more friendly Apache authentication

avoiding browser-dependent popups

[dhiggerdhigger]

I am using .htaccess and .htpasswd to provide authentication for a website. However, when a visitor browses to the root www.example.com, I would like there to be a login page, rather than the immediate browser-dependent popup, asking for username and password.

I was wondering if an exception in .htaccess to the authentication for the index.htm page (satisfy any) might achieve this. If so, how does one link a html page with login fields to the Apache authentication?

[jdMorgan]

One doesn't, usually. You either use Apache's built in auth mechanism, or you incorporate all auth processing into your script.

Jim