2008
Removing index.php from URLs for better SEO optimization, htaccess, PHP 5.2.6 and ExpressionEngine
Permalink 28 Posted in: ExpressionEngine TutorialsFinally my site runs at PHP5, MySql 5. As I announced few months ago, but that happened few days ago. We can feel a little speed up, but besides that, and of course new PHP5 features, there is all like before.
As there is always "but", I experienced some little headache problems. My rewrite rule for removing index.php from URL just stopped working. In that moment I didn’t knew that the update already happened. I was using tutorial from the wiki page of ExpressionEngine
Old rewrite rule:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /index.php/$1 [L]
If you had un update of php version to 5.2.6 like me, you can try this solution. This worked for me:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /index.php?/$1 [L]
NOTE: The blue question mark after index.php. This is working on HostGator servers, maybe for some strange reason, is not working on your site/server.
More about the solution at ExpressionEngine Forum
Update
Just received a very useful comment of Levi Graham. He published one cool extension for EE called LG .htaccess Generator. So, for more .htaccess and ExpressionEngine things, check his page.
SS NZ
Friday, 23 May 2008 05:22am
I host my site on Hostgator too, but how do I know they upgrade their PHP versin? I will try out these code and see how it works. Thanks a lot!
Davor
Friday, 23 May 2008 07:10am
SEO Services NZ wrote:
I host my site on Hostgator too, but how do I know they upgrade their PHP versin? I will try out these code and see how it works. Thanks a lot!
Hi SSZ!
Well, if you want to know what version of PHP you have, there are several ways, but the most easiest is, that you log in into your cPanel, an at bottom of left column read the versions of PHP, perl, MySql db etc..
And of course, I had some problems like; all is working (home page etc), and I couldn’t open any of my pages, always would open a home page. In that case I understood thath something is wrong with my .htaccess and rewrite rule.
But of course, this is related also to my CMS, ExpressionEngine, so, as I say in the article, maybe you don’t neet to modify anything, if you don’t using EE.
davor
SC India
Monday, 16 Jun 2008 03:25am
I think this will help me in many ways.
Bookmarking your site
looking forward to more on this
Thanks
Rcp
Monday, 07 Jul 2008 06:26am
Thanks for the tip. I am always open to new discoveries, particularly in optimizing my site. I do have an update of php version to 5.2.6. Let me see if your solution will work on mine. By the way, have you figured out why the blue question mark after index.php does not work with yours?
gerry leo nugroho
Sunday, 03 Aug 2008 11:49pm
Hi, I tried the first method :
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /index.php/$1 [L]
ever since my installed version of PHP currently is only covered for 5.2.5, but still they’re not working. Oh btw, I’m on ExpressionEngine v 1.6.2. Wondering if it any issues on them too.
Davor
Monday, 04 Aug 2008 01:19am
gerry leo nugroho wrote:
Hi, I tried the first method :RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /index.php/$1 [L]ever since my installed version of PHP currently is only covered for 5.2.5, but still they’re not working. Oh btw, I’m on ExpressionEngine v 1.6.2. Wondering if it any issues on them too.
Hi Gerry
I don’t think that EE version you have is doing that issues, but I recommend you to upgrade your version to the last one, just for security reasons.
You sad that you tried first version, did you tried the second one? Because the first one isn’t working for me, I replaced it with the second solution.
Try it, and send the comment
thanx
gerry leo nugroho
Monday, 04 Aug 2008 04:14am
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /index.php?/$1 [L]
Yeap now trying with the second option, but still no luck? Wondering what when wrong here and there though? Is there any server specific requirements to meet? I’m getting so frustrated here.
Davor
Monday, 04 Aug 2008 05:37am
Generally speaking you need simple URL rewriting. This solution (second one) is working on my host (HostGator), maybe you could contact your hosting support and see with them. Tell them that the “standard” rewrite tool is not working, and if they could check it, maybe give you another solution.
That could help, I hope so :)
dp
gerry leo nugroho
Monday, 04 Aug 2008 07:03pm
I’m hosting my site on site5 currently, I guess they’ve setup their server the common way. Based on the fact I managed to get the permalink or other .htaccess requirement for other CMS such textpattern and wordpress working just fine. Btw, I starting a thread in case you’re also interested on the subject on EE forums . Many thanks Davor.
