Server-Side Include in Apache

(Nov 26, 2007)

I tried using server-side include (SSI) feature in Apache 2.2.6. I followed all steps in its documents. These are:
1. use Options +Include in
2. use AddType text/html .shtml
AddOutputFilter INCLUDES .shtml
within mime_module (just uncomment these two lines in httpd.conf)
3. use an include element, such as

However, it turned out that my stuff did not work. I spent about two hours to figure this out. Finally, I knew that .shtml did not mean a file to be included., but .shtml meant a file that included other files. Namely, I just renamed a 'master' file, menu.html, to menu.shtml, and every thing worked fine.

Moreover, a file to be included can be .html, no need to make it .shtml.

Note: although it is possible that we can allow .html to be a master file in the same way by adding AddOutputFilter INCLUDES .html, I will not do this since 3rd party server may not allow us to do this (I think it might slow down the web server).