setting up https as default instead of http with apache

i have read form the internet that all i have to do to make https as default instead of http is to make a redirection either using the .htaccess or add a line in the httpd.conf

i already have working https and i can access the site by typing https

i have read somewhere that i can just add thig line to the httpd.conf

"Redirect permanent / https://mysite.com/ "

then restart apache

but when i do that the apache wont restart

is there a correct way to do this thanks