# Make Root Domain Redirect to Frontend
Make `https://herataria.nova.af/` automatically go to the login page.
---
## Option 1: .htaccess Redirect (Recommended)
### Step 1: Create .htaccess File
In cPanel File Manager:
1. Navigate to `public_html/` (root folder)
2. Click **New File**
3. Name it: `.htaccess` (with the dot at the beginning!)
4. Click **Create New File**
### Step 2: Edit .htaccess
1. Right-click `.htaccess` → **Edit**
2. Paste this code:
```apache
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
# Redirect root to frontend
RewriteRule ^$ /frontend/ [L,R=301]
RewriteRule ^index\.html$ /frontend/ [L,R=301]
# Don't touch backend requests
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/backend/
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
# Don't touch existing files/folders
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
# Redirect everything else to frontend
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^/frontend/
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /frontend/$1 [L,R=301]
```
3. Click **Save Changes**
4. Close the editor
### Step 3: Test
Visit: `https://herataria.nova.af/`
**Expected:** Automatically redirects to `https://herataria.nova.af/frontend/#/login`
---
## Option 2: Simple HTML Redirect (If .htaccess doesn't work)
### Step 1: Create index.html
In cPanel File Manager:
1. Navigate to `public_html/` (root folder)
2. Click **New File**
3. Name it: `index.html`
4. Click **Create New File**
### Step 2: Edit index.html
1. Right-click `index.html` → **Edit**
2. Paste this code:
```html
Redirecting...
Redirecting to Aria Herat ERP...
If you are not redirected, click here.
```
3. Click **Save Changes**
4. Close the editor
### Step 3: Test
Visit: `https://herataria.nova.af/`
**Expected:** Redirects to login page
---
## Option 3: Move Frontend to Root (Advanced)
If you want `https://herataria.nova.af/` to be the frontend (no `/frontend/` in URL):
### Step 1: Move Files
In cPanel File Manager:
1. Go to `public_html/frontend/`
2. Select ALL files (index.html, assets/, icons/, etc.)
3. Click **Move** (top toolbar)
4. Move to: `/public_html/`
5. Confirm move
### Step 2: Update .htaccess in Root
Create/edit `public_html/.htaccess`:
```apache
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
# Redirect /api requests to backend
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/api/
RewriteRule ^api/(.*)$ /backend/public/api/$1 [L,QSA]
# Don't touch backend folder
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/backend/
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
# Handle frontend SPA routing
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^ /index.html [L]
```
### Step 3: Update Frontend API URL
You'll need to rebuild frontend with new API URL:
1. Edit `frontend/.env.production`:
```
VITE_API_URL=https://herataria.nova.af/api
```
2. Rebuild:
```bash
cd frontend
npm run build
```
3. Upload new files to `public_html/` (root, not `/frontend/`)
### URLs After This Change:
- Frontend: `https://herataria.nova.af/`
- Backend API: `https://herataria.nova.af/api/login` etc.
- Backend folder still at: `public_html/backend/`
---
## Which Option to Choose?
### Choose Option 1 (.htaccess) if:
- ✅ You want simple redirect
- ✅ Keep folder structure organized
- ✅ Easy to update later
### Choose Option 2 (HTML redirect) if:
- ✅ .htaccess doesn't work on your server
- ✅ Want simplest solution
- ✅ Don't have Apache mod_rewrite
### Choose Option 3 (Move to root) if:
- ✅ Want cleaner URLs (no `/frontend/`)
- ✅ Willing to rebuild frontend
- ✅ Want professional deployment
**My Recommendation:** Start with **Option 1** (.htaccess) - it's simple and works!
---
## Troubleshooting
### .htaccess not working?
**Check if mod_rewrite is enabled:**
- Contact your hosting support
- Or try Option 2 (HTML redirect)
### Redirect loop?
**Check for conflicting .htaccess files:**
- Only have one `.htaccess` in `public_html/`
- Delete any `.htaccess` in `public_html/frontend/`
### Backend stops working?
**Make sure backend path is excluded:**
```apache
# Add this before other rules
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/backend/
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
```
---
## Current vs After Fix
**Current:**
- User types: `herataria.nova.af`
- Must manually go to: `herataria.nova.af/frontend/#/login`
**After Fix (Option 1 or 2):**
- User types: `herataria.nova.af`
- Automatically redirected to: `herataria.nova.af/frontend/#/login`
**After Fix (Option 3):**
- User types: `herataria.nova.af`
- Already there! Shows login page
- URL stays: `herataria.nova.af/#/login` (cleaner!)
---
## Quick Start
**Do this now (easiest):**
1. In cPanel File Manager, go to `public_html/`
2. Create new file: `.htaccess`
3. Paste the code from Option 1
4. Save
5. Test by visiting `herataria.nova.af`
Done! ✅