Help with .htaccess please

[TSRman]

I run a site wich is externally hosted, so I have no control over Apache per se. I am trying to use .htaccess with some limited success but would appreciate some help.

My host appears to have '+Indexes' as the default as any folder can be browsed. I want to stop this, and provide 'home grown' error pages.

I put

Options -Indexes
ErrorDocument 401 /error_docs/unauthorised.html
ErrorDocument 403 /error_docs/forbidden.html
ErrorDocument 404 /error_docs/not_found.html
ErrorDocument 500 /error_docs/internal_server_error.html

In the root - and that worked, stopping browsing in all folders

I then wanted to enable browsing in 1 particular folder
so I put

Options +Indexes

in that folder - it didnt work. why?

I changed the root .htaccess - took out '-Indexes'
to use the default which is 'enabled browsing'
and then put '-Indexes' in every other folder except the one I want to browse - that worked - but seems to me to be the wrong way to go about it
i.e. stop all and permit specific is more secure.

Comments / help Please?

Also with the '-Indexes' in the /cgi-bin/ folder .pl scripts dont execute and email form falls over - so I took it out and at the moment that folder can be browsed

Again - help please

Allan

 

[smah]

In the .htaccess for the folder that you wanted to allow browsing (Options +Indexes), did you also include AllowOverride all?

http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.0/mod/core.html

 

[TSRman]

OK - tried that
All .htaccess removed
Added root .htaccess with 'Options -Indexes' plus error pages bit
This stops all browsing ( and email form no longer works - cant access .pl in /cgi-bin/ folder )
Added
AllowOverride All
Options +Indexes in the appropriate folder
but browsing still not permitted in the folder

 

[smah]

Sorry, a little testing on my part seems to indicate that AllowOverride doesn't seem to be required after all.

Try this in the subfolder that you want to browse:

IndexOptions FancyIndexing
Options Indexes

 

[TSRman]

Thanks - I cut and paste your 2 lines
but still no go

I tried 'Options Indexes' and 'Options +Indexes'
no difference