Permalink issues .htaccess

In Permalink Settings – Set @ custom structure. Insert /%postname%/

Thanks so much howardp.

However, I still get messages realting to ht.access.

This time:
“You should update your .htaccess now”

I found a htaccess file in my directory but I have no idea what to do with it, how to open it etc etc?

Any ideas?
Much appreciated!

“You should update your .htaccess now”

As part of that message, you should see some code that looks similar to this:

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /wordpress/index.php [L]
</IfModule>

# END WordPress

Make a backup copy of your existing .htaccess and then copy your output (not mine) into your copy at the end.

If all goes well then you’ll see fancy permalinks working. If something goes massively wrong then put back the .htaccess backup copy you made.

Thanks so much. But I can’t even edit my .htaccess code? Is there specific software needed?

How do you access files on your hosting plan? FTP?

You should try to download your .htaccess file, make a backup copy of it and then edit that file in notepad.

Once you’ve done that re-upload the edited file. If Something Bad™ happens the re-upload that .htaccess backup copy you made.

Hi Jan

I’ve tried amending my .htaccess file. I use a Mac so I do it in the Text Edit application. But when I copy and paste in the text and save the .htacess file it changes to ASCII Text file with a filename htaccess.txt, whereas before it is just a “file” with .htaceess name

If I try to upload the new htaccess.txt file (via Filezila), I get an error message: “550htaccess.txt: Permission denied”

Not sure which issue to tackle first. It seems a problem editing the .htaccess file and even when I do, I can’t reload it.

Any thoughts?

Many thanks.

PS. Sorry for all the spelling errors! Typing quickly! it should be htaccess throughout, not the various mis-spelllings I have used!