mod_actions

mod_actions is an Apache module that provides functions for executing CGI scripts based on media type or request method.

This module has two directives. The Action directive lets you run CGI scripts whenever a file of a certain type is requested. The Script 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.

Action directive

Syntax: Action action-type cgi-script
Context: server config, virtual host, directory, .htaccess
Override: FileInfo
Status: Base
Module: mod_actions
Compatibility: Action is only available in Apache 1.1 and later

This directive adds an action, which will activate cgi-script when action-type is triggered by the request. The cgi-script is the URL-path to a resource that has been configured as a CGI script using ScriptAlias or AddHandler. The action-type can be either a handler or a MIME content type. It sends the URL and file path of the requested document using the standard CGI PATH_INFO and PATH_TRANSLATED environment variables.

Examples:

# Requests for files of a particular type:
Action image/gif /cgi-bin/images.cgi

# Files of a particular file extension
AddHandler my-file-type .xyz
Action my-file-type /cgi-bin/program.cgi

In the first example, requests for files with a MIME content type of image/gif will instead be handled by the specified cgi script /cgi-bin/images.cgi.

In the second example, requests for files with a file extension of .xyz are handled instead by the specified cgi script /cgi-bin/program.cgi.

Script directive

Syntax: Script method cgi-script
Context: server config, virtual host, directory
Status: Base
Module: mod_actions
Compatibility: Script is only available in Apache 1.1 and later; arbitrary method use is only available with 1.3.10 and later

This directive adds an action, which will activate cgi-script when a file is requested using the method of method. The cgi-script is the URL-path to a resource that has been configured as a CGI script using ScriptAlias or AddHandler. The URL and file path of the requested document is sent using the standard CGI PATH_INFO and PATH_TRANSLATED environment variables.
Prior to Apache 1.3.10, method can only be one of GET, POST, PUT, or DELETE. As of 1.3.10, any arbitrary method name may be used. Method names are case-sensitive, so Script PUT and Script put have two entirely different effects.

Note that the Script 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 Script with a method of GET will only be called if there are query arguments present (e.g., foo.html?hi). Otherwise, the request will proceed normally.

Examples:

# For < ISINDEX >-style searching
Script GET /cgi-bin/search
# A CGI PUT handler
Script PUT /~bob/put.cgi