://manas.tungare.name/blog/2008/07/10/howto-setup-webdav-on-mac-os-x-leopard-for-syncing-omnifocus-to-iphone/

Hi Liz,

I've got WebDAV setup on my own domain, which is hosted at asmallorange.com (ASO). I already pay for this domain/hosting so I really want to get it working there. I've owned OF for a while but had fallen out of using it since it was such a pain trying to keep projects updated and tasks checked off when I was using my mandated WinXP system at work. Now that OF iPhone is here (woohoo!) I can see this drastically helping my productivity at work.

I already have shared iCal calendars published via WebDAV on this host, so I'm pretty confident I've got that end setup OK... well, at least as OK as I can using cPanel.

I have two systems connecting to this WebDAV, each can make changes and be told to "sync to server" causing a new "client-write-in-progress" file to get created. These never change into any sort of "final state" which tells me that for some reason OF is not able to properly transmit the temp file, then rename upon successfully completing the transfer.

Whether it's ASO disallowing some aspect of file manipulation or OF failing in some way, I don't know.

I have sent email to the ninjas ([OG #307083]) and am willing to try things, look at logs, and report what happened to help narrow the problem.

Another user (jlowen) and I have been discussing this issue in another thread. http://forums.omnigroup.com/showthread.php?t=8493&page=2

Peace

[jcasella]

Mine looks like I'm connected and syncing fine, but when I look at what's happening on the WebDAV server, I have lots of "in-progress" files being created.

Hopefully yours is working better than mine.

Also, the :2077 is appropriate for http, the secure port for https is probably :2078.

Peace.

I use A2hosting as well, and can verify that this is accurate using their Web Disk feature. Https :2078 hits a dead end when OF tries to sync, due to the unconfirmed security certificate error. So using http and :2077 works.

Unfortunately, I also discovered what you describe. Syncing appears to be successfully occurring, but upon comparing new OF projects on the desktop to the iPhone, they aren't appearing.

I was able to verify that AFTER a sync (either via iphone or desktop), the .ofocus database file in my WebDAV folder is showing modification times as expected. Everything appears to be working as expected. But alas, new tasks/projects/etc added to Device A prior to syncing are not appearing in Device B after sync.

This is very frustrating. Though I realize the voodoo necessary to make this happen is nothing short of magical. I'll look forward to learning how to resolve this. For now, OF will just sit on my iPhone until i can properly sync it with my Mac.

[omnibob]

1. I put the following into OF as my webdav location: http://MYDOMAIN.com:2077

In terms of cPanel, is your Web Disk "/" , "public_html/<username>" , "public_html" or something else? Thanks,

Bob

[Brian]

merging threads to keep the conversations all in the same place.

[yann]

In terms of cPanel, is your Web Disk "/" , "public_html/<username>" , "public_html" or something else? Thanks,

Bob
you have to go in cPanel and create a new webdisk, then cPanel will even create a bookmark for you that you can use to login via Finder to make sure it's working properly.

Don't use the SSL + port 2078 but the HTTP (not HTTPS) @ port 2077

[MrAleGuy]

I have also submitted an email to the support ninjas. My number is [OG #307156]

I will keep in touch with you If I hear anything, Please do the same.

After we get this resolved we can meet up in 40 years as veterans and remember the battle of OF webdav sync

jlowen,

I've updated to OF 1.1 SP (v77.4.0.102768), the issue with "in-progress" files seems to be gone. I turned off syncing, updated OF, deleted all the stuff from the WebDAV folder, and re-configured the sync. It transfered the tasks fine.

NOW the issue is about every 60 seconds, I get an error dialog that tells me:
"Unable to perform WebDAV operation.

The server returned an error 404, "not found"."

I guess I'll send another message to the support ninjas. :)

Peace

[cjgraphix]

all personal issues aside (grumble grumble roar) this is what is happening with me.

1. Create webDav through cPanel
2. Sync omni focus (desktop) to webDav - worked fine.
3. Sync Omni Focus to my iPhone - worked fine. imported all the information I had put in.
4. Desktop App started throwing a 404, not found error.
5. iPhone App started throwing disallowed character errors.

If I delete the omnifocus folder from the webDAV and resync it all works well, but I'd rather not have to do that everytime I want to sync.

I'm confident however that it's a known issue, and will be worked out.
Go Omni Go!

[yann]

"The server returned an error 404, "not found"."

Seems to be the latest WebDAV bug indeed... getting the same

[omnibob]

you have to go in cPanel and create a new webdisk, then cPanel will even create a bookmark for you that you can use to login via Finder to make sure it's working properly.

