PHP Forum

**Jannes** · 03-02-2009, 08:04 PM

Hello, all. I apologize if this question has been answered, but my attempts to search have yielded only standard results (htaccess, .php extension, the usual stuff). I also apologize if the answer is fairly obvious, but I'm still newish to PHP.

My issue is that I've recently picked up a site for a church that has some very limited options in how their website is hosted. They are in a small town, and use a local ISP as their site's host.

The church would like me to do some things on their site that, for the most part, are not difficult, but one thing I need to do is add some PHP code to the index page.

Unfortunately, the host does not provide access to the htaccess file, so I can't set index.php as the main page, nor can I set .html files to be treated like .php files.

Is there anything else that can be done so PHP can be used in a .html file?

Thank you for your time!

**stevej** · 03-02-2009, 10:33 PM

Do you have the permission to delete files? If you did, you could delete the index.html file, and create an .php file to be used as an index (like index.php), and the user would automatically be forwarded to that.

- Steve

**Jannes** · 03-02-2009, 11:28 PM

I had tried that, but I can't set anything to register index.php as the home page. Attempting to use index.php yields a 404.

**Jaryth000** · 03-03-2009, 01:17 AM

" Attempting to use index.php yields a 404."

It sounds to me like an issue with the Server Configuration. Im not sure (and kinda doubt, from reading your post) that you have access to the server config... but if its running Apache for example, you can go into the httpd.conf file, and if you look at the lines:

Quote:

<IfModule dir_module>
DirectoryIndex index.html
</IfModule>

and where to change it to

Quote:

<IfModule dir_module>
DirectoryIndex index.php
</IfModule>

it should grab the php page instead of the html. If you have no access to the configs... and are 100% sure that the server DOES support PHP, then what I would do:

Have the index.html page have ONLY this in it:

Quote:

and whenever anyone requests the index page, it would see the html page, and be automaticaly redirected to the PHP page. Its a dirty workaround, but should hopefully work!

**Jannes** · 03-03-2009, 01:38 AM

Yes, I do not have any access to the server, other than being able to upload files. As I said, the host is a small-time ISP in a small town, and it is a rather poor option. I'm trying to convince the church's board to get a new host (numerous decent hosts who offer far better options at much lower costs) but until then, well, not much I can do.

I've been hoping there was some other option than a redirect, such as script tags or such, but I guess not.

C'est la vie.

Thank you, all, for your help!

**mgraphic** · 03-03-2009, 10:10 PM

Yes - New host would be the logical solution.

**johniman7** · 03-03-2009, 10:37 PM

I recommend www.awardspace.com for a free php compatable host. Very reliable and quick, but they don't allow .htaccess either but with them you can just delete index.html and use index.php and it will work.

**anderswc** · 03-05-2009, 09:51 AM

Or you can pay around $5 a month for "real" hosting. I did the free hosting thing for about a year before switching to paid hosting, and I have to say it's worth it. When you think about it, that's only $60 a year! If you choose a good host, you don't have any of the hassles of a free hosting solution (like no .htaccess or support).