Creating Custom Error Pages

Whenever a user tries to access a web page on one of our sites, and there's a problem accessing that page, then the user receives an error message. For example, if the user tries to access a page which does not exist, they receive a page with the words "Error 404 - Not Found" on it.  There are various other errors and error messages as well. 

In most cases, error messages such as the one above provide no help to the user, or to the web page developer/maintainer if, for example, the error occurred due to a bad link. So, to make it easier for the user, and to help us keep our sites current, we have created "custom error pages." 

These pages display the page which caused the error as well as links to the web site's index and search pages. Each page also contains a link to a "feedback.asp" form page (read more about creating your own feedback.asp  page)   which automatically e-mails the offending page's address to the web site's maintainer when the form is submitted.

Here are some examples of custom error pages currently in place: 

• http://www.colstate.edu/myerror.htm (default custom error pages)
• http://csu.colstate.edu/myerror.htm
• http://cins.colstate.edu/myerror.htm

Presently, if a web site does not have custom error pages, the CSU default custom error pages are displayed. For example:

• http://enroll.colstate.edu/myerror.htm
• http://po.colstate.edu/myerror.htm

If you want to create your own custom error pages:

1. Download the following zip file: custom_errors.zip.
2. Unzip the file into your web site.
3. Modify the files as you wish (the files are Active Server Pages (ASPs), so be careful not to modify the ASP code embedded in each page).
4. Let me know your custom errors pages are ready.
5. Once I have notified you that the server has been set to recognize your custom error pages, create a folder called "errors" on your root web, then move your custom error pages into that folder.

If you do not wish to create your own custom error pages, then error pages generated when accessing your site will come from the default CSU custom error pages.  However, creating your own custom error pages in conjunction with the feedback.asp page will give you better control over the help provided to users who visit your pages.