The file public.dir

After a lot of poking around, asking questions, trial runs and false starts, I have experimented with the infamous and mysterious PUBLIC.DIR subject and here are the results.. :-)

You can create a simple text file called PUBLIC.DIR and consisting of one line entries to alias the /public directory name to any number of OTHER names you might wish to use, for example:

A PUBLIC.DIR File looking like this:

USERS
PAGES
SEX
WEIRDOS

and placed in the /DATA directory, will make all these URL's valid:

http://yoururl.com/public/index.htm
http://yoururl.com/users/joe.htm
http://yoururl.com/pages/boats.htm
http://yoururl.com/sex/clinton.htm
http://yoururl.com/weirdos/clinton.htm

(the last two, of course, would go to the SAME "clinton.htm" page..)

And, you must realize, it can get a bit strange, as that /boats.htm page would ALSO live at: http://yoururl.com/sex/boats.htm

Or any other combinations - It just replaces /public with anything in that PUBLIC.DIR list.. Use your imagination and wax creative.. :-)

HOWEVER: Be advised: You MUST shut down and restart WINS for the PUBLIC.DIR file to be read and put into effect. Otherwise, the "aliasing" will NOT work..

The possibilities are endless and can make for some interesting Search Engine listings.. ;-)

I have NO idea if there is an kind of Security risks in WINS or anything else negative associated with this aliasing technique.. I'm just reporting what I have found, that it works for me, and allows me to "sort out" my multiple system themes better and gives the appearance of more organization and/or consistency to the Users and Special-Interest groups....

A few sample URL's to play with:
http://spacecon.net/polio/ppslinks.htm
http://spacecon.net/police/lawlinks.htm
http://spacecon.net/ksc/the_cape/index.htm
http://spacecon.net/space/the_cape/capesave.htm
http://spacecon.net/boats/sail/syrinx.htm