This seemed like a good idea at the time, but it's turned into a monster. I don't use, and do not want to use, the 404sef extension or any associated bits & bobs (mainly because it becomes just another thing to keep track of and update - I'm trying to keep the site as simple as possible).
How can I create a 404 page for my site?
I've found numerous articles on creating a blank page with a 404 msg on it and created the attached file with the "if I get a 404 go to this page" thing. But the instructions all seem to stop at the bit where it explains what the heck I do with it, what to call it and (without being rude) where to put it.
Currently, my site has a very unexciting 404.shtml. I know it's a silly question, but do I just plonk my code in that? Or do I create a 404.php? If I do that, how do I turn it on?
Or, would it be far more simple just to spice up the shtml file (stick a pretty graphic on it and a click here link)?
Thank you for the fast reply, Amandeep. I didn't find that link at the Joomla site because I always search the forums by default (note to self: search wiki as well).
I was trying to get something to work that redirects to a Joomla article as my 404. That way, the 404ee sees the menu items and the search. Is this a pie in the sky type of requirement, do you think?
I've ended up compromising & creating two of 'em because I couldn't figure it out. I created one in Joomla for the jsecurity redirection and one through the cPanel using the canned error pages (just add HTML and voila!).
I'm on shared hosting, and it looks like I can't see my .htaccess anyway. Or, if I can, I can't figure out how to see it.
Cool ... if you manage to get your htaccess situation sorted (you should be able to see it - but it depends on your hosting provider's config) this thread might be able to offer some clues: