Can I hide the System web

Some users have asked if they can "hide" the System web. It can be done, but there are a number of challenges. Generally we recommend not hiding the System web.

Below are some of the areas of Foswiki that will either need to be exceptions, or will encounter problems when System is hidden:

The System web is all of the Foswiki documentation

Everything on how to use Foswiki, from concepts and introductory material to detailed information is all in System. Note that even the "Help text" that shows up here and there in User webs, such as on the Search pages and in the editor, is %INCLUDEd from System. Users will see Warning: Can't find topic System.MissingInfo appearing in various topics. Help text include:

• WebNotifyHelp
• WebPreferencesHelp
• WikiSyntaxSummary (included by the editor)

Templates and Skin topics are in System

Templates, like used in the CommentPlugin, are read in from the System web. The CommentPlugin will not be operational unless exceptions are made for the Comment templates. Skin topics, like the Left Bar, are all "%INCLUDEd" from System.

Operational topics include common layouts from System

Many topics that are generally identical across all webs are %INCLUDEs of the System topic. This includes:

• System.WebAtomBase
• System.WebChanges
• System.WebIndex
• System.WebRssBase
• System.WebSearch
• System.WebSearchAdvanced
• System.WebTopicList
• System.WebLeftBarWebsList

The User Registration system requires access to the System web.

• Each user topic is defined by the UserForm
• Other registration related topic for general user include
  • ChangePassword
  • ResetPassword
  • UserRegistration

And the ability to login from the WebLeftBar

• WebLeftBarLogin

User Registration, and the password change and reset topics are also in the System web.