[users@httpd] Apache 2.0.52 mod_jk1.2.8 rewrite rule bug dealing with %23 (Apache Users)

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} ^80$

RewriteRule ^/Windchill/(.*) https://%{SERVER_NAME}/Windchill/$1 [NE,R]

When it tries to rewrite following URL to https with no escaping (NE flag)

http://velocity.stp.guidant.com/Windchill/servlet/WindchillAuthGW/wt.fv.master.RedirectDownload/redirectDownload/Eacss%20%20SWO%20P-6506%20INNER%20COIL%20FLARE%20LENGTH%20EVAL.DAT%20Attachment%20%231%20%20add%20sl%23%201.xls?u8&HttpOperationItem=wt.content.ApplicationData%3A452694552&ContentHolder=wt.workflow.forum.DiscussionPosting%3A452694548

It ends up writing following URL

https://velocity.stp.guidant.com/Windchill/servlet/WindchillAuthGW/wt.fv.master.RedirectDownload/redirectDownload/Eacss%20%20SWO%20P-6506%20INNER%20COIL%20FLARE%20LENGTH%20EVAL.DAT%20Attachment%20#1%20%20add%20sl#%201.xls?u8&HttpOperationItem=wt.content.ApplicationData%3A452694552&ContentHolder=wt.workflow.forum.DiscussionPosting%3A452694548

In this URL you can see it converted the "http" to "https", and it kept "%3A" intact since I had "NE" flag which prevents mod_rewrite from applying the usual URI escaping rules. So it all worked well except one thing. As you can see in the abo ve URL, it converted "%23" to it's original value "#". My question is why? I instructed the rewrite rule to keep it intact when comes any special characters and it kept all the "%3A" intact but for some reason it changed "%23" to "#". Anyone any idea? Please help.

mrahman