Apache and mod-rewrite on IIS

Need help getting mod_rewrite working!

[dioman]

I am running Apache Server 1.3.12 on Win 2K.

I am unable to get mod-rewrite to run. Any ideas on set up, please?

The LoadModule rewrite_module modules/ApacheModuleRewrite.dll line of code seems to be present and the hash has been removed. However, if I run "apache -l" the module is not shown as present.

I seem to remember somewhere reading about needing to place an activate-module line somewhere.

Thankyou,

[DaveAtIFG]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld dioman! :) Unfortunately I can't answer your question, sorry. :( Apache's page about Apache under Windows [httpd.apache.org] suggests questions be posted to the comp.infosystems.www.servers.ms-windows newsgroup. If no one jumps in here with your answer, it's probably worth a try. Just be sure to drop back in and see us!

[dioman]

DaveAtIFG,

Thanks for your reply. I'll keep looking.

[PsychoTekk]

hi dioman, i'm not really sure whether i got the point, however, this
thread might help you:
[webmasterworld.com...]

i myself run an apache 1.3.20 on my win2000 machine.
the line in my httpd.conf file to load the module looks like this:
LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so

are you sure your apache uses dllibraries?

[dioman]

Thanks PsychoTekk for your reply.

I've looked at the forum thread suggested and seem to think that I've got all the required lines of code in place.

For example:
LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so
AddModule mod_rewrite.c

I've upgraded to Apache 1.2.23 and notice that the .dll files are no longer there.

Things still do not seem to be working.

Any other ideas will be welcome.

[gethan]

Welcome Dioman,

Do you get any errors in your log file?
What type of rules are you trying?

[dioman]

Gethan,

I have a .htaccess file called "my.htaccess" in a directory called "E:/apache/htdocs/re_write_test".

The line of code in the mt.htaccess is:

RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule ^news(.*)\.html$ shownews.php?id=$1.

The line of httpd.cof file identifying the my.htaccess file is:
AccessFileName my.htaccess

The error.log gives the following errors:
[Thu Mar 21 21:57:34 2002] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist:
e:/apache/htdocs/re_write_test/news1.html

Also it gives this error on starting up the service:
[Thu Mar 21 22:08:35 2002] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] Premature end of script headers: e:/php4/php.exe.

Thank you for your help.

[dioman]

Gethan,

By the way, PHP is working despite the error message.

Thanks

[gethan]

Sorry for the delay Dioman - had a weekend for a change ;)

Ok, no solutions - just suggestions.

Firstly, check that in httpd.conf that you allow overrides.

<Directory />
Options # as before
AllowOverride All
</Directory>

(if this is a live hosting server then not a good idea - but for a test server it's fine.)

Next test my.htaccess file is being used (possibly: invalid httpd.conf or that my.htaccess has a limited range of functions) - to test this put in

ErrorDocument 404 /error.html

And check that you get your error document displayed OK.

Alternatively try using .htaccess - with the same rules.

I hope this gets you closer to a working mod_rewrite.

[dioman]

Gethan,

Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate your help.

I've tried your suggestions with some success. The purpose-made 404 ("error.html")file does not show when the note1.html file is called (you will recall that "note1.html" is supossed to resolve in calling "shownews.php?id=1"), which I suppose shows that it is not being read. However, I cannot create a file with no prefix (i.e. a file named ".htaccess") using notepad. Is this possible in windows?

Sorry to be such a pest>

[Key_Master]

dioman,

Write the file with notepad and name it htaccess.txt then use Windows Explorer to rename the file .htaccess

[dioman]

Key_Master,

I've named the file "htaccess.txt" in Notepad and then tried to change it in Windows Explorer to ".htaccess". It keeps telling me that I can't due to the fact that "You must type a file name"(i.e. with a file prefix). Where am I going wrong?

Finally, I have changed the following "AllowOverride" expressions:

<Directory />
Options FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride All
</Directory>

Alias /icons/ "E:/Apache/icons/"

<Directory "E:/Apache/icons">
Options Indexes MultiViews
AllowOverride All
Order allow,deny
Allow from all
</Directory>

# "E:/Apache/cgi-bin" should be changed to whatever your ScriptAliased
# CGI directory exists, if you have that configured.
#
<Directory "E:/Apache/cgi-bin">
AllowOverride All
Options None
Order allow,deny
Allow from all
</Directory>

Am I being thick? (Please be kind when answering that question.)

With thanks yet again.

[Key_Master]

I found a fix for that. I'm on XP so there might be some minor differences in the instructions.

In Windows Explorer click on:

Tools>>Folder Options...>>File Types>>New

It will ask for a file extension. Type in ".htaccess" then click "ok". You will be shown the details for ".htaccess". Click on "Change", select a program from a list (Notepad or some other text editor). Afterwords you should be able to save and edit .htaccess files with Notepad.

[dioman]

Yes, me again.

I've just found something interesting. The ReWrite code in the htaccess file is:

"ErrorDocument 404 E:/apache/htdocs/error.html

RewriteEngine on
#RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^news(.*)\.html$ shownews.php?id=$1"

The intention is that news1.html will be parsed as "shownews.php?id=1".

If I enter "shownews.php?id=1" into the browser the return field is as expected. However, If I input "news1.html", I get an Explorer 404 page: If I enter "snews.html", I get my "error.html" page as identified in the htaccess code. So the file seems to be being read.

Is it the ReWrite code?

[gethan]

We're getting close :)

RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule ^/news(.*)\.html$ /shownews.php?id=$1

Assuming your two files are in the web root folder.

Should do it.... let me know ;)

The rewritebase option is very useful in situations where your running under a couple of sub dirs ... eg. /dir1/dir2/news3.html

Is written more easily as

RewriteEngine on
RewriteBase /dir1/dir2
RewriteRule ^/news(.*)\.html$ shownews.php?id=$1

HTH

[dioman]

Gethan,

Thank you once again for your patience.

I have altered my .htaccess file to your posted code as I found that you had placed an extra forward slash infront of the shownews.php statement.

Unfortunately, it still does not work. However, I continue to get the standard Microsoft 404 screen if I request "http://localhost/news1.html" and the error.log does not log an error. But if I request "http://localhost/news1.html" I get my purpose made "error.html" file and the error.log shows
"[Mon Mar 25 19:23:13 2002] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist:e:/apache/htdocs/nejws1.html"

Something is happening but I cannot grasp what. Or where to start looking.

[gethan]

I'm not sure whats happening here - it should have worked already.

Lets go back a stage and try a very simple rewrite rule

RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule ^/test\.html$ /works.html

Create only the file works.html - remove the errordocument and then request test.html - With that test we know that re_write is either working or not.

Guys - feel free to step in with the answer anytime :)

[dioman]

gethan,

I've tried your test without success, so I assume that mod_rewrite isn't working. I get a standard MS 404 file when test.html is requested.

The error log gives only:
[Tue Mar 26 07:16:03 2002] [error] Cannot remove module mod_php4.c: not found in module list
[Tue Mar 26 07:29:27 2002] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] File does not exist: e:/apache/htdocs/test.html.

Thank you for all your concern and help.

By the way, I like the Norfolk artists web site. I live in Cambridgeshire, only a stone's throw away from the North-West Norfolk coast.

[dioman]

The solution to the problem lies in the additional forward slash needed before the actual file declaration, as in before shownews.php:

RewriteRule ^news(.*)\.html$ /shownews.php?id=$1

Many thanks to all who have helped.