file management on os X with apache

The only things web accessible are under your document root(s).

FYI:
http://your_computer/~your_user_name/ is mapped to /Users/your_user_name/Sites/

Note also, if you didn't know, that the root of localhost (localhost/ that is) is mapped to /Library/WebServer/Documents/

I found that very handy for site testing with absolute paths (ones that start with /).

I'm quite sure you can remap stuff by editing apache config files as well, if you wanted some particular folder to show up but I've never tried it myself.

If you have several sites you want to test, the best option is to edit the httpd.config.

There is an app called Headdress. http://headdress.twinsparc.com/. I lets you create two virtual hosts in your Mac for free. If you want more, you will need to buy it.

If you want to do it manually, open the httpd.config in the /etc/httpd/ folder, activate the Virtual Hosting, and create the entries in the file. You can search how to to this in Google.

You can have the site in any place, but I use my Sites folder.

<VirtualHost *:80>
DocumentRoot "/Users/youruser/Sites/macniatic-com"
ServerName macniatic-com
</VirtualHost>

Next, open the hosts file in /etc/, save a backup in your desktop. Create an entry using the same ServerName that you used in the httpd.config. Read the warning in the hosts file. Do not delete or edit the original content.


127.0.0.1 macniatic-com

My advice, do not use a valid domain address because the computer will not let you see the real site then, thats why I replace the . with a -.

Every time you change the httpd.config you will need to restart the Personal Web Sharing (Apache). Changes to the host file are applied right away.

Good luck, and send me a PM if you need more help.