When I ftp into my site, there's a half-folder/half-file icon that won't open like a folder or ftp to my computer. My host installed WordPress (PHP blog) for me and I'm trying to get to the files to edit them. The host is no help - WordPress is no help. So I need a starting point.

Can you tell me what the half-folder/half-file icon is called - and how to open it? Do I need to reset chmod somehow? I'll be grateful for any clues how to handle this. I've been working non-stop on this for 2 days.

Thanks,
Pam

On linux, everything is a file, even a folder.
I don't know what this icon looks like, and what it means, but mostly the inode have permissions that won't allow you to enter or list it.

Can you give us the octal or string permission of this node ?
Should be something with 3 numbers, each between 0 and 7, like this:

750 .....
or
-rwxr-xr-x .....

string permission is 755.

That mean that the owner of this file/folder ca read, write and execute it (or list it if it's a folder), and that the users in the other users can only read and list/execute it.

Should be ok for you.
What is the name of that file ?

The file/folder is called wordpress and is described as a link. It seems to be (or work like) a folder, because I can put in the URL for a subset and see onscreen a directory (clicking that doesn't work either).

Verio installed the program, so does the file consider Verio the owner? If so, what I am in chomod - and how do I set it to give me access? If I set that number, will it let me double click the folder/file to open it? I'm eager to get into it.

Pam

If you are not the owner of the folder, you cannot change it's owner.
The owner userid and name is usually dipsplayed next of the permissions:

-rwxr-xr-x 1 tripy user 1150 Jan 15 11:00 .bash_profile

Here, my username is "tripy" and my group is "user".
Look if the username is what you use to login with your ftp. If not, it probably mean that only your host can alter it.

Thank you! Knowing what's possible or impossible will help me move on to other things. I have ws-FPT95 on my laptop and it doesn't show the owner. As soon as I get back to my home computer with ws-FTP Pro I'll check for the owner.

I very much appreciate your help!
Pam

No problems.
There are a lot of people here that are glad to help.
Just ask.

Tripy-

I wanted to tell you how this turned out. I called Verio, my ISP, and spent 75 minutes on the phone with a helpful tech there. Turns out, the half-file/half-folder icon means I can't access the files to adapt them either through FTP or the edit panel within the admin panel. Verio set some real limits on access. We can use the blog as is, so it will work ok (but not great).

Your help gave me a way to understand the problem enough to talk to the tech intelligently and get answers. Thank you for your kindness and help!

Pam

Good !
Altough I'm a bit suprised it took 75 minutes, I hope it wasn't a surtaxed phone number...

Anyway, I'm glad to have been of any help.