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ripper234
Asked: 2012-01-03 01:14:17 +0800 CST

Do Apache config files support block commenting?

  • 772

You can use # to comment out individual lines. Is there a syntax for commenting out entire blocks?

I've tired surrounding the block (specifically a <Directory> block) with <IfModule asdfasdf>...</IfModule>, but that didn't work.

apache-2.2 configuration

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    I came across this post from a Google search for "Apache block comment". Later, I discovered a non-perl, non-import solution from Apache's core documentation (although I'm sure this is very non-intended practice). From the core documentation for Apache 2.0 http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.0/mod/core.html, you can see that the tag <IfDefine> will handily ignore statements when the parameter you specify does not exist:

    <IfDefine IgnoreBlockComment>
...
</IfDefine>

    So that'll successfully "comment" out the statements in between.

    • 78

  2. I am not sure if apache has such type of comments.

    As a workaround, you can use include statement in the following way:

    yourfile.conf:

    <Directory>
  ....
</Directory>

    When you want to comment this block, you just need to comment out the include line:

    #include yourfile.conf
    • 7

  3. AFAIK, Apache doesn't support this.

    But, if you're using vim, here's a tip (from my co-worker) to comment out a Apache config block.

    For instance, given this snippet:

    <Directory "a/b/c">
    SetEnvIf X-Forwarded-For ^x\.y\.z\.t let_me_in
    Order allow,deny
    allow from env=let_me_in
    ErrorDocument 403 http://google.com
</Directory>

    Put the cursor under the D character at the opening <Directory ...> line and type the following:

    V/Dir -> Enter

    followed by:

    :s/^/#/ -> Enter

    • V - to highlight the current line
    • /Dir - selects the whole block
    • :s/^/#/ - puts a # at the begin of each line
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