Date: 07/06/05 (Web Development)    Keywords: css, html, web

I recently stepped in to take over my company Web site. I have a design background and have been learning HTML and CSS over the past couple of months. So far, everything is working out well.

The problem is that I can't figure out how the previous guy did passwords on the site. He is reluctant to give me information (probably one of the reasons he's not working with us anymore), but does hand out tidbits a la Hannibal Lecter at times. Recently, he explained that in order to pass-protect a directory which has an ever-changing list of unique users (different login/passes), I have to access the .htpasswd file via Telnet and replace it with a tab deliminated .txt file (first portion is login; second portion is pass). Or something. I can write out the exact process if that helps. I don't have Telnet and am barely able to muddle around in Terminal on OS X.

So I have no idea what he's talking about, or where to go to find a tutorial on it. I'm not sure where .htpasswd is stored on the site -- is there a default location? I'm thinking about replacing the existing method via .htaccess (I've read how to do this) but without knowing the existing method, I don't know how much I'll muck things up.

Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing? Any advice or direction at all would be most appreciated! I will be happy to clarify; I know this is probably quite vague.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdev/218057.html