By default on m3server.com servers, we have these start pages listed in order of precedence:

DirectoryIndex index.html index.htm index.shtml index.cgi index.php

Meaning, index.html will be called before index.php.

If you have two pages with names listed above, the order of precedence will determine which the server automatically serves to the web user.

The directory index page is what the server displays if the client doesn’t specify a page.  For example:

https://www.m3server.com/

Notice the index page wasn’t specified.

https://www.m3server.com/index.php

Notice the index page is specified.

If you wanted your directory index page to be a specific page for the time being, or permanently changed you do so via the power of your .htaccess file.

Enter this at the top of your .htaccess file:

DirectoryIndex index.html

The change is instant.  If results aren’t desirable, just revert your .htaccess file back to the original setting.

Say for example that your current directory index page is index.php and you wanted to divert people away from that page without changing that page’s content, like for constructing a new page or a seasonal message.  The DirectoryIndex command will be your method of routing visitors to the index.html page, or whatever page you note in the .htaccess command of DirectoryIndex.

Enjoy!

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