Paging the PHPisti

OK, Im about to try and learn some PHP so that i can learn how to set up a
php/mysql online shop for a mate.

But there's no idiots guide :-( well there is, there the Dummies books, one
of which is winging its way from ebay as we speak.

However, in the meantime ive downloaded the PHP 5.2.0 installer from
http://www.php.net/downloads.php and tried to install it but its just not
straight forward and after uploading the shop to the net im getting the
following

Fatal error: main(): Failed opening required 'includes/application.php'
(include_path='.;c:\php4\pear') in
C:\Domains\sandyscooters.com\wwwroot\catalog\install\index.php on line 13

So, where im getting confused is seeing the C:\
Im assuming that i dont have to have php installed actually on my computer
unless i want to use something like phpMyAdmin?
And if so, anyone know exactly why im getting this error, i have a feeling
that "c:\php4\pear'" is the crux but have no feckin clue what to do about
it?
If an easy fix, please help, if its a case that im trying to run before i
can walk and should await the dummies book then feel free to say so :-/
--
Donegal Paul
Eibar Li186 Series II
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk
www.glitterbydesign.co.uk
Getting into racing for 2007!!

 

"Donegal Paul" replies

Never mind, in that time honoured tradition where you ask for help on
something then immediately fix it afterwards leaving yourself looking an
even bigger tit than usual, Ive done it!!
Simple thing, the particular files it was trying to call hadn't uploaded
properly!

<shakes head at self>
--
Donegal Paul
Eibar Li186 Series II
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk
www.glitterbydesign.co.uk
Getting into racing for 2007!!

 

In communiqué <>, Donegal Paul

I use PHP/Mysql a bit. So you are uploading and running this all on
sever somewhere then, not using a web hosting account with PHP/Mysql
already set up?

You might want to also consider creating a totally local test bed. I
managed to get Apache/PHP/Mysql working on my box after googling around
a bit and some head scratching. Naturally you have to modify your
connection config settings to match the server it will run on when you
deploy, but it is useful for trying things out.

I use myPHPadmin installed on the final hosting server but not locally.

You should be able to set up a local MysqlGUI Administrator installation
to do most things you would want in terms of housekeeping on the
'remote' database anyway.

I have also found it useful manipulating the Mysql database via a remote
ODBC view. Visual Foxpro certainly can do that even to the extent of
creating new records which is useful.

Are you going to rely on pre-built solutions or get in to the guts of
PHP? Not done a lot myself yet but just starting to get a feel for it:

--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

OK, Im about to try and learn some PHP so that i can learn how to set up a

There is a package on Sourceforge called webserv -
http://sourceforge.net/projects/webserv/ - which bundles php, apache,
mysql, perl etc for Windows platforms.

Only thing that does not install properly when I last installed this
was mysql, which just needed the service installing. Takes about 2 or
3 mins to set up correctly.

After that stick phpmyadmin on and you should be up and running in no
time.

 

Can I suggest that you short-circuit the whole process and go for
something like OSCommerce?

Open source, good support forum, loads of add-ons and written in PHP
using mySQL as a back-end..

Admittedly you would still have the problem of installing PHP on
Windows (and some sort of webserver) but there are installers for
Apache/PHP on Windows other than PHP for Windows..

Ah - here you go:

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html

Phil.

 

I think you'll find he is. The clues are in the original post.

Personally, if it does what he wants, I'd recommend Joomla with Virtuemart
as being easier to keep up to date and it doesn't need a core hack every
time you want to add a feature.

 

Well - he doesn't meantion OSCommerce and he is installing PHP manually
rather than as part of a bundle so I was trying to make it easier..

Fair enough - I'm used to OSCommerce which is why I recommended it.
Besides - suffering is good for the soul

Phil

 

Bad form and all that - the other reason that I'm using OSCommerce is
that the payment service that we are using (Protx) recommends it and
has a payments module for it.

Phil

 

Protx, eh? 0wn3d.

 

Fair point and, as I said, Virtumart is only any good if it does what you
want.

I've used OSC for a shop because Virtuemart didn't do what I wanted and it's
a real pain trying to keep it security patched. Every OSC update has to be
checked against all the hacks you inevitably end up with on OSC! As you say,
suffering is good for the soul.

 

Donegal Paul ha escrito:

osCommerce?

 

"Pete Fisher" said toDonegal Paul

Using my liquidsix.com reseller account, php etc installed. I thought you
*had* to have it installed on a local machine too, for some reason.

thats what i think im planning.

whoosh there (looking forward to my dummies book arriving i have to say.

Im at the prebuilt numpty stage, but would like to learn a bit more
--
Donegal Paul
Eibar Li186 Series II
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk
www.glitterbydesign.co.uk
Getting into racing for 2007!!

 

"ST" said

ooohhh ta, ill have a lookie at that.
--
Donegal Paul
Eibar Li186 Series II
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk
www.glitterbydesign.co.uk
Getting into racing for 2007!!

 

Thats exactly the beastie im trying to use
--
Donegal Paul
Eibar Li186 Series II
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk
www.glitterbydesign.co.uk
Getting into racing for 2007!!

 

"Andrew998" said to "Phil Launchbury"
OK, you two, what will one do that the other wont?
Before i get too deep into OSC i'd want to know if theres a real advantage
in using Virtuemart instead?

The problem really is though, as its all new to me, I dont know what i dont
know yet IYSWIM :-(
--
Donegal Paul
Eibar Li186 Series II
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk
www.glitterbydesign.co.uk
Getting into racing for 2007!!

 

<Deepest Sympathy>

Phil

 

Dunno - I've only ever used OSCommerce. It does seem *very* well
supported and has lots of modules available for it.
As the OP said - it also needs careful handling when you *do* install a
module as that often requires you to hack around with the PHP source..

Phil.

 

To be honest OSC will be easier initially. The real issue is keeping it
up-to-date if you start making core hacks. Unfortunately OSC is riddled with
core hacks once you start to add features and this makes keeping it current
very difficult. If you stick to the basic build it will be fine.

Joomla with Virtuemart will take longer to learn and it won't do so much.
For example, it isn't good at multi-currency. However, it is much easier to
keep current and won't be such a security risk over time.

The Joomla community tends to better organised too whereas the OSC community
tends to be a bit of a free-for-all with everyone doing the same thing over
and over again.

There's no easy answer to this one and if you've started with OSC it's
probably best to stick to it.

I'm not sure if that helps!