I use a hosting service, JustHost, for my blog and other websites. Rather than go through the laborious and inevitably fraught process of installing software programmes from scratch, I love using use Fantastico automatic installing script. Just one click, wait a few seconds, and hey presto, there is another vanilla Moodle, Drupal, Joomla or whatever, just waiting for me to get acquainted with it. Having a Fantastico Moodle script is the first thing I check out when I’m searching for a hosting company!
However, the last few installs (Xoops, Moodle, Joomla)have been a bit on the frustrating side themselves. When I click on the urls the host provides, and often within the programmes, I am taken to directories – you know, these blue hyperlink lines down the left side of the html page. I then have to search for the correct link which will lead me to the GUI for me to log in or to do my admin. Very annoying – and most probably my students will have the same experience.
The solution lies in doing two things. Firstly find the file named htaccess.txt at the top directory level of your software. Edit it to include the following code:
DirectoryIndex index.php index.html index.htm
Options +Indexes
I put it just above the bottom line of commented out explanations.
The second thing to do is to rename the file to .htaccess. This now instructs the computers to go to the correct address, in order of preference.
Thanks to drupal.org/ for suggesting both steps.
My programmes now work well, with the correct interface appearing all the time. Phew!
