RE: [PHP-DB] Dynamic sites, to appear static...?

On 04 September 2003 11:18, Tristan.Pretty@risk.sungard.com wrote: > I've been building web sites that use a database backend for > some time > now. > I typically use the format. > http://www.mysite.com/index.php?page=contact > http://www.mysite.com/index.php?page=home > http://www.mysite.com/index.php?page=aboutus > etc.... > > My most recent job wants to use differnt pages, so the search engines > will pick up the url's as clearly defined, and not dynamic, as I > normally do... > Is there a way I can still admin the pages, and allow my client to > add/delete pages, but use static links , without '?page=home' etc... > > I hope I've made sence... > I've discused this with my client, and he said a friend of > his claimed > 'that webserver software should have a module or plugin that > will do this' > I've never heard of that, have I been living under a rock? Not even a module (well, except for php!) or plugin. If you're using Apache as your Web server with mod_php, anything looking like path information following the script name is passed to your script in $_SERVER['PATH_INFO']. Take a look at, for example: http://www.lmu.ac.uk:8082/lco/php/support.php/visitors/welcome Note the position of support.php in that URL -- this URL is processed by running support.php with $_SERVER['PATH_INFO'] set to '/visitors/welcome', which the script decodes to decide what it actually needs to display. There's nothing particularly special in my httpd.conf file to make this work -- the relevant section is simply: <Directory "****/lco/php/"> AddType application/x-httpd-php .php Order allow,deny </Directory> As a refinement, if you don't want people to see the .php on the script name, so that the URL could be (say): http://www.lmu.ac.uk:8082/lco/php/support/visitors/welcome you can tweak this to: <Directory "****/lco/php/"> AddType application/x-httpd-php .php DefaultType application/x-httpd-php # or ForceType if you prefer </Directory> Then you either need a relevant AliasMatch or Rewrite so the above still gets to call support.php, or you simply upload all your scripts to the server with their bare name to match. I believe IIS is capable of passing PATH_INFO information, too, if you set it up right, but as I don't use it I can't be sure (or tell you how it might work!). Cheers! Mike --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Ford, Electronic Information Services Adviser, Learning Support Services, Learning & Information Services, JG125, James Graham Building, Leeds Metropolitan University, Beckett Park, LEEDS, LS6 3QS, United Kingdom Email: m.ford@lmu.ac.uk Tel: +44 113 283 2600 extn 4730 Fax: +44 113 283 3211