Don't use the SSL + port 2078 but the HTTP (not HTTPS) @ port 2077

1) I already have web disk access (to the root of my directory: "/") with my cPanel username *without* "@domain.com" I believe this access came default in cPanel. When I choose to access it, the bookmark works and I have Finder access. However for iOF WebDAV sync to work, I am correct in assuming that the directory need to be off public_html, e.g., "/public_html/omnifocus"? (I have already created a "username@domain.com"-style account for Web Disk access, so that's no problem.)

2) Re the tip about *not* using SSL, when choosing to Access Web Disk in cPanel, does the "SSL (recommended)" checkbox have any effect on the iOF accessing the directory, or is that only relevant to how OS X accesses it (and mounts it on the desktop)? (See the end of my message for the cPanel info.)

Sorry if I'm missing the obvious.

Bob

"Access Web Disk

Select an Operating System from one of the drop lists to access your Web Disk. You'll need to save the file and then double click on it to run it. Once you run the file, your Web Disk will appear on your desktop.

Note: Ports 2078 (SSL) or 2077 (non-SSL) will need to be allowed on your computer's firewall to use the Web Disk."

[yann]

1) You have to put in publich HTML directory in order to access it via "your_domain.com"

"your_domain.com" points to public_html/ contents...

I don't recommend to create the webdisk as the "root" like you describe it unless you're only going to access it via WebDAV. From everything I've read, accessing directories via both WebDAV + STP/FTP can create problems... Although I have no idea how cPanel handles it... But I would a webdav specific folder in my public_html if I were you (via webdisk cPanel utility)

EDIT: I should mention that if you create you webdis say like: public_html/omnifocus/" when you enter the url in OF prefs, you shouldn't include omnifocus folder like "http://your_domain.com/omnifocus" but just "http://your_domain.com:2077" the server knows which folder it is from the user account you sign in from

2) the "SSL (recommended)" checkbox" only changes the way the "bookmark" you're downloading will connect to WebDAV folder.

https://your_domain.com:2078 or
http://your_domain.com:2077

ps: weird that you don't need to include @xxx.xxx for user name - that's pretty standard for webdav I think

[MrAleGuy]

1) ... I am correct in assuming that the directory need to be off public_html, e.g., "/public_html/omnifocus"? (I have already created a "username@domain.com"-style account for Web Disk access, so that's no problem.)

2) Re the tip about *not* using SSL, when choosing to Access Web Disk in cPanel, does the "SSL (recommended)" checkbox have any effect on the iOF accessing the directory, or is that only relevant to how OS X accesses it (and mounts it on the desktop)?

Bob,

1. I believe so. I set up a specific "username" to log into my WebDAV. That process will (or should) create a folder under public_html. This is sort of that user's "home" directory for files.

2. You can typically access a WebDAV either with SSL (https) or without (http). The download just gives you a script to simplify making the connection instead of doing it manually. The choice you are referring to just downloads a different script based on how you wish to connect. iOF is still free to choose the manner in which it connects.

Hope this helps.

Peace.

[omnibob]

Having troubles getting my OFX (Mac, that is) db synched to my Web Disk (WebDAV).

I set up my Web Disk as "/public_html/omnifocus/" I added "omnifocus" so my db would be in it's own folder. Downloaded and ran the script; mounts fine.

Then in OFX, anything with 2078 or https failed, so I tried http://mydomain.com:2077/omnifocus/ . Got: "Could not access the WebDAV location "mydomain.com/omnifocus/OmniFocus.ofocus-copy-in-progress-hHWAG6_MhnZ".

Tried: http://mydomain.com:2077/ and OFX claims success, and I do see that /public_html/omnifocus/OmniFocus.ofocus is created, but it is empty (except the default projects), as then becomes my OFX database .

On a side note, it seems that when I defined my Web Disk at /public_html/omnifocus, and then access it via the user I created for Web Disk access, that I must use http://mydomain.com:2077/ without "/omnifocus/", but that ".../omnifocus/" is internally stored and known.
--

OFX: "Your database couldn't be synchronized, because the database on the server appears to be totally unrelated to the local database. Which database would you like to use?

The other database will be saved in your database backup folder."

"Use Local Copy"

My data is now available.

OSX: click: "Sync Now". Immediate claim of success, but once again, the OF default database is apparently synched to my Web Disk (~4k as seen in my Web Disk location), however my local db is not reset (still have all my data).

Important: I just checked files in the Finder (after adding one dummy action, to force a current 'modified' timestamp on my db), and I see "Omnifocus.ofocus" with the current modified date/time, but it is only 232k, whereas my db ("Omnifocus.ofocus-backup") prior to 1.1 upgrade was 38.3MB. But the database "Omnifocus.ofocus" when open has all my data. Very puzzling.

(I also sent this to the ninjas.)

