Hi!
The only solution I have for this situation is to use ModRewrite (it's a module of Apache that usually is compiled with Apache, but if it's not, you need to recompile).
This is the approximate statement (that might not work, but you can try anyway). You need to insert this either into the .htaccess file in the directory whose contents and subdirectory contents need to be affected, or into the 'httpd.conf' in the section describing your virtual site (if there are many users on your provider. .htaccess should do.)
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ./index$
RewriteRule (./index)$ $1.php
What it means - switch on rewriting, if the query if for a document that matches the regular expression, replace the document name with the actual name of the document. Internally, Apache will actually do its stuff with {index.php}, but visually the user will be communicating with {index}.
You may need to configure the regular expression logic. The second line is not really needed since you're checking url validity in the second argument of RewriteRule, but it may be necessary in tough case.
Email me at stanis@sibfair.nsk.su for an example from real life that is using modRewrite.
Best,
Stas
