Dreamweaver MX and .htaccess

I have to admit I am new at doing this so I would appreciate any guidance. Here's the story:

I am hosting a site using Apache Server and a Linux box. I have protected a directory which contains pages I only want registered members to see. I already created my .htaccess file and when I point my browser to that directory I get the generic User/Password pop-up window requesting login. If the login is correct I see the contents of the folder, if not I get an error. So I know that, as far as the server side and the .htaccess file is concerned, it is working.

Now I need to go to Dreamweaver and make a form. I have one with two text fields (user and password). I know I need to set the <form action> to the URL processing the user/password database. I also know that this URL value will not be an .html target rather it will be a .pl, .php, .asp, .cfm, etc.

Here comes the question: What does one do in Dreamweaver when none of these databases are used and one wants to use an .htaccess file for user/password validation? What are the steps to do this? Is this possible?

I am almost sure I am missing or not doing something becuase I really doubt I am the first and the only one to try to do this. So please... share the knowledge with this semi-newbie guy!

Thanks in advance.