Contribute error: shared preferences file can't be found

[Ferdinand Hascha]

I am using Contribute 3 (from Macromedia Studio 8) on a Mac (Mac OS X 10.5).

I have a connection to a server, and right now I have one draft webpage. I
finished editing it and wanted to publish it, but when I did so, an error
message appeared: Contribute can't find the file with the shared preferences.
To recreate it, the administrator must administer the website again.
(translated from German, not exact).

So I think it is telling me, as soon as I reconnect again as an admin, this
file will be recreated. But I am an admin!
If I click "connect" again anyway, it appears that the draft webpage is
loading again, but then it again says "connect" - instead of "publish". So
there is no way of publishing this draft webpage. I also cannot download and
edit any webpage.

What can I do?

[ThinkInk]

Usually this message means that you have to take the following action in
Contribute:
1. in the main menu go to >Edit>Administer websites
(2. optional: change some setting and change it right back in the admin
settings)
3. click Close, and check if everything is working again and the message is
gone

[Ferdinand Hascha]

The problem is, just before I read your reply, I deleted the connection. But
now I can't create it again, because all of the folders which Contribute
created are still there and I can't delete them. It says that it isn't possible
to delete these files. I could delete the webpages themselves, but not the
images folder, the _mm folder etc...

And now when I try to create the connection using the connection assistant, it
tells me that "Contribute detected a network- or filesystem-error. Repeat the
operation or contact the administrator, if the error appears again."

What should I do now? I thought if I just change the file permissions it could
work, but I can only get into the server with an FTP app and I can't change
permissions with that.

Last solution: I'll have to call my ISP ask ask if they call delete
everything. But is there a better way?

[ThinkInk]

I suggest you contact your ISP, because using an FTP-program (not Contribute)
you really should be able to delete the _mm folder or any other folder on the
server.
After deleting the _mm folder I would try to create a new connection.

Note: have you previously installed and uninstalled Contribute CS3 trial
version?

[ThinkInk]

Notes for questions to ISP:

[url]http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_19496&sliceId=2[/url]

[url]http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_19494&sliceId=2[/url]

[Ferdinand Hascha]

Yes, I will call them and will try to make a new connection.

I don't remember if I installed a test version of Contribute CS3 - maybe I did
a while ago.... but definitely not in the last few months otherwise I would
remember. Is that of any importance?

[ThinkInk]

OK, I hope you get uit solved.

I asked about installing CS3 on version 3.1 since I had various troubles with
versions 3.1 myself after uninstalling CS3. These troubles were only gone after
completely removing all the CS3 files and reg-keys from my system.