header() & 404

[Anon]

I've got a problem redirecting to another page using header() from a 404 script once a real 404 error has happened.

What I want to happen:
1) a page isn't found, goes to my 404 page
2) my 404 page works out where it should be going, & issues a header() to redirect to a new page
3) the new page appears...

What happens:
1) a page isn't found, goes to my 404 page
2) my 404 page works out where it should be going, & issues a header()
to redirect to a new page
3) nothing - doesn't redirect

It's definitely getting to my 404 page, I can output a custom error message, or whatever I want.
If I try the URL of the error script directly it all works fine, and the redirect takes place.
The problem only occurs when it's a real 404 error.

Currently I'm outputing html to do frame based forwarding in the 404 script, this does work from within a real 404 error, but it's not a
nice way of doing it.

Does anyone know if it is possible to issue a header() redirection command that still works from a real 404 error, and if so how do I do it ?

( eg with this code in the 404 page it only forwards when accessed directly, not when a 404 error occurs.

<?PHP
header("Location: http://www.phpbuilder.com");
exit();
?>
)

[yelvington]

It works just fine for me. My apache httpd.conf file says:

ErrorDocument 404 /testing/404.php

and testing/404.php says

<?
header("Location: http://yelvington.com/");
phpinfo();
?>

I go straight to my homepage, and do not see phpinfo().

You must be doing something earlier in your script that breaks it.

[Anon]

Remember that you cannot issue a header after data begins displaying, so if your seeing your webpage you are most likely breaking your code.

What you should do is a Meta Redirect instead (that is if you want them to actually see the 404 not found page)