Getting Started / Using different file extensions

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Perch uses PHP to deliver your content, so by default the pages of your site must be .php files.

However, if your hosting account allows for .htaccess (web server configuration) files, it’s possible to tell the web server to run PHP in other sorts of pages.

To do this, create a new file at the top level of your website and call it htaccess.txt (we’ll rename it shortly). Put the following lines into the file:

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .htm .html

You can add any file extensions you’d like to treat as PHP. (Don’t add other server-side scripting languages like .asp unless you know what you’re doing!)

Once you’ve done that, rename you file to .htaccess – that’s starting with a dot and no file extension. This is a hidden file, so depending on your software settings, it may then appear to vanish. Most web editing software has a setting to show hidden files.

The files with the extensions you listed should now be run as PHP, enabling Perch to manage your content.

Note: The exact format of this AddType line can depend on your hosting configuration, so if in doubt or if it doesn’t appear to work for you, check with your hosting company. They may well have information on their website on how to configure this. Searching for AddType may help.