Davor
Tuesday, 05 Aug 2008 01:59am
gerry leo nugroho wrote:
I’m hosting my site on site5 currently, I guess they’ve setup their server the common way. Based on the fact I managed to get the permalink or other .htaccess requirement for other CMS such textpattern and wordpress working just fine. Btw, I starting a thread in case you’re also interested on the subject on EE forums . Many thanks Davor.
You’re welcome.
If rewrite rule work for wordpress, I think it could work for EE too, but, I don’t know so much about WP :(
thanx again
dp
Make Money
Saturday, 13 Sep 2008 03:04am
Yea, I had this problem a while ago but it’s all fixed now - glad to see someone like u helping everyone out
Davor
Saturday, 13 Sep 2008 08:50am
Make Money wrote:
Yea, I had this problem a while ago but it’s all fixed now - glad to see someone like u helping everyone out
You’re welcome. I know how it is when you searchin and aearching for some solution, and you find the right thing that you need.
So I hope it helps
dp
Levi Graham
Thursday, 18 Sep 2008 06:18pm
Hey Davor,
I have written a post about LG .htaccess Generator over on my blog. It explains the default rules of the extension which your readers might find useful.
Bascially the extension uses the “include” method for removing the index.php and automatically adds the required template groups and pages.
I also recently encountered an issue with query strings on the site index, specifically Campaign Monitors outgoing email links. I wrote a post about it here.
.htaccess is indeed a very tricky subject that causes lots and lots of headaches.
Cheers Leevi
Davor
Thursday, 18 Sep 2008 06:36pm
Levi Graham wrote:
Hey Davor,
I have written a post about LG .htaccess Generator over on my blog. It explains the default rules of the extension which your readers might find useful.
Bascially the extension uses the “include” method for removing the index.php and automatically adds the required template groups and pages.
I also recently encountered an issue with query strings on the site index, specifically Campaign Monitors outgoing email links. I wrote a post about it here.
.htaccess is indeed a very tricky subject that causes lots and lots of headaches.
Cheers Leevi
Hi Levi!
Thanky you for posting more resources that would be very useful for EE users. I’ll also check it, because it has very interesting staff that I was searching and thinking how to do it. :)
I updated my article, so people could find faster your link.
Thank you!
Davor
Leevi Graham
Thursday, 18 Sep 2008 07:31pm
Hey Davor,
Thanks for the feedback and promoting my link. :)
Cheers Leevi
PP
Monday, 22 Sep 2008 12:12pm
Thanks Davor for this post, my friend will be so exciting to check this. I really appreciate your work over here :)
PP
Tuesday, 23 Sep 2008 09:47am
This is truly a great read for me!! Once again, thanks for the quality articles you post on your blog!! I admire your articles and informative information you share. Keep up the good work. I have you bookmarked to show this to my brother!
Thanks
Larry
Tuesday, 07 Oct 2008 04:04pm
u know dp, I’ve been trying to find this info for ages now. As you aptly mentioned, it indeed is brilliant to finally find the proper working solution when you’ve been “searching and searching”. Thanks man, that is one more problem resolved for me. Kudos to you.
Davor
Tuesday, 07 Oct 2008 04:16pm
Larry wrote:
u know dp, I’ve been trying to find this info for ages now. As you aptly mentioned, it indeed is brilliant to finally find the proper working solution when you’ve been “searching and searching”. Thanks man, that is one more problem resolved for me. Kudos to you.
I’m glad if this solution is the “right” one, and you don’t need keep searching.
thanx
dp
Alex Jay
Wednesday, 18 Feb 2009 08:15am
Do I keep the %{REQUEST_FILENAME} just like that or do I add a filename?
Thank you,
AJ
Davor
Friday, 11 Dec 2009 08:09am
Hi Jon, that are conditions, but Im not a apache geek :) here you can find more info.
thanx
Skineti
Thursday, 25 Feb 2010 06:41pm
Wow i had been having the biggest problem trying to get rid of the index.php on my joomla site with hostgator. Your suggestion just fixed it.
THANKS!!!
Rob @ Web Design Talk
Friday, 26 Feb 2010 04:13pm
Nice tutorial, have used this on a few occasions. I really can’t find any explanation as they why adding the extra ‘?’ works for PGP v5.2.6
Must be how each host has their PHP setup I guess, would like to know though, just out of interest :)
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