Index Manager

[DWD]

In the CPanel 7 User Guide 1.2 at this location, http://www.cpanel.net/docs/cp/index.html, there is the following information:

 

Default System Setting - Use the system setting for your hosting machine. This is set for all directories by default.

 

No Indexes - Do not use any indexes. Any browser that accesses this directory will see a list of all files in the directory.

 

Standard Indexing (text only) - Prevents browsers from viewing the contents of this directory. The browser receives a 403 (Forbidden) error. This option should be used for directories that do not contain image files.

 

Fancying Indexing (graphics) - Prevents browsers from viewing the contents of this directory. The browser receives a 403 (Forbidden) error. This option should be used for directories that do contain image files.

Question 1: Theses descriptions make no sense to me. For "No Indexes" it says any browser "will see" an index list. For "Standard" and "Fancy" it says that it "prevents browsers from viewing" the index. Isn't this backwards???

 

Question 2: I notice that the default for all of my website folders/directories is apparently the "Fancy" option. Isn't this less secure than having the default option be no indexes?

 

Question 3: I want to set all my folders/directories to no indexes. Is there a way to do this globally instead of having to set every single folder and subfolder individually?

 

Question 4: Is there any reason not to set all my folders/directories to no indexes?

[TCH-Dick]

That guide looks a little screwy. I don't use cPanel to deal with my indexes. When I create a new directory that is not going to have an index page, for example an images folder. I just create a blank index(.htm,.html,.php) page.

[LisaJill]

Add

 

Options -Indexes

 

to your root level .htaccess.

 

More Info.

[DWD]

I feel like Neo in the Matix when he said, "I know Kung Foo."

 

After reading the replies here and then googling "htaccess" and reading some htaccess guides:

 

"I know htaccess." (It's funnier in my head with Keanu Reeves' voice.)

 

Thanks, I will be adding Options -Indexes to my .htaccess file.

 

Still curious about questions 2, 3, and 4 and why TCH chooses the default of fancy indexes.

[DWD]

OK, I found my .htaccess file using the cpanel file manager and edited it there to add the line, "Options -Indexes" as shown below. I left everything else alone. (Note to newbies like myself, the .htaccess file was not visable using my FTP program.)

 

# -FrontPage-

 

IndexIgnore .htaccess */.??* *~ *# */HEADER* */README* */_vti*

 

Options -Indexes

 

 

order deny,allow

deny from all

allow from all

 

 

order deny,allow

deny from all

 

AuthName www.danzfamily.com

AuthUserFile /home/danzfam/public_html/_vti_pvt/service.pwd

AuthGroupFile /home/danzfam/public_html/_vti_pvt/service.grp

But...I still get a fancy index listing when I access directories which have no index file such as, http://www.danzfamily.com/pictures/

 

What have I done wrong?

[LisaJill]

I'm not really great with .htaccess - but I'm thinking that the line above it says to ignore .htaccess. Someone else will need to step in and say something though; or you could try removing that line and see if it helps. =)

[DWD]

From studying .htaccess a little, I belive the IndexIgnore and the specific items and wildcards listed after it are cumulative...and that "Options -Indexes" also does the same thing.

 

So it should work, but it is not.

 

HELP!

[DWD]

FIXED IT!

 

Originally, when I was messing around with index options using cpanel, even though I put everything back the way it was, cpanel put a .htaccess file in the subdirectories I had been experimenting with which was still there and overriding my edit of the primary .htaccess file. I deleted those subdirectory .htaccess files and all is well now. Error 404 pages are coming up like I want.

 

Thanks all.

[TCH-Bruce]

Glad you sorted it out. Thumbs Up