Title: Basic archive setup problem Last modified: August 18, 2016 --- # Basic archive setup problem * [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * (@fulham) * [20 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/) * I upgraded to v 1.5 about two months ago, but haven’t had time to put my mind to my problem until now. My archives don’t work, neither date or category, as you’ll see here: * [http://www.patience.org](http://www.patience.org) * The directory `/archives` wasn’t created at install time so I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong, as I guess it’s something fairly fundamental that I did wrong, perhaps with the install?. Any tips would be appreciated. Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) * [Root](https://wordpress.org/support/users/root/) * (@root) * [20 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-192471) * I think I am right in saying that this is a feature. :). To reinstate archives edit sidebar.php by adding the get archives tag. Its on the Codex. * Thread Starter [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * (@fulham) * [20 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-192954) * Any help would be appreciated with this as I’m a bit stuck. * Moderator [Matt Mullenweg](https://wordpress.org/support/users/matt/) * (@matt) * [20 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-192955) * No directories are created by WordPress, it uses something call mod_rewrite and. htaccess to tell your web server how to interpret the archive links. If it doesn’t work you should reset your permalink structure under Options > Permalinks. * Thread Starter [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * (@fulham) * [20 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-192963) * Thanks Matt. I only looked at permalinks a few weeks ago but I did enter this into the Structure field on the Permalinks options page: /archives/%year%/%monthnum%/% day%/%postname%/ * Should I change that? * My .htaccess file is in my root directory and appears to be being written to OK (the date last changed is today). However my blog is not in my root, rather in ../wordpress. Not sure if that is relevant or not. * My ReWriteEngine is set to ON in .htaccess. And I checked with my ISP which confirmed that AllowOverride is set to All. * I guess I’m trying to figure out if any of these things might explain why it isn’t working. thanks Looking through the list of potential problems on the Codex here I * Thread Starter [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * (@fulham) * [20 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-192964) * Please ignore that last line in previous post, didn’t realize it was still there. * Thread Starter [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * (@fulham) * [20 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-193042) * OK so I upgraded to 1.5.1 hoping it would help, but it didn’t. Everything is still as it is, i.e. a 404 every time you click on a category or a monthly archive and I’m still stumped as to why this should be. * I changed my permalink structue to this: * /archives/%post_id% * ..but all other settings remain the same. Any ideas anyone? * [Joshua Sigar](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alphaoide/) * (@alphaoide) * [20 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-193043) * Empty out the current content of .htaccess and redo the permalink again. * Thread Starter [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * (@fulham) * [20 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-193044) * Just did that and the problem’s still there – would it be useful to post the content of the .htaccess file? * [moshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/moshu/) * (@moshu) * [20 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-193045) * The Codex says: “The .htaccess file should be in the root directory of your WordPress install, where the other WordPress files are at” OP said above his/her .htaccess file is not here… * Thread Starter [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * (@fulham) * [20 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-193046) * Moshu you are correct, my .htaccess file was in my root directory whereas wordpress was in …/wordpress directory. * So I created another .htaccess, deleted the old one and put the new one in the/ wordpress directory, but still no joy. * Thread Starter [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * (@fulham) * [20 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-193057) * I’ll soldier on here as I’m having no joy, but having read the Codex that says the .htaccess file must be in the directory in which WordPress is installed, I deleted the one from my root directory, only to find that another was created automagically and was being written to while the one in my WordPress directory had nothing in it. * Both are chmod 666, which probably isn’t advisable, but I’m not sure what else to do. * Any help appreciated as the lack of archives & categories is very frustrating. * [jinsan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jinsan/) * (@jinsan) * [20 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-193058) * i dunno if this thread will help, but perhaps worth a look: * [http://wordpress.org/support/topic/33648](http://wordpress.org/support/topic/33648) * With regards to your specific problem, you will find a htaccess in your root anyway, this is for overall management of any subfolders in which you may have installed something, so youc an redirect or manage any calls to one subdomain/ subdir and have it sent to another, or create unique error pages and so on for the root. This isn’t something you need to worry about, and shouldn’t affect WP. * WP uses its own htaccess file to set the permalink rules. I know you’ve probably done this half a dozen times, but: * 1) delete the existing .htaccess file or remove everything inside of it and wipe it clean. * 2) ensure that your htaccess file is a htaccess file – it must not be: .htaccess. txt or htaccess.txt or something like that – .htaccess and that alone * 3) set your .htaccess to 777 – this is only for a moment * 4) go to your permalink structure and insert the default permalink structure. This should write to the htaccess file – confirm this by viewing your htacess file – it was set to 777 so it would surprise me if nothing is in there. Set the htaccess to 644 once done * 5) I have no idea why you have a redirect page at the moment since your permalinks aren’t working, but for now remove this – click anythig your site gives me that page – if you’re going to use one, choose a better picture :p Anyway it will only get in the way UNTIL you get your links working * 6) As Matt stated, the archives diretory is a virtual directory, it doesn’t exist as such. * 7) can you clarify what you placed in the site address – there are two blocks one where the actual address is and your preferred address – are they the same? Set the them both to where the actual install is for now. Do this in the admin area * 8) put in the full site address including the subdirectory with the archives ending, eg: * [http://mysite.com/wpinstall/archives](http://mysite.com/wpinstall/archives) * or * [http://mysite.com/wpinstall/archive](http://mysite.com/wpinstall/archive) * One of the two will work I forget which one it is. Your permalink structure is messed up so until you get that working you’re going to have problems with getting anywhere. * Let us know how you get on. Try not to avoid skipping any steps, it’s only guidance but if you hit a problem at even repeating something then it gives some idea. Try to at least get your permalinks working correctly – do this as the maximum first, then report back to confirm your permalinks work. then we can tackle the archives. * EDIT: disable any plugins you may have been running bar the bare minimum they can sometimes confuse matters – you can keep your spam plugins working, but disable other stuff that is simply excess, including any archive plugins * Thread Starter [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * (@fulham) * [20 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-193059) * Great, thank jinsan, I went through that step by step and it has fixed the permalink problem and the archive & category problem. Much appreciated. * And yes, I need some nicer graphics, but that’s not my strong suit by a long shot 😉 * Cheers! Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total) The topic ‘Basic archive setup problem’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 13 replies * 6 participants * Last reply from: [fulham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fulham/) * Last activity: [20 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-archive-setup-problem/#post-193059) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics