GET and POST doubt

Hi All ,
I have a query about HTTP server and its GET/POST method. Supposing I have
a HTML form. When I set its ACTION to a .htm/.html file and set method to
GET the HTTP server returns the .htm/.html file to the browser. I think
here HTTP server treats the GET request from HTML form in the same way as
it treats GET request from the browser URL box. Now when ACTION is set to a
.htm/.html file but set method to POST the HTTP server returns the
following error.

"HTTP Error 405
405 Method Not Allowed
The method specified in the Request Line is not allowed for the resource
identified by the request. Please ensure that you have the proper MIME type
set up for the resource you are requesting.
Please contact the server's administrator if this problem persists."

Why does the HTTP server sends this response when ACTION is .htm/.html file
and method is POST ? My understanding is that in HTTP servers there must be
configuration to process files of specific types. Because there is no
configuration done to associate an application with .htm/.html files, the
server sends this response. Am I thinking right ? Is it possible to write
an application which can process .htm/.html files with POST with currently
existing HTTP servers and configure the same in server. Or is it possible
to modify the HTTP server to handle .htm/.html requests by POST just like
it does with GET method ? Would there be any advantage of modifying the
HTTP server this way ? *And will the HTTP spec gets violated if processing
.htm/.html is in-built in HTTP servers with POST ?*

regards
-mukul



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Bharti Cellular Limited, New Delhi, India

Received on Thursday, 24 February 2000 01:55:58 UTC