Apache RewriteRule help needed

Question

application uses url like http://www.mydomain.com/item/3193.html to select and show proper record from mysql database.

just to mention, application is written in php, hosted on apache web server..

in fact that should be http://www.mydomain.com/item.html/3193.html, but in .htaccess i have RewriteRule that helps me to treat it like http://www.mydomain.com/item/3193.html

but on the new server that RewriteRule, from some reason does not work. as i said, it is defined in .htaccess with:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
#some conditions here
RewriteRule ^item/(.*) item.html/$1
#more conditions here

so, it works on old server. it (looks like ?) that it's not working on new server...

so, first of all, i will check with hosting provider if rewrite rules are allowed on server.

also, if they are (and i guess that they are), can i change syntax for this RewriteRule, to get ability i need?

thank you very much in advance!

Answer 1

It is more likely that you don't have permission to setup .htaccess files. Try to do some basic things like directory listing (without having an index{htm,html,php} or any default page you might have) using Options Indexes

If you are unable to see directory contents, the AllowOverride is set to None (or something restrictive) and that is your problem. It must at least be set to AllowOverride FileInfo and Options FollowSymLinks is also required. Talk to your provider if you really need it (*).

In case you can view the directory listing, then you don't have the required options, and then again, talk to your provider.

(*) RewriteRules are OK inside an .htaccess in a staging or development server where you are trying to get a job done fast without restarting apache many times. If you can, be sure to move them up to virtualhost configuration once your on production.