One thing that I think confuses many people about the apache docs is trying to determine what kind of pathname each directive takes. For example, should a pathname be
1. Absolute 2. Relative to the documentroot 3. Relative to the webspace 3. Relative to the serverroot etc...
Some directives are clear about this, but some are not. For example, the DocumentRoot directive says Syntax: DocumentRoot directory-filename
I have actually seen several people try to point DocumentRoot at a particular file, rather than a directory.
Does anyone have ideas/suggestions on how to clarify this?
Perhaps define specific terms, and use them consistently?
absolutepath documentpath urlpath serverpath
Alongside the definition of these terms, we could have something like the following:
Note: Apache uses several different kinds of paths. The first kind, the URL path or 'urlpath, applies to the URLs users send to the server. Logically, URL paths are used for cases where you are describing the abstract structure of a site. Absolute paths (aka 'absolutepath') always start with a slash and are the same as absolute system paths you'd use in any other program. Apache tries to avoid these, in favor of the other types, but sometimes absolute specificity is worthwhile or necessary. Server paths ('serverpath') govern the location of administrative files (configuration files, apache programs, certificate files, etc.), and are in terms of the apache root directory, also called the 'PREFIX', as defined when Apache was compiled. Typically this is /usr/local/apache, but it may be different on your system.
Document paths, represented in directive definitions as 'docpath', are relative to the document root of a site. On sites using virtual hosts, the docroot may be defined separately for each virtual host, so be careful you know which docroot your docpaths are relative to.
Chris Pepper -- Chris Pepper: <http://www.reppep.com/~pepper/> NEW: Mastering Mac OS X: <http://www.reppep.com/~pepper/mmosx/>
--------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
