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

<name>mod_actions</name>

<description>This module provides for executing 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 MIME content type 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'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>

<compatibility>The <code>virtual</code> modifier and handler passing were

introduced in Apache 2.1</compatibility>

<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 MIME content type. 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>Examples</title>

# Requests for files of a particular MIME content type:<br />

Action image/gif /cgi-bin/images.cgi<br />

<br />

# Files of a particular file extension<br />

AddHandler my-file-type .xyz<br />

Action my-file-type /cgi-bin/program.cgi<br />

</example>

<p>In the first 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>

<p>In the second 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>

<example><title>Example</title>

&lt;Location /news&gt;<br />

<indent>

SetHandler news-handler<br />

Action news-handler /cgi-bin/news.cgi virtual<br />

</indent>

&lt;/Location&gt;

</example>

</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>

<example><title>Examples</title>

# For &lt;ISINDEX&gt;-style searching<br />

Script GET /cgi-bin/search<br />

<br />

# A CGI PUT handler<br />

Script PUT /~bob/put.cgi<br />

</example>

</usage>

</directivesynopsis>

</modulesynopsis>