Set web server handle 404 errors for some file types using .htaccess

[Markupcloud]

I had learned a lot from answers here and now I have very specific question, which I couldn't find on the Internet (is this possible?)...

The goal is to set custom ErrorDocument 404, that handles not existing chosen static files like: /notfound.jpg and in a subdirectory (for any directory): /dir/notfound.jpg, for sites running under WordPress with pretty permalinks enabled. It will avoid high load on the server when some chosen static files are missing or linked incorrectly!

I'm using a slightly modified code from the W3 Total cache plugin in my .htaccess file:

ErrorDocument 404 /_code_404.html

# BEGIN (modified) W3TC Skip 404 error handling by WordPress for static files
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(robots\.txt|sitemap\.xml(\.gz)?)
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} \.(css|js|bmp|gif|ico|jpg|jpeg|jpe|png|swf)$ [NC]
RewriteRule .* - [L]
</IfModule>
# END (modified) W3TC Skip 404 error handling by WordPress for static files

# BEGIN WordPress
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
# END WordPress

I'm trying it on 2 different servers with Cpanel, on shared plans, both have WordPress with pretty permalinks and the result is the same:

Works just as expected for requests like http://mydomain.com/notfound.jpg

Doesn't work for not found file in a subdirectory like this http://mydomain.com/dir/notfound.jpg. In this case the WP handles the request and shows 404 page, which I want to avoid for certain file types, i.e. for static files like: css, js, jpg and a few more...

Any answers and comments are welcome, thanks! I can try any suggestions you may have (even untested).

---

PSD to WordPress Theme Conversion

[Susan]

As you posted this more than 2 months ago, I hope you were able to get your issue resolved. If not, please report back here, and I will escalate for you.

If it has been resolved, please update the thread, and I will close it.

Thanks!

[Author]

Posts