forced redirect with mod_rewrite in htaccess?

milkyway · 10-20-2009, 03:40 AM

Hi fellow warriors,

I'm not quite sure how to proceed with a tracking script which uses a mod_rewrite with htaccess.

For each link I want to track, the script gives me a URL like www.mydomain.com/recommends/XXX.

The paths and directories are set up ok, mod_rewrite is enabled. The htaccess-code which came with the script is as follows:

Code:

RewriteEngine on 
RewriteBase /recommends
RewriteRule ^/?(.*) /go/go.php/$1 [QSA]

When I put this as .htaccess into the "recommends" directory, I get an error message which says something like "no input file specified".

By trial and error, I found that when I change the last line to

Code:

RewriteRule ^/?(.*) /go/go.php/$1 [R,QSA]

everything is working just fine.

Now, what I don't understand:

Why do I have to enforce the redirect with the additional "R"?
If I add "R", although the programmer originally hadn't included it, could I run into any trouble?
Should I use "R=301" (permanently moved) or "R=302" (temporarily moved) for a tracking script? I only want to get some data about which adds convert better than others...
Oh, and should I include an L tag at the end of the last line, too?

Sorry for the beginner's questions. I've been searching for several hours now, and there is a ton of info about mod_rewrite, but nothing really answers my questions -- guess they are just too basic...

Any help appreciated,

milkyway

munkyscripts · 10-24-2009, 11:54 AM

Not sure but an alternate way to track the clicks is to use js. this is code i use.

Code:

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> 
<!-- 
function trackclick(id) {
if(document.images){ 
    (new Image()).src="/wp-content/plugins/munkytoplist/out.php?id="+id;
} 
return true;
}
// --> 
</script>

Then in the a href i add onclick="return trackclick('1');" where 1 is the id of whatever you are tracking

milkyway · 10-24-2009, 02:35 PM

Hi munkyscripts,

thanks for your answer!

I already have a tracking script which allows me to track what I need and displays everything very nicely. It's based on JavaScript, too, but does some other fancy stuff which I couldn't program myself.

I was just wondering about how to proceed with the mod_rewrite, in particular if I can mess anything up when I add "R" and "L" tags, and if I should use temporarily or permanently moved redirects.

As I said, I'm new to this htaccess stuff and am just not sure how to proceed...

Thanks for your help -- much appreciated,

milkyway

10-20-2009, 03:40 AM	#1
milkyway HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 164 Thanks: 218 Thanked 32 Times in 27 Posts	forced redirect with mod_rewrite in htaccess? Hi fellow warriors, I'm not quite sure how to proceed with a tracking script which uses a mod_rewrite with htaccess. For each link I want to track, the script gives me a URL like www.mydomain.com/recommends/XXX. The paths and directories are set up ok, mod_rewrite is enabled. The htaccess-code which came with the script is as follows: Code: RewriteEngine on RewriteBase /recommends RewriteRule ^/?(.) /go/go.php/$1 [QSA] When I put this as .htaccess into the "recommends" directory, I get an error message which says something like "no input file specified". By trial and error, I found that when I change the last line to Code: RewriteRule ^/?(.) /go/go.php/$1 [R,QSA] everything is working just fine. Now, what I don't understand: Why do I have to enforce the redirect with the additional "R"? If I add "R", although the programmer originally hadn't included it, could I run into any trouble? Should I use "R=301" (permanently moved) or "R=302" (temporarily moved) for a tracking script? I only want to get some data about which adds convert better than others... Oh, and should I include an L tag at the end of the last line, too? Sorry for the beginner's questions. I've been searching for several hours now, and there is a ton of info about mod_rewrite, but nothing really answers my questions -- guess they are just too basic... Any help appreciated, milkyway
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10-24-2009, 11:54 AM	#2
munkyscripts Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Nashville, TN - Costa Rica Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: forced redirect with mod_rewrite in htaccess? Not sure but an alternate way to track the clicks is to use js. this is code i use. Code: <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> <!-- function trackclick(id) { if(document.images){ (new Image()).src="/wp-content/plugins/munkytoplist/out.php?id="+id; } return true; } // --> </script> Then in the a href i add onclick="return trackclick('1');" where 1 is the id of whatever you are tracking
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10-24-2009, 02:35 PM	#3
milkyway HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 164 Thanks: 218 Thanked 32 Times in 27 Posts	Re: forced redirect with mod_rewrite in htaccess? Hi munkyscripts, thanks for your answer! I already have a tracking script which allows me to track what I need and displays everything very nicely. It's based on JavaScript, too, but does some other fancy stuff which I couldn't program myself. I was just wondering about how to proceed with the mod_rewrite, in particular if I can mess anything up when I add "R" and "L" tags, and if I should use temporarily or permanently moved redirects. As I said, I'm new to this htaccess stuff and am just not sure how to proceed... Thanks for your help -- much appreciated, milkyway
	Blog and newsletter owners: Publish quality articles by Dr. Mani - for free - with your affiliate link Never miss an opportunity to be fabulous.