Forum Moderators: phranque
1. If I use ForceType can it apply to multiple file extension types (.php & .htm)?
2. Is the use of ForceType likely to impact other php apps/scripts already on the site e.g. I am using a phpbb forum (written in php)?
3. Any tricks or tips for client side of development working with files with no extension? I'm using DreamWeaver which doesn't seem to like no extension.
Thank you
One thing that will help is to remember that "things" inside your server are referenced by URL from the outside, but by filepath/filename from the inside. URLs and filenames need have absolutely nothing in common. Therefore, it is easier to conceptualize this process you're undertaking by thinking in terms of removing the filetype from the URLs. But that does not mean that you need to remove the filetype from the internal filepath.
ForceType works using filenames, not URLs, so that makes the job easier.
A lot of issues come into play here, such as how well-organized your site is. In order to avoid interference with other scripts and resources, you can limit the scope of application of ForceType by directory, by URL, and in many other ways. By way of a warning, your last resort should be the method of checking for file-or-directory-exists; Although commonly seen in examples, it is slow and inefficient, and should be avoided if possible.
Jim
I know that extensionless URLs are sometimes recommended as an ideal, but in reality they come with no real benefits and several associated problems. As you have found, Windows and programs like Dreamweaver do not cope well with them, you are dependent on complex .htaccess rules, in ranking terms there is no advantage (and occasionally a disadvantage if the spider gets confused about the file type of a page), and anyway the end-users are reading your content not admiring your cruft-free URL structure.
I use extensions for most pages (almost always .htm or .html), even for URLs done with mod_rewrite. It is perhaps not the purest way, but it is often the best.
