Adding a passcode to a directory

Scenario - I wanted to provide an easy download link that can be used to circulate a number of documents to people on a maiing list, with them able to pick and choose which they read. Don't want them to have to login / give passwords, but do want to be able to make it something more than just a simple URL. Don't want to have to write much code either.

Simple solution - require them to add a piece of text as the query string for each item downloaded; if sending out links in am email, that extra text can go into the link. Use mod_rewrite to check for the query string that's required. If it's there, feed the required document, otherwise feed an error page.

Here's my .htaccess file (with the passcode - extra string - altered from the real thing, of course!):

  RewriteEngine Off

  RewriteEngine On

  

  RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING}  (10_per_day)

  RewriteRule ^(.*)$ $1 [L]

  

  RewriteRule ^(.*)$ i.txt

The i.txt file is my error text file; the passcode can be easily changed and since it's a regular expression I can do all sorts of things with it like add alternatives. It would also be a good idea to add this directory to my robots.txt just in case someone publishes a link and passcode on their own page.

P.S. The rather curious off and on for the engine at the start is to prevent the parent directory's mod_rewrite settings percollating down to this directory.
(written 2012-06-05, updated 2012-06-09)

Associated topics are indexed under

A607 - Web Application Deployment - Apache httpd mod_rewrite
  [3862] Forwarding a whole domain, except for a few directories - Apache http server - (2012-09-17)
  [3568] Telling which ServerAlias your visitor used - useful during merging domains - (2012-01-04)
  [3339] Simplest ever proxy configuration? - (2011-06-28)
  [3197] Finding and diverting image requests from rogue domains - (2011-03-08)
  [2981] How to set up short and meaningfull alternative URLs - (2010-10-02)
  [2900] Redirecting a page - silent, temporary or permanent? - (2010-08-03)
  [2773] Dynamically watching your web site via a PHP wrapper - (2010-05-21)
  [2768] Carrying a long URL around - looking for memorable shorts - (2010-05-17)
  [2728] Redirecting a home page using mod_rewrite - (2010-04-17)
  [2555] Bookkeeping - (2009-12-29)
  [2094] If you have a spelling mistake in your URL / page name - (2009-03-21)
  [1954] mod_rewrite for newcomers - (2008-12-20)
  [1778] Pointing all the web pages in a directory at a database - (2008-08-30)
  [1771] More HowTo diagrams - MySQL, Tomcat and Java - (2008-08-24)
  [1731] Apache httpd, MySQL, PHP - installation procedure - (2008-08-01)
  [1636] What to do if the Home Page is missing - (2008-05-08)
  [1381] Using a MySQL database to control mod_rewrite via PHP - (2007-10-06)
  [1376] Choosing between mod_proxy and mod_rewrite - (2007-10-02)
  [1207] Simple but effective use of mod_rewrite (Apache httpd) - (2007-05-27)
  [1009] Passing GET parameters through Apache mod_rewrite - (2006-12-27)
  [1006] Apache httpd and Apache Tomcat together tips - (2006-12-24)
  [934] Clustering, load balancing, mod_rewrite and mod_proxy - (2006-11-21)
  [755] Using different URLs to navigate around a single script - (2006-06-11)
  [631] Apache httpd to Tomcat - jk v proxy - (2006-03-03)

2fdf

Back to
Melksham Visitors Map - Bus routes and train lines to and from the town

Previous and next
or
Horse's mouth home

Forward to
Eyes Wide Open

Some other Articles

Ruby - a teaching example showing many of the language features in short but useful program
Ruby on Rails - how it flows, and where the files go
Cruising on the Mersey Ferry?
Eyes Wide Open
Adding a passcode to a directory
Melksham Visitors Map - Bus routes and train lines to and from the town
Public transport for international arrivals into Melksham
Matching opening hours to when customers can come in and buy
Removal of water safety equipment, and how to use a lifesaver ring
Not everyone has a computer - 9 more ways to learn about the Melksham Campus

4084 posts, page by page

Link to page ... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 at 50 posts per page

This is a page archived from The Horse's Mouth at http://www.wellho.net/horse/ - the diary and writings of Graham Ellis. Every attempt was made to provide current information at the time the page was written, but things do move forward in our business - new software releases, price changes, new techniques. Please check back via our main site for current courses, prices, versions, etc - any mention of a price in "The Horse's Mouth" cannot be taken as an offer to supply at that price.

Link to Ezine home page (for reading).
Link to Blogging home page (to add comments).

You can Add a comment or ranking to this page

Public Training Courses

Running regularly at our UK training Centre.
[Schedule] - [About] - [Book]

Like this? ??