how to change php permalinks?

[ginx]

Hello just got a script for my site <snip>
Now i want to change the php permalinks
e.g. If you click at acne link curently the link shows as http://www.example.com/showarticles.php?cat=100
i want it to show as http://www.example.com/acne/

Like wise first article in acne category here (Home >Acne>Whats The Real Cause Of Acne?) shows as http://www.example.com/showarticle.php?article=1770
I want it to show as http://www.example.com/acne/Whats-The-Real-Cause-Of-Acne?

So can someone please guide me how to change the permalinks to make them more SEO friendly.

Thanks :)

[edited by: dreamcatcher at 9:02 am (utc) on Mar 7, 2010]
[edit reason] Exemplified Urls. [/edit]

[rocknbil]

Welcome aboard ginx,

If you click at acne link curently the link shows as http://www.example.com/showarticles.php?cat=100
i want it to show as http://www.example.com/acne/

Mod_rewrite Primer [webmasterworld.com]

Keep in mind many starting new with mod_rewrite get it backwards; you want to link to the SEO friendly link from your site,

http://www.example.com/acne/

The rewrite it to your PHP script.

[ginx]

can u please elaborate further ? what and where to edit ?

[rocknbil]

Follow the link in the previous post. You would do this in the root level .htaccess file on most Linux servers.

mod_rewrite documentation [httpd.apache.org]

Hmm, seems like the Apache site is down today!

[g1smd]

Be sure to look at the right documents for Apache version 1.x or 2.x as appropriate.