Jamii: /* Resolution */

2008-06-04T17:24:45Z

Resolution

Jamii: New page: ===How do I create a custom 404 message on my web site?=== Article:85 Created:2000-09-27 15:26:55 Categories: Web Publishing ====Question or Symptom==== When someone asks for a file...

2008-06-04T17:24:03Z

New page: ===How do I create a custom 404 message on my web site?=== Article:85 Created:2000-09-27 15:26:55 Categories: Web Publishing ====Question or Symptom==== When someone asks for a file...

New page

===How do I create a custom 404 message on my web site?===
Article:85
Created:2000-09-27 15:26:55
Categories:
Web Publishing

====Question or Symptom====
When someone asks for a file that doesn't exist on my web site they get
the generic SWCP 404 error page. Can I set up one specific to my web
site and how do I do that?

====Resolution====
When a browser requests a file on your web site which does not exist, they
receive a "404" error message. By default, they get a generic message which
informs them that the file was not found. You can also specify a custom 404
error message to give the user additional information, inform them about a
change in the web site structure, or even offer them a search page to help
them find what they want.

To set up a custom 404 message for your site, create a file called ".htaccess"
at the top level of your web site (usually in your public_html directory, but
possibly in a subdirectory of public_html). The "." at the beginning of the
filename ".htaccess" is important.

In your .htaccess file, put one line:

ErrorDocument 404 http://www.whatever.com/my404file.html

The 3rd item on that line should be a complete URL which points to the HTML
file which you want users to see when they try to access a file which doesn't
exist. There are a couple of things to keep in mind about .htaccess files:

1. They are "recursive". The .htaccess file in your public_html directory
will affect all subdirectories. If you want to have different 404 messages
for different parts of your site, you can put more .htaccess files in
other subdirectories. The .htaccess files at lower levels in the directory
tree will override the settings set at higher levels.

2. If you already have .htaccess files to do access controls, just add the
ErrorDocument line near the top of the file. Make sure it is OUTSIDE
and <LIMIT> statements in the file.

3. The .htaccess file needs to be world-readable in order to work. If you're
working in Unix, "chmod 644 .htaccess" will set the appropriate
permissions. If you're uploading the file with FTP, it will likely be
set to the correct permissions.

4. If you are using Front Page, this may not work. Front Page uses .htaccess
files as part of its setup and your change (adding an ErrorDocument line)
may get deleted by Front Page sometime down the road.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:24, 4 June 2008
Line 33:		Line 33:
	exist. There are a couple of things to keep in mind about .htaccess files:		exist. There are a couple of things to keep in mind about .htaccess files:

	1. They are "recursive". The .htaccess file in your public_html directory		1. They are "recursive". The .htaccess file in your public_html directory
	will affect all subdirectories. If you want to have different 404 messages		will affect all subdirectories. If you want to have different 404 messages
	for different parts of your site, you can put more .htaccess files in		for different parts of your site, you can put more .htaccess files in
	other subdirectories. The .htaccess files at lower levels in the directory		other subdirectories. The .htaccess files at lower levels in the directory
	tree will override the settings set at higher levels.		tree will override the settings set at higher levels.

	2. If you already have .htaccess files to do access controls, just add the		2. If you already have .htaccess files to do access controls, just add the
	ErrorDocument line near the top of the file. Make sure it is OUTSIDE		ErrorDocument line near the top of the file. Make sure it is OUTSIDE
	and <LIMIT> statements in the file.		and <LIMIT> statements in the file.

	3. The .htaccess file needs to be world-readable in order to work. If you're		3. The .htaccess file needs to be world-readable in order to work. If you're
	working in Unix, "chmod 644 .htaccess" will set the appropriate		working in Unix, "chmod 644 .htaccess" will set the appropriate
	permissions. If you're uploading the file with FTP, it will likely be		permissions. If you're uploading the file with FTP, it will likely be
	set to the correct permissions.		set to the correct permissions.

	4. If you are using Front Page, this may not work. Front Page uses .htaccess		4. If you are using Front Page, this may not work. Front Page uses .htaccess
	files as part of its setup and your change (adding an ErrorDocument line)		files as part of its setup and your change (adding an ErrorDocument line)
	may get deleted by Front Page sometime down the road.		may get deleted by Front Page sometime down the road.

KB 85 - Revision history

Jamii: /* Resolution */

Jamii: New page: ===How do I create a custom 404 message on my web site?=== Article:85 Created:2000-09-27 15:26:55 Categories: Web Publishing ====Question or Symptom==== When someone asks for a file...