Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Designer 2007 Bible

1.3. Exploring Hidden Metadata and Raw Webs

Files and folders inside the root folder of a SharePoint Designer Web site are collectively called the hidden metadata of the Web site. The metadata inside the root folder keeps track of whether the Web site is a disk-based Web site or a server-based Web site. It also stores information about the list of subsites that the root site might contain. The metadata is a vital resource for performing a number of site management operations, such as hyperlink recalculation and creating the navigation structure.

If you decide to move away from using the FPSE features of SharePoint Designer, you might not need this metadata and can configure SharePoint Designer to not create the hidden metadata. A SharePoint Designer Web site that doesn't have metadata in it is called a raw Web. To convert your Web site to a raw Web, follow these steps:

1. In SharePoint Designer, open the Web site you created earlier in this chapter by choosing File Open Site. The Open Site dialog box opens, with the Web Sites pane selected in the left Navigation pane. The Web Sites pane shows the list of Web sites that you've created.

2. Choose your Web site and then click Open.

3. Choose Site Site Settings. The Site Setting dialog box opens.

4. Deselect the Manage the Web site using hidden metadata ...