htaccess file keeps disappearing from the directory

This is the first I have to do anything with htaccess. I bought a classified script and part of the instructions in setting it up was the following:

4. NOTE! This site will only run in a subdomain or on the main HTML file

Note: If you are editing the file on Windows, you may not be able to save
it with the name ".htaccess". In that case, save it with some temporary
name (eg: htaccess.txt), upload it and then rename it to ".htaccess".

Well, I did exactly that, uploaded the file to my server, renamed it to .htaccess and then the file just disappeared from the directory altogether. By the way, the server is on a unix platform.

It kept doing that each time I rename it. Because of that, the script doesn't work, the program will not create files and directories each time I create an ad or categories or even upload an image. At the same time the htaccess file keeps disappearing from the directory each time I rename it.

Any help? Thanks a heap!

The htaccess files likely aren't disappearing. By default files that begin with a . are hidden in unix servers. Some ftp clients allow you to show those hidden files. Let us know which ftp client you are using.

I doubt its the htaccess file causing the script "not" to work. Its likely a problem with chmodding. Does the script tell you need to chmod any folders? If it does then do so. If you don't know what chmod means then there is your problem.

My ftp client is Filezilla. I do understand chmodding and I did chmod the files as was instructed.

Let me know, please, if Filezilla hides the file.

The program (classifieds) is not creating the directories and files for the categories, ads, and images as they are being posted. You can visit the program at http://couponsgalore.com/ads2 and try to add an ad and see what happens if you can.

The url for the ad will just come up blank. The program is still being designed so I don't have much info there as I have had to keep taking it down and putting it up back. The support people from the script said that it was because of the htaccess file not uploaded. I did that and like I said, the file has disappeared from the directory and still the program does not create the files and directories for the ads and categories as you create them.

Thanks so much for your help.

It says that domain is for sale...

Is that the right domain?

Filezilla doesn't hide .htaccess files. Its likely your host doesn't allow them. Some hosts don't allow them for some reason.

I'm so sorry,

The link is http://couponsgalore-ga.com/ads2

I was traveling so could not respond earlier.

I appreciate your help.

Please post your htaccess file. The fact that an ad I posted is blank means there is likely a scripting error somewhere. We don't know what files need to have error reporting turned on without seeing the htaccess file.

The website is my Dad's and I'm helping him trying to set it up for his community. If you would like to have a look at the script or any of the files therein, please let me know. I appreciate any help I can get. If you would like me to email it to you, let me know.

Here is my htaccess script:



RewriteEngine On

# Show ad
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/posts/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?\.html /index.php?view=showad&adid=$7&cityid=$1 [QSA]

# Ads
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/posts/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/page([0-9]*)\.html /index.php?view=ads&catid=$3&subcatid=$5&cityid=$1&page=$7 [QSA]
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/posts/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)? /index.php?view=ads&catid=$3&subcatid=$5&cityid=$1 [QSA]

# Ads by cat
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/posts/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)? /index.php?view=ads&catid=$3&cityid=$1 [QSA]

# Show event
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/events(/(([0-9]+)-([0-9]+)-([0-9]+)))?/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?\.html /index.php?view=showevent&date=$4&adid=$8&cityid=$1 [QSA]

# Events on date
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/events/(([0-9]+)-([0-9]+)-([0-9]+))/page([0-9]*)\.html /index.php?view=events&date=$3&cityid=$1&page=$7 [QSA]
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/events/(([0-9]+)-([0-9]+)-([0-9]+)) /index.php?view=events&date=$3&cityid=$1 [QSA]
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/events /index.php?view=events&cityid=$1 [QSA]

# Show image
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/images/([^/]+)/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?\.html /index.php?view=showimg&posterenc=$3&imgid=$4&cityid=$1 [QSA]

# Images by user, paged
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/images/([^/]+)/page([0-9]+)\.html /index.php?view=imgs&posterenc=$3&cityid=$1&page=$4 [QSA]

# Top Images, paged
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/images/page([0-9]+)\.html /index.php?view=imgs&cityid=$1&page=$3 [QSA]

# Images by user
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/images/([^/]+) /index.php?view=imgs&posterenc=$3&cityid=$1 [QSA]

# Top Images
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/images /index.php?view=imgs&cityid=$1 [QSA]

# Quick ad/event/image
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/showpost/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?\.html /index.php?view=showad&adid=$3&cityid=$1 [QSA]
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/showevent/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?\.html /index.php?view=showevent&adid=$3&cityid=$1 [QSA]
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?/showimage/([0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)?\.html /index.php?view=showimg&imgid=$3&cityid=$1 [QSA]

# City/Region
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)? /index.php?view=main&cityid=$1 [QSA]
RewriteRule ^([-]?[0-9]+)([-_][^/]*)? /index.php?view=main&cityid=$1 [QSA]