Currently at build ...794. (Error 404 not happening now, but the 'real' db still doesn't seem to be on my WebDAV (Web Disk) disk.

Bob

[omnibob]

I can mount in the Finder just fine.

The issue with what I thought was a tiny (~200+k) OF file not being my data turned out to be a red herring. (I say "tiny" because the backup file in 1.0.3 was 38+MB!).

I think the issue revolves around this:

After creating a Web Disk in cPanel with a folder off the web root, e.g., "/public_html/omnibob/", the OF file gets synched there from OFX -- as long as I don't include "/omnibob/" in OFX Prefs > Sync, otherwise, I got (Note: "/public_html/omnifocus/" was a subfolder used an earlier attempt.):

"Could not access the WebDAV location "www.mydomain.com/omnifocus/OmniFocus.ofocus-copy-in-progress-hHWAG6_MhnZ". Please make sure that the location set in your Sync preferences actually exists." [OK]

But if the location in Web Disk actually is there (not using "/omnibbob/" in OFX), then when I send the settings to iOF via Bonour or email, I get an error message:

"Unable to read document. Unrecognizable transaction file name: "<longString>.zip" should contain a date separator of "="."

I would really like to know how to create a directory off public_html to store the OF db (for web tidiness), but for now, I am seeing my synced info (finally) on my iPhone. I've yet to check the integrity, but at least I'll be able to sleep finally after 3 days of wrestling with this. (OK, I've not literally been up for three days, but it sounds like a good story.)

Bob

[Ken Case]

My strong advice is to wait for the v1.0.1 update to the iPhone version of OmniFocus before trying to use it with cPanel web servers. Hopefully that will be out this week, but until then the iPhone doesn't have all the fixes we made in the desktop version over the weekend.

[Eraserhead]

NOW the issue is about every 60 seconds, I get an error dialog that tells me:
"Unable to perform WebDAV operation.

The server returned an error 404, "not found"."

I guess I'll send another message to the support ninjas. :)

Peace

I've been getting that too (well the error box is suppressed but its still happening :p). OF 1.1 SP (v77.5.0.102885) but its been occurring all along for me. The feedback ID is: [OG #307681].

My strong advice is to wait for the v1.0.1 update to the iPhone version of OmniFocus before trying to use it with cPanel web servers. Hopefully that will be out this week, but until then the iPhone doesn't have all the fixes we made in the desktop version over the weekend.

I'll wait before testing it out on my iPod Touch, but this bug doesn't seem to be iPhone dependent.

[jimf]

Desktop syncing is still broken with cPanel WebDAV servers as of 1.1 sneakypeek v77.5.0.102895, or at least with mine running on bluehost.com. If I clear out the database file from the server and sync, the initial sync works fine. If I sync with nothing changed in the database, that works fine as well. But as soon as I change anything in the database and sync, I get the same old "404" error and the sync fails.

It looks like the WebDAV server is changing the file names (as mentioned somewhere in these forums), replacing "-", "+" and "=" characters with their encoded equivalents (%3B, etc.). If this is the source of the problems, why not just avoid using these characters in the filenames in the database?

[jimf]

My strong advice is to wait for the v1.0.1 update to the iPhone version of OmniFocus before trying to use it with cPanel web servers. Hopefully that will be out this week, but until then the iPhone doesn't have all the fixes we made in the desktop version over the weekend.

This is desktop syncing using the Mac client, not syncing from the iPhone app.

[Ken Case]

Thanks for your patience, this latest issue is fixed in build 102926:

Fixed the latest cPanel compatibility issue: when we were cleaning up redundant transactions after coalescing, we were attempting to remove the transaction based on its name rather than its remote URL.

[Eraserhead]

It now appears to be behaving itself.

EDIT: I should add, I use AsmallOrange hosting.

[pmdf]

Still not working for me. I posted my issue at http://forums.omnigroup.com/showthread.php?t=8587. I haven't received a response to my problem there but it appears to be related to the one in this thread, I believe?

It's still the same problem with the "Unrecognizable transaction file name 'blah-blah.zip'; should contain a date seperator of '='" error message, although the 404 problem has now been remedied.

I'm using build 102926.

[Ken Case]

I just replied in the other thread, but it sounds like you're still trying to sync with version 1.0 of the iPhone software, which doesn't yet have the fix. (We can post new versions of the desktop software immediately, but iPhone software has to be reviewed by Apple.)

[jimf]

Works great now - thanks! Now to wait for the update to the iPhone app. I did see a few updates come out yesterday on the App Store, so hopefully Apple will approve it soon...

Thanks for your patience, this latest issue is fixed in build 102926:

[jimf]

The 1.0.1 iPhone app update fixed the other side of this, so I can now sync cleanly with my cPanel (Bluehost) WebDAV service.