The default .htaccess file

[AndyB]

On my forum I use the "Use Full Friendly URLs" and don't use the "Include Content Title in URLs".



An example of my URL looks like this:

http://www.mysite.com/forums/threads/12345/

I would like to know if I need a .htaccess file at all. Here's the default .htaccess file I'm currently using:

#    Mod_security can interfere with uploading of content such as attachments. If you
#    cannot attach files, remove the "#" from the lines below.
#<IfModule mod_security.c>
#    SecFilterEngine Off
#    SecFilterScanPOST Off
#</IfModule>
 
ErrorDocument 401 default
ErrorDocument 403 default
ErrorDocument 404 default
ErrorDocument 500 default
 
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
 
    #    If you are having problems with the rewrite rules, remove the "#" from the
    #    line that begins "RewriteBase" below. You will also have to change the path
    #    of the rewrite to reflect the path to your XenForo installation.
    #RewriteBase /xenforo
 
    #    This line may be needed to enable WebDAV editing with PHP as a CGI.
    #RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]
 
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -l [OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
    RewriteRule ^.*$ - [NC,L]
    RewriteRule ^(data/|js/|styles/|install/|favicon\.ico|crossdomain\.xml|robots\.txt) - [NC,L]
    RewriteRule ^.*$ index.php [NC,L]
</IfModule>

 

[Jake Bunce]

Yes you need the .htaccess file. The rewrite rules enable removal of "index.php" from the URL.

 

[AndyB]

Hi Jake,

Thank you answering my question.

What does this portion of the .htaccess file do and is it needed?

ErrorDocument 401 default
ErrorDocument 403 default
ErrorDocument 404 default
ErrorDocument 500 default

 

[Chris D]

It allows you to define custom error pages.

This article is useful: http://www.addedbytes.com/articles/for-beginners/error-documents-for-beginners/

 

[AndyB]

Thank you, Chris, that link is extremely helpful.

As Jake indicated, this part of the .htaccess file is needed to remove the "index.php" part of the URL.

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -l [OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
    RewriteRule ^.*$ - [NC,L]
    RewriteRule ^(data/|js/|styles/|install/|favicon\.ico|crossdomain\.xml|robots\.txt) - [NC,L]
    RewriteRule ^.*$ index.php [NC,L]
</IfModule>

Could someone explain what these lines do. Are they all needed? Could the same be done with fewer lines?

 

[Jake Bunce]

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -l [OR]
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
    RewriteRule ^.*$ - [NC,L]
    RewriteRule ^(data/|js/|styles/|install/|favicon\.ico|crossdomain\.xml|robots\.txt) - [NC,L]
    RewriteRule ^.*$ index.php [NC,L]
</IfModule>

Could someone explain what these lines do.

If the server has mod_rewrite then turn on mod_rewrite. If the requested resource exists on the server then let it pass and do nothing. If it doesn't exist and it's not a known XF directory or file then send the request to index.php to be used as a friendly URL.

Are they all needed? Could the same be done with fewer lines?

Yes. No.

 

[AndyB]

Thank you, Jake.