Newest KB Articles in Tools and utilities

Attach Database Tool

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:15:22 GMT

The Attach Database Tool is a premium feature available only on Ultimate and Power hosting plans.

This tool allows you to attach an existing SQL Server MDF data file to a database on your site.

Where to Find the Attach Database Tool

You can access the Attach Database Tool from your Control Panel:

Control Panel → Sites → Select Your Site → MS SQL Manager → Manage

On the Tools row, click Attach to begin.

Important Notes Before You Begin

The file you attach must be an .mdf file.
Any existing data in the target SQL database will be permanently overwritten.
The MDF file must be uploaded to your site’s App_Data directory.
The MDF file must be renamed exactly as specified in the attach tool before uploading.

Step 1: Properly Copy the MDF Data File

Before attaching the database, you must create a clean, usable copy of the MDF file from the source SQL Server.

Recommended Method (SQL Server Management Studio)

Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) on the source server.
Locate the database you want to move.
Detach the database:
- Right-click the database
- Select Tasks → Detach
Navigate to the database data directory (usually under MSSQL\Data).
Copy the .mdf file (and .ldf if present, though only the .mdf is required).
After copying, you may re-attach the database on the source server if needed.

Detaching the database ensures the MDF file is not locked and prevents corruption.

Alternative (If Detach Is Not Possible)

If detaching is not an option:

Ensure the database is offline or SQL Server service is stopped before copying the MDF file.
Do not copy an MDF file while the database is actively in use.

Step 2: Rename the MDF File

In the Attach Database Tool, locate the field labeled “MDF File to Attach”.
Rename your MDF file exactly to match the name shown in that field.

The attach process will fail if the file name does not match exactly.

Step 3: Upload the MDF File

Connect to your site with an FTP client.
Navigate to your site’s App_Data directory.
Upload the renamed .mdf file to this folder.

Step 4: Attach the Database

Return to MS SQL Manager → Manage → Attach.
Confirm the MDF file name is correct.
Click Attach to complete the process.

Once finished, the MDF file will be attached to the database and ready for use.

Warning About Data Overwrite

⚠️ Using the Attach Database Tool will overwrite all existing data in the target SQL database.
If you need to preserve current data, make sure you create a backup before proceeding.

How to reset the SmarterStats password

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:46:23 GMT

We do not record or log your SmarterStats password and it cannot be viewed in clear text for the security reason. If you cannot recall it, please open a support ticket and we will sync your SmarterStats login credentials to your current site's FTP password.

Scheduled Task Manager

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:15:48 GMT

The Scheduled Task Manager is a premium feature, and only available for sites on the Ultimate and Power plan.

The Scheduled Task Manager allows you to schedule the web server to make a call to a specific file at certain predetermined intervals. Those intervals are:

Every 15 minutes
Every hour
Every 3 hours
Every 6 hours
Every 12 hours
Every day
Every week
Every month

So if you have a script on your site that you run every day or every week to send email, perform site maintenance, etc., you can use this tool to run the script automatically. You are allowed 2 scheduled jobs for each site account.

Click on Add button on the next page to create a Scheduled Task

On the next page complete the fields in the Scheduled Tasks tab to start your scheduled task. Enabled - Check this box activate the task as soon as you submit the form. If you wish to stop a task temporarily, click the "Edit" link for an existing task and uncheck this box.

Task Name - A descriptive name used to identify the task.

URL - Select the domain you wish to use to access the file from the dropdown list, and enter the file name in the field that follows the domain.

Interval - Select the interval that you wish to use; daily, weekly, etc.

Start Date - Enter the date you wish the task to begin running in MM/DD/YYYY format. Select the time you would like the task to be executed. You may choose any hour of the day in 15 minute increments. Note that scheduling a task to run at 10:45 does not mean the task will run at exactly 10:45. Scheduled tasks are run in a batch on the server, so depending on how many tasks are in the batch, where your task is in the batch and how long the batch takes to run, there may be a delay between your selected time and the time the task is actually executed.

End Date (optional) - Enter the date you wish the task to stop running in MM/DD/YYYY format.

Username - If the URL is password protected, enter the appropriate username here.

Password - If the URL is password protected, enter the appropriate password here.

How to change the .NET Framework version

Thu, 13 May 2010 22:14:41 GMT

For legacy ASP.NET applications built on the .NET Framework, the .NET Framework version can be changed in the Control Panel by clicking the ASP.NET Version icon in the Site Tools section.

Important:
If your application is a modern .NET / .NET Core–based application (for example, ASP.NET Core, .NET 6/7/8), there is no version selector in the Control Panel. The ASP.NET Version selector applies only to legacy .NET Framework applications.

Available .NET Framework Options

When using a legacy ASP.NET application, the following options are available:

.NET 4.x
.NET 2.0 / 3.0 / 3.5 SP1

Important Notes

Only one .NET Framework version can be configured per site.
You cannot run .NET 4.x and earlier .NET Framework versions simultaneously on the same site.
This setting has no effect on ASP.NET Core / modern .NET applications, which are configured and run independently of the legacy ASP.NET Framework selector.

The Application Starting Point tool

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:03:53 GMT

The Application Starting Point tool in Control Panel allows you to designate a directory as the (application root) for an application.

To create a web application, follow these steps:

Go to the Application Starting Point tool in Control Panel (located in the Site Tools section).
Click Create.
Enter the path to the directory you wish to designate as an application root or navigate to this directory by clicking Browse link.
Click Create.