Is .htaccess Only available on Dedicated servers?

[Gutspiller]

I want to add a forum archiver hack, but the hack requires that I edit this file.

Can I add the hack if my site is on a virtual shared server?

[Sebastian]

.htaccess can be used on any server, shared or dedicated .. but it must be running *nix i believe.

[Dark_Wizard]

Just create the .htaccess file thats needed and save it to the server. Also...this file is hidden by default so in your ftp app you need to add -la to your remote file mask so you can see the file.

[filburt1]

It's still possible, though, for a server admin to turn off .htaccess parsing.

[amykhar]

Gutspiller, some virtual hosts don't let you use mod rewrite though. Be prepared for it to not work. VO shut it down on my last year when I was on a virtual server. I had to move to a VPS to get it back.