Please help with http headers

[Jane Withnolastname]

I have seen many posts here eschewing the use of META tags, advising
instead to use http headers.
I have no idea what they are or how to get to them, so I would
appreciate some help.

My specific problem is this: my server supports SSI, but does not
display the index.shtml file, instead just displaying a directory
listing. I have tried to have them change this, but tech support is an
oxymoron (with emphasis on moron). In the meantime, I have uploaded a
regular index.html file that redirects, via meta, immediately to my
index.shtml page, creating a seamless entry to the site. Of course I
know this "breaks" the Back button and doesn't work for some users.
Which is why I would like to mess with the http headers to either
redirect to the index.shtml page or to "fix" the server so it displays
the index.shtml page instead of a directory listing.

Using Delorie's header reader, I get this from my server:

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 02:01:12 GMT
Server: Apache/1.3.26 (Unix)
Connection: close
Content-Type: text/html

Please tell me, what can I do to effect change?
Also, it should be noted that my .htaccess file (for 404) does not
seem to override theirs, if that matters at all....
Thanks!

[Mark Parnell]

Sometime around Thu, 27 Nov 2003 02:14:48 GMT, Jane Withnolastname is
reported to have stated:

My specific problem is this: my server supports SSI, but does not
display the index.shtml file, instead just displaying a directory
listing.

Please tell me, what can I do to effect change?
Also, it should be noted that my .htaccess file (for 404) does not
seem to override theirs, if that matters at all....

Yes, it matters very much. If you can't use a .htaccess file, you are
pretty much stuffed. There really isn't much you can do except get them to
change it. Other than changing hosts, of course. Which from what you have
described would be my recommendation.

Run as far away as you can.

--
Mark Parnell
http://www.clarkecomputers.com.au

[Dave Patton]

Jane Withnolastname <Ja**********************@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:rr********************************@4ax.com:

I have seen many posts here eschewing the use of META tags, advising
instead to use http headers.
I have no idea what they are or how to get to them, so I would
appreciate some help.

My specific problem is this: my server supports SSI, but does not
display the index.shtml file, instead just displaying a directory
listing. I have tried to have them change this, but tech support is an
oxymoron (with emphasis on moron). In the meantime, I have uploaded a
regular index.html file that redirects, via meta, immediately to my
index.shtml page, creating a seamless entry to the site. Of course I
know this "breaks" the Back button and doesn't work for some users.
Which is why I would like to mess with the http headers to either
redirect to the index.shtml page or to "fix" the server so it displays
the index.shtml page instead of a directory listing.

Using Delorie's header reader, I get this from my server:

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 02:01:12 GMT
Server: Apache/1.3.26 (Unix)
Connection: close
Content-Type: text/html

Please tell me, what can I do to effect change?
Also, it should be noted that my .htaccess file (for 404) does not
seem to override theirs, if that matters at all....
Thanks!

I know, this may not work, but ask them to provide you
with the Apache virtual host configuration for your site,
and any other Apache directives that affect your site.
For example, they may have disabled the use of .htaccess
files, or have used a different name, or only be allowing
some directives in .htaccess files.
Depending on how they have their servers setup, you might
be able to find, and read, the main Apache config file
to get the info yourself.
You could try using a DirectoryIndex directive in your
..htaccess file.

--
Dave Patton
Canadian Coordinator, the Degree Confluence Project
http://www.confluence.org dpatton at confluence dot org
My website: http://members.shaw.ca/davepatton/
Vancouver/Whistler - host of the 2010 Winter Olympics