imagemagick /php

Anon

I have a remote server and want add thumbnailing to my php script. They put imagemagick on the server for me, but im a littl unsure of how to encorporate it into my php. My understanding is that it is run from a commmand line, but im not sure. Im new to php so any assistance would be appreciated. -JB

Anon

$e=exec("/usr/X11R6/bin/convert -quality 30 -geometry 35% $input_file $outputfile"
,$error);

This is for a unix box. writes small jpg files (35% x width same aspect ratio). This overwrites output files with new ones if file with same name exists. Only problem that I have had with this is that no useful output is given (in $error) if something goes wrong (or right)?

Anon

The new "imlib" PHP-extension is much nicer than running "convert" commands (convert is part of ImageMagicsk).

See http://rpms.arvin.dk/php/install-ready/i686/?describe=php-imlib#descs

If php-imlib is not an option, then see documentation for ImageMagick (look at its website). Also, see the PHP manual about the back-tick operator and functions like escape_shell_args().

Also, note that it's sometime useful to add the following to the execution command when executing external programs:
......... 2>&1
The "2>&1" means that error messages will be treated as normal program output.

Anon

Please note that your code code pose a serious security issue if the $input_file or $outputfile variables are unchecked externally produced values (like user input).

Anon

You are right I should have mentioned the security issues fo doing this kind of stuff. I was aware of this as these issues are mentioned in exec-manual page. I use this in non-public page & with no user input.

2>&1 indeed does the trick and now I can see error messages. If you put second variable in the exec-command you get an array with all the (error) lines that your command outputs.

If all goes right with convert nothing is outputted (if you don't use -verbose).