Dynamic File Extension with mod rewrite

[ignatz]

I have a client with a demo app built in php, but they want the browser to show .do extensions instead of .php extensions. I've tried numerous .htaccess permutations, and here is what isn't working:

Options +FollowSymlinks
RewriteEngine On

#if file extension is .do, process as .php page on server
RewriteRule ^(.*)\.do$ $1.php [nc]

#if file extension is .php, redirect to .do url
RewriteRule ^(.*)\.php$ $1.do [R=301,L]

The first bit by itself works fine, if you enter blah/blah.do?id=2, server will execute blah/blah.php?id=2

However if I add the second rule (to redirect .php requests to .do urls) it all breaks down.

I've been struggling with this for a few hours and my brain is starting to melt down. Any help would be appreciated, thank you!

[jdMorgan]

Yes, the problem is that the two rules always countermand each other, leading to an 'infinite' rewrite-redirect loop. You must check the original client request before redirecting in order to prevent this:

# if requested file extension is .do, rewrite to .php file on server 
RewriteRule ^(.*)\.do$ $1.php [L]
#
# if file extension .php is directly-requested by client, redirect to .do url
RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^[A-Z]{3,9}\ /.*\.php(\?[^\ ]*)?\ HTTP/
RewriteRule ^(.*)\.php$ $1.do [R=301,L]

If you want to handle uppercase/mixed-case variants of ".do" then do it separately, redirecting uppercase/mixed-case variations to the all-lowercase URL; Otherwise, you risk duplicate-content problems.

Jim

[ignatz]

Jim,

Thank you very much, it worked a treat! In order to "learn how to fish" I'll be spending some time studying the example you gave.
I see on the first line you added the [L] parameter, which I think means that should be the last rule if true.
And the new RewriteCond, does that check to make sure that the client requested it and not a server redirect?

Anyway thanks again!

[g1smd]

[L] means stop here. This is correct.

Yes. It tests THE_REQUEST - what the browser originally requested.

Personally, I always put the redirects first in the code and the rewrites last too.