Does anybody know the correct format for setting the user_dir variable in php.ini?

Is it:
user_dir = public_html
user_dir = "public_html"
or something else?

After creating a file in my server's document root called phpinfo.php, I get a nice print out of my php settings. That print out shows user_dir as set as public_html no matter which of the two above options I have chosen (yes, I have rebooted or stopped and restarted the apache serrver many times).

My problem is:
When I access http://localhost/phpinfo.php in my browser I get the print out I expect.
BUT!
When I copy that same phpinfo.php file to /home/(username)/public_html/ , set all of the required permissions, then try to access http://localhost/~username/phpinfo.php I get the evilly inspired and totally unhelpfful cryptic "Forbidden. You don't have permission to access /~username/phpinfo.php on this server." Despite the fact it's my file, my directory, my Linux install, my cotton-pickin computer, and my house!!

I'm running Fedora 5 Linux on an HP PC with lot's of speed, disk space, and RAM. Apache 2 and php 5. I searched extensively but, while I find lots of links telling me I can or don't have to set user_dir, I cannot find any clear examples of what works and what does not. This setting is usually just briefly mentioned as one amongst a long list of other possible settings. A lengthy description of how to use this setting (including samples) does not appear to exist.

Right. But apache isn't running as 'you', it is running as 'apache' or perhaps 'nobody' and therefore has 'nobody's permissions. This means the server cannot enter your home directory to serve the files. To fix this you need to "chmod o+x /home/(username)", "chmod o+x /home/(username)/public_html/" and finally, all the actual files inside /home/(username)/public_html/ will need to be world readable.

bulliver --

HA! Now, of course, it works. Thank you for reminding me of some of the basics. I really appreciate your time and effort.

No problem Tim, glad you got it sorted.