docs/manual/mod/mod_actions.xml

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<modulesynopsis metafile="mod_actions.xml.meta">

<name>mod_actions</name>

<description>Execute CGI scripts based on media type or request method.</description>

<status>Base</status>
<sourcefile>mod_actions.c</sourcefile>
<identifier>actions_module</identifier>

<summary>
    <p>This module has two directives. The <directive
    module="mod_actions">Action</directive> directive lets you run CGI
    scripts whenever a file of a certain <glossary
    ref="mime-type">MIME content type</glossary> is requested. The
    <directive module="mod_actions">Script</directive> directive lets
    you run CGI scripts whenever a particular method is used in a
    request. This makes it much easier to execute scripts that process
    files.</p> </summary>

<seealso><module>mod_cgi</module></seealso>
<seealso><a href="../howto/cgi.html">Dynamic Content with CGI</a></seealso>
<seealso><a href="../handler.html">Apache httpd's Handler Use</a></seealso>

<directivesynopsis>
<name>Action</name>
<description>Activates a CGI script for a particular handler or
content-type</description>
<syntax>Action <var>action-type</var> <var>cgi-script</var> [virtual]</syntax>
<contextlist>
<context>server config</context><context>virtual host</context>
<context>directory</context><context>.htaccess</context>
</contextlist>
<override>FileInfo</override>

<usage>
    <p>This directive adds an action, which will activate
    <var>cgi-script</var> when <var>action-type</var> is triggered by
    the request.  The <var>cgi-script</var> is the URL-path to a
    resource that has been designated as a CGI script using <directive
    module="mod_alias">ScriptAlias</directive> or <directive
    module="mod_mime">AddHandler</directive>.  The
    <var>action-type</var> can be either a <a
    href="../handler.html">handler</a> or a <glossary
    ref="mime-type">MIME content type</glossary>. It sends the URL and
    file path of the requested document using the standard CGI
    <code>PATH_INFO</code> and <code>PATH_TRANSLATED</code>
    environment variables. The handler used for the particular request
    is passed using the <code>REDIRECT_HANDLER</code> variable.</p>

    <example><title>Example: MIME type</title>
    <highlight language="config">
# Requests for files of a particular MIME content type:
Action image/gif /cgi-bin/images.cgi
    </highlight>
    </example>

    <p>In this example, requests for files with a MIME content
    type of <code>image/gif</code> will be handled by the
    specified cgi script <code>/cgi-bin/images.cgi</code>.</p>

    <example>
        <title>Example: File extension</title>
    <highlight language="config">
# Files of a particular file extension
AddHandler my-file-type .xyz
Action my-file-type /cgi-bin/program.cgi
    </highlight>
    </example>
    <p>In this example, requests for files with a file extension of
    <code>.xyz</code> are handled by the specified cgi script
    <code>/cgi-bin/program.cgi</code>.</p>

    <p>The optional <code>virtual</code> modifier turns off the check
    whether the requested file really exists. This is useful, for example,
    if you want to use the <directive>Action</directive> directive in
    virtual locations.</p>

    <highlight language="config">
&lt;Location "/news"&gt;
    SetHandler news-handler
    Action news-handler /cgi-bin/news.cgi virtual
&lt;/Location&gt;
    </highlight>
</usage>

<seealso><directive module="mod_mime">AddHandler</directive></seealso>
</directivesynopsis>

<directivesynopsis>
<name>Script</name>
<description>Activates a CGI script for a particular request
method.</description>
<syntax>Script <var>method</var> <var>cgi-script</var></syntax>
<contextlist>
<context>server config</context><context>virtual host</context>
<context>directory</context></contextlist>
<usage>
    <p>This directive adds an action, which will activate
    <var>cgi-script</var> when a file is requested using the method of
    <var>method</var>. The <var>cgi-script</var> is the URL-path to a
    resource that has been designated as a CGI script using <directive
    module="mod_alias">ScriptAlias</directive> or <directive
    module="mod_mime">AddHandler</directive>.  The URL and
    file path of the requested document is sent using the standard CGI
    <code>PATH_INFO</code> and <code>PATH_TRANSLATED</code> environment
    variables.</p>

    <note>
      Any arbitrary method name may be used. <strong>Method names are
      case-sensitive</strong>, so <code>Script PUT</code> and
      <code>Script put</code> have two entirely different
      effects.
    </note>

    <p>Note that the <directive>Script</directive> command defines default
    actions only. If a CGI script is called, or some other resource that is
    capable of handling the requested method internally, it will do
    so. Also note that <directive>Script</directive> with a method of
    <code>GET</code> will only be called if there are query arguments present
    (<em>e.g.</em>, foo.html?hi). Otherwise, the request will
    proceed normally.</p>

    <highlight language="config">
# All GET requests go here
Script GET /cgi-bin/search

# A CGI PUT handler
Script PUT /~bob/put.cgi
    </highlight>
</usage>
</directivesynopsis>

</modulesynopsis>