How to manually create a file with a . dot prefix

Question

I want to create a .htaccess file manually and discovered it seems impossible through the windows UI. I get a you must type a filename. message. There has to be a way to create files with . as a prefix in windows.

Can this be done manually?

Answer 1

Within Notepad select File > Save As...

File name: ".whatever you want" (with the leading dot)

You can do it in Explorer (in Windows 7) by adding a period at the end of the filename:

.whatever you want.

Windows will automatically remove the trailing dot when you validate.

Answer 2

You can save it using SAVE AS dialog using ".something"

Answer 3

In windows, just go to the folder using cmd and type the following command DIR>.htaccess.

This command will create a .htaccess file and will dump some data in it. Remove the data and it can be used as .htaccess file

Answer 4

If you start Notepad and then File -> Save As -> Write .htaccess and choose "All Files" as the type - then it will create the .htaccess file for you.

Answer 5

Windows 7, 8 & 10

This is dead easy since Windows 7. In File Explorer, right click anywhere and create a new file. Type the new filename as .something. (notice the appended period) and press enter twice, job done.

So instead of being prompted with

You must type a file name.

You will instead be prompted with

If you change a file name extension, the file might become unusable.

Answer 6

Use something like notepad++ or even notepad and 'save as' and enter the name .htaccess that way - always found it weird, but it lets you do it from a program!