.htaccess mod_rewrite question

I am not really familiary with mod_rewrite at all ...

How can I add code to my .htaccess file that will change a url like this:

http://upload.gnomeproblem.com/index.php?file=23745-bloodelfmounts.png

Code (markup):

into this:

http://upload.gnomeproblem.com/files/23745-bloodelfmounts.png

Code (markup):

 

Maybe like that , not sure , Nintendo is the master

RewriteRule ^files/([_A-Za-z0-9-]+)/?$ /index.php?file=23745$1 [NC,L]

 

that did it perfectly! thanks!

can u explain to me how that works so i can do it for other sites on my own? thanks

 

Just change the files/ to what ever you want the word/ to be then followed by the index.php?=whatever your string is

Like -------->>>>RewriteRule ^keyword/([_A-Za-z0-9-]+)/?$ /index.php?file=23745$1 [NC,L]

 

errrr scratch that its not working.. i thought it was heres what i put in my htaccess

RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule ^files/([_A-Za-z0-9-]+)/?$ /index.php?file=$1 [NC,L]

 

I changed it to this:

RewriteRule ^files/(.*)$ index.php?file=$1

and it worked