Rewriting URLs without mod_rewrite

[uk webmaster]

Hi guys,

This is my first post, so please be gentle!

I know that mod_rewrite has been mentioned a lot in this section of the forum, but I can't quite seem to find exactly what I'm looking for. If someone asked the same question elsewhere, please point me in the right direction.

I am moving hosts and am currently using mod_rewrite successfully, but my new hosts do not support mod_rewrite.

As a guide, I'm basically converting

www.domain.com/items/1/

into www.domain.com/database/db/1.php

I used to use the old Rewrite rule in the htaccess file, but I'm stuck on how to achieve the same results without using mod_rewrite. I'm far from advanced, but not exactly a newbie - someone wrote somewhere that the 404 page itself could try to process the URL itself and return 404 if the destination address doesn't exist and show the 'cloaked' URL if it does.

Many thanks for any assistance you can offer me.

[jdMorgan]

uk_webmaster,

You could try RedirectMatch [httpd.apache.org] in mod_alias to achieve similar results in a somewhat less efficient way.

Or not move to any host that doesn't allow you to use the tools you need...

HTH,
Jim

[TheWebographer]

Hi UK-Webmaster,

I would change hosts.

[uk webmaster]

Hi jdMorgan,

Thanks for the link to RedirectMatch - I'll play araound with that.

The reason I have to move from my current host is that they are too expensive, offer awful support and do not allow mysql. This new host I've found (that doesn't support mod_rewrite) is the only one that is reasonably priced while remaining reputable and reliable. They have excellent support and allow plenty of bandwidth etc.

I'll mess around with RedirectMatch and get back to you.

Thanks a lot.

[uk webmaster]

Hi,

Thanks for pointing me to RedirectMatch - I used it with partial success in that it called the right page when I entered the 'non-existent' URL, but it changed the URL in the browser bar from the entered one into the actual URL it was reading. With mod_Rewrite, the address in the browser bar remained the 'non-existent' one. Is there a way to get around this in either RedirectMatch or another non-mod_Rewrite method.

Thanks for any light you can shed on this - it is much appreciated.

[jdMorgan]

uk_webmaster,

Unfortunately, that is the nature of a redirect, as opposed to a rewrite.

Post #3 applies. :(

Jim