This problem has to do with the .htaccess file. It is being ignored, or the .htaccess file above it has conflicting directives.

The directory file isn't even being parsed by PHP at this point. Your webserver was actually sending the script directly to the browser. If it were a PHP version problem, the PHP interpretor is nice enough to throw us a hint by way of error messages.

One of these directives *should* tell your webserver (presumably Apache) to process the directory file as a PHP script...

ForceType application/x-httpd-php
SetHandler application/x-httpd-php
ForceType x-httpd-php

You said you had tried all 3... Just to be sure we are on the same page.
You first tried..

ForceType application/x-httpd-php


then you tried
#ForceType application/x-httpd-php
SetHandler application/x-httpd-php

then you tried
#ForceType application/x-httpd-php
#SetHandler application/x-httpd-php
ForceType x-httpd-php

and none of them worked ?

Possibly your webserver doesn't see changes in .htaccess files right away.

Possibly the way your web server is setup requires a slightly different syntax.

Possibly Apache is set to completely ignore this type of directive in .htaccess files.

I really can't tell. Presumably your web host has a systems administrator that is more familiar with your web server configuration?

Hi all

I need some help, I am suffering the same fate, however with different results.

If I have ForceType application/x-httpd-php uncommented I get the unrun php script outputed but I must choose to open or save.

If I have SetHandler application/x-httpd-php uncommented I get the unrun php script displayed in the browser window

If I have ForceType x-httpd-php uncommented I get a different output, being a php debug info screen.

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

(All above scenarios were achieved by ditching the trailing / on directory)

Cheers,

Ben

QUOTE:
If I have ForceType x-httpd-php uncommented I get a different output, being a php debug info screen.

this sounds like a step in the right direction.

a debug info screen.. like an error message ? Does it say anything useful ?

Also note you may see different behavior when letting the index.php redirect you.

For debugging purposes, browse to the directory script as if it were an actual directory http://wwwyoursite.com/install_directory/directory/

Just pressing your browser's refresh/reload after any changes should suffice.

Just to clarify, there are 4 known variations of the syntax for .htacess file.

QUOTE:

ForceType application/x-httpd-php

ForceType x-httpd-php

SetHandler application/x-httpd-php

SetHandler application/x-httpd-php5

That last one is the newest and likely came about because many hosts provide a choice between PHP4 or PHP5 , if you host does the same, be sure to see if that fixes it.

If none of these work, I can once again, only suggest contacting your hosting provider, and I hope they are more than just a reseller that knows how to point and click (sorry, but I seriously hate those types of supposed "system adminisistrators" )

I was having the same problem and worked through everything that was suggested.Nothing worked. The last code worked Thanks!