I have NOT had a problem seeing this file via FileZilla since the updates.

Rich Sage

Thanks for that insight. I tried it, but still the htaccess file does not show for security reasons. I’ll look into this further and update on a FileZilla review. Thanks for the note.

Rich Sage.

For #1, note that I advice to put the htaccess file in its own folder. In my case, that is the ONLY file in that folder.

As for #2, again, you are correct –a permanent redirect is far superior to a temporary one. I am making those changes asap so that my readers have better advice.

Thanks,
Rich Sage

1. FTP programs often hide all filenames that begin with a dot, and you could inadvertantly over-write a pre-existing .htaccess file, and that would wipe out all the settings your host had already stored in the file. Investigate the options within your FTP client to “show filenames that begion with a dot”. Almost every FTP client does have that facility (including FileZilla).

2. You have used [R] in the redirect code. That generates a 302 redirect and that is a big problem. As a “temporary redirect” you expose your site to a myriad of duplicate content issues, and on occasions the “302 redirect URL hijack” problem. Change the code from [R] to [R=301] to avoid that problem. Use the Live HTTP headers extension for Mozilla Seamonkey or Mozilla Firefox to check that you really do get the correct HTTP response codes.