Hi all, I’ve just launched a new website dealing with leaflet printing, and need to redirect all traffic from my old domain to the new one. Normally I would use a php / asp header to redirect the pages, but all of the old pages are.htm so I cant use these. I was trying to use a .htaccess file but my host said that to make this work I need to upgrade my package (and spend a lot more money), which I don’t want to do for a dying domain. In the mean time I have used meta refresh tags just to pass users to the new site (an example is here), but this really is not ideal. Anyone any ideas on how I can redirect the pages? --------------------------- Dave
I think you have answered your own question. The only good way to redirect to transfer pagerank is with a 301 redirect, and for HTML this can only be achieved successfully with an updated htdocs file. I am not sure why your hosting company are trying to charge you for this, it should just be a file uploaded to your area, there should be no extra cost. They are most probably doing it to be difficult as you have left them, but its not on and I would fight it if I were you!
Dave, Do a search of .htaccess on DP and you'll find good examples of how the file should look. Also make sure your ftp program shows all files, including hidden ones, otherwise you can make the mistake of thinking .htaccess hasn't been uploaded. Lastly, check, check and double check that your .htaccess has been created correctly, before you upload it. Fuzz
Why don't you just cancel the old hosting and simply set an A-record for the old domain to point to the new one?
Hi, Yeah strange thing is every time I try to drag a file called .htaccess into the ftp area it disappears. Same if I upload a file and then rename it .htaccess. I assume the hosting company has set this up so that they can charge if people want to use .htaccess files!?
Yea it sounds like your hosting company is giving you the run-around. It shouldn't be that difficult to add that ability for you, and you definitely should use htaccess to 301 all old pages to the new ones
Hi all, Thanks for all of your replies so far. I'm going to get on this one today so you're suggestions will come in really useful. ----------------- Dave customised promotional usb drives
Dave, if none of the above advice happens to work, CHANGE YOUR HOSTING PROVIDER. Most hosting providers should have .htaccess and mod_rewrite enabled by default anyway if they're running a LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) server setup anyway.