git - .gitignore doesn't ignore files

Question

My .gitignore file gets ignored and the files which should be ignored are still visible.

user@host ~/workdir % git status
# On branch master
# Changed but not updated:
#   (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
#   (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
#
#       modified:   .htaccess
#       modified:   application/controllers/statistics.php
#
no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")
user@host ~/workdir % cat .gitignore
.htaccess
application/config/config.php
application/config/database.php
user@host ~/workdir %

The files are in version control, but with sensible changes I dont want to push. git rm ... is not an option because the files should be in version controll (with other settings in the files). I just dont want to push my changes on this files.

Answer 1

i had same problem: i wanted different .htaccess file per repository then i couldn't because htaccess file had already been added to repository. It's working now, i can change any of the .htaccess file from any version without getting git pushing them. Marc is right when he says "You need to remove it first, before it can be ignored. This can be done using git rm".

i proceeded in this order:

• backup your .htaccess file somewhere
• remove .htaccess file using git rm .htaccess
• commit this change (.htaccess deletion)
• push it (git push)

this will obviously remove your .htaccess file

• then edit .gitignore and add /.htaccess
• commit then push it
• recreate your .htaccess file by restoring your previous backup

then you're done: whatever changes you make into .htaccess won't be pushed anymore. The hard part is following steps order...

hope this is clear