htaccess and directory listing

When you put a hyperlink to /downloads in the code, and the user clicks it, they're just going to pull up the page and be subject to the same htaccess rules as when they first loaded the page.

If you want to show the files in a directory with browsing disabled by htaccess (or by httpd.conf - you can turn off DirectoryIndex in Options too) then you will need to script something to read the directory and dynamically build the page.  It's very easy in PHP if you have that installed on your server.  Here is a sample script:

<?php

$folder="/var/www/html/ee";
$handle=opendir($folder);
while (false!==($filename=readdir($handle))) {
        if ( ($filename!="..")&&($filename!=".") ) {
                echo "<a href=$filename>$filename</a><br>\n";
        }
}

?>

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first i would thank you for your help....

the problem that my boss prefer not to use php and use a configuration in the httpd.conf

he is Convinced that there should be a solution without rewriting the page in php

i have found this link

http://perishablepress.com/stupid-htaccess-tricks/#sec3

i don't know if i can write a rule for directory

what do you think?

thanks.

It doesn't have to be PHP, it could be CGI or SSI, or java(script) but the point is, if you deny clients the ability to list a directory, then the only way you're going to be able to show them the contents of that directory is by having the web server scan that folder and generate a dynamic listing.

You have to understand that <a href=/downloads> doesn't actually do anything until somebody clicks it.  And when they click it, they then load the folder just as if they'd gone do it directly from a bookmark, or some other method.  In either (and every) case, they will then be subject to whatever rules are in the .htaccess file for that directory (or in httpd.conf if specified there instead, but ultimately it's the same thing)

thanks again.

i am understanding from your answer that :

<a href=/downloads/>  is equals to <a href=http://www.example.com/downloads/>

is that right?

i just want to be sure , are you sure that there are no solution that gave me access from

Relative url

Relative /images/downloads/

But forbid access from

Absolute http://www.example.com/downloads/

The issue that i need directory listing but not from absolute url

thanks very much.

Thanks very much I think your suggested solution Is perfect.