# Cannot access mercurial repo via http/s

**URL:** https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/cannot-access-mercurial-repo-via-http-s/3355
**Category:** Bugs
**Created:** [April 20, 2011, 6:36am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/cannot-access-mercurial-repo-via-http-s/3355 "2011-04-20T06:36:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![nickd](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/898d66/32.png) [@nickd](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/nickd)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2011, 6:36am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/cannot-access-mercurial-repo-via-http-s/3355/1 "2011-04-20T06:36:14Z")

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I can run a Mercurial command on a repo in a local folder, but trying to access either via HTTP&nbsp;(local server) or HTTPS (bitbucket.org) fails with this error:

_ **Error executing program : Failed to execute program. Error : The directory name is invalid** _  
&nbsp;

I know FB&nbsp;can see the servers because an&nbsp;HTTP&nbsp;get file action succeeds on the URLs

Any ideas?

Nick Delany

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### Author: ![stephen.ryan](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@stephen.ryan](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/stephen.ryan)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/cannot-access-mercurial-repo-via-http-s/3355/2 "2011-04-21T02:18:33Z")

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Hi Nick   
  
 This error occurs when the Mercurial action cannot set the working directory (which is the local repository). For example when performing a pull operation the target repository (which will be a local folder) will be set as the working directory and the source can be whatever (SSH, HTTPS, another local folder).   
  
 When performing a push this is reversed so that the working directory is set to the source (as this will be the source for this operation) and the destination can be whatever.   
  
 This error will only occur if these are back to front for the selected operation and the action attempts to set the HTTPS address as the working directory. So if you were trying to push from HTTPS to a local and vice versa for a pull operation.   
  
 Regards,   
 Steve

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### Author: ![nickd](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/898d66/32.png) [@nickd](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/nickd)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/cannot-access-mercurial-repo-via-http-s/3355/3 "2011-04-21T04:50:08Z")

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Thanks for your reply.   
  
 I think the real problem is that I’m trying to do something stupid. I can’t run [code]hg log [/code] on a remote repo. It worked on the local files because there _was_ a local folder. I was trying to get log data from a remote without a local working copy.   
  
 My bad,   
  
 Nick