com.apache.httpd.plist missing file need help creating new one

Question

I installed Apache recently and tried to set it up to use launchctl to start it. At first it was giving me an option error code and than all of a sudden it said that the file was missing can anyone help me create a new file for the launch daemon.
i am running 10.10.5 and apache version 2.4.16

Answer 1

The first measure is to reinstall Apache or at least unzip (untar, ungzip etc) or decompose the installer package to get hold of the file.

If you can't find it: here is a generic com.apache.httpd.plist file from GitHub:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
  <key>Label</key>
  <string>com.apache.httpd</string>
  <key>ProgramArguments</key>
  <array>
    <string>/usr/local/httpd/bin/apachectl</string>
    <string>start</string>
  </array>
  <key>RunAtLoad</key>
  <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Depending on your system version and the flavor (server/client) several different Apple "generated" plists exist. Usually the name is org.apache.httpd.plist.

Example:

Mac OS X Server 10.7.5

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Disabled</key>
    <true/>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>org.apache.httpd</string>
    <key>OnDemand</key>
    <false/>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/sbin/httpd</string>
        <string>-D</string>
        <string>FOREGROUND</string>
        <string>-D</string>
        <string>MACOSXSERVER</string>
    </array>
    <key>SHAuthorizationRight</key>
    <string>system.preferences</string>
</dict>
</plist>

The original (unmodified) org.apache.httpd.plist of OS X 10.10.5 Client

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Disabled</key>
    <true/>
    <key>EnvironmentVariables</key>
    <dict>
        <key>XPC_SERVICES_UNAVAILABLE</key>
        <string>1</string>
    </dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>org.apache.httpd</string>
    <key>OnDemand</key>
    <false/>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/sbin/httpd-wrapper</string>
        <string>-D</string>
        <string>FOREGROUND</string>
    </array>
</dict>
</plist>

Please copy & paste it into text file a and safe it with admin rights to /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ with the name org.apache.httpd.plist. Afterwards you may have to change the permissions/ownership to 644/root:wheel.