Do Apache config files support block commenting?

Question

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.

Answer 1

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.

Answer 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

Answer 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