using redirect

[healall]

I'm rewriting my website to use ssi for my sidebar, which means (if I understand my options) I can:

1)change my pages to .shtml
2)add a line of text in "apache" (if I have that right) to include ?php then I can drop the .shtml and use just .html.
3)use php

I don't know that much about php and am not willing to commit the time right now, tried the first option (works), tried the second option (works).

Problem: my current pages are listed on search engines, and the only page I have with the .html (as opposed to just .htm) is my index page. When I change the file with the ssi code to .htm it will not bring in the ssi. Bummer.

Am I correct that if I go into Bluehost menu for redirect that I can redirect the OLD pages (.htm) to NEW pages (.html) seamlessly so that when someone finds me on google they will not get a 404 error? Or, am I missing some other option for transitioning from old design to new? I can't leave the old pages as they are, but I can change the code in the old pages to redirect, if that's the better way. I want to make this as non-disturbing as possible to my clients.

Thanks!

[Pethens]

Just make your .htm files accept SSI by adding the following line to your .htaccess:


AddHandler server-parsed .htm

After doing this you will be able to use server-side includes in .htm files with no problem and no need to use tricky redirects.

Stephen

[healall]

Thank you so much!!