Apache Cookbook, 2nd Edition

12.15. Aliases in Directory Listings

Problem

Aliases don’t show up in directory listings.

Solution

In the directory to be listed, put a file or directory named the same as the Alias. It will be displayed in the listing, but clicking on it will invoke the Alias.

Discussion

Aliases don’t show up in directory listings, because mod_autoindex generates the listing by asking the filesystem for an actual directory listing. The filesystem doesn’t know about the aliases.

There is no way to get mod_autoindex to pick up on these Aliases and list them.

You can, however, place items in the directory that act as placeholders for the Alias. Because an Alias is consulted before the filesystem, when you actually click on the file the Alias will be invoked and the file ignored.

See Also

• http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/mod/mod_autoindex.html

• http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/mod/mod_alias.html