Crazy Include Issue on Cobalt Raq4

[nuklehed]

Hi PHP'ers,

Here is a tricky PHP problem i came up with when moving my 4.1.2 site from RedHat to a Cobalt Raq4. Any feedback as to the reason would be great.

Here is the include hierarchy including descriptions:.

• config.inc.php: contains global configuration variables.

• common.fns.php: contains global functions (i.e.: mysql db connection)

• index.php: the center of the app. sort of fusebox style.

Common and config are in a folder called 'common'. Index is in a folder called 'admin'.

Index has the line 'include("../common/common.fns.php");' that executes perfectly with no trouble.

Common has the line 'include("./config.inc.php");' that causes a problem returning a 'Warning: failed opening inclusion...' error. Keep in mind this all works without a hitch on the RedHat server running the same versions PHP. What I had to do to circumvent the error was change the common.fns.php include to read 'include("../common/config.inc.php");' Essentially telling it to leave the directory and come back. That got rid of the 'Warning' but then none of my variables were being read. Meaning where I set the table cell bgcolors with a php varable in config.inc.php I was getting nothing. So for a test I added an 'echo "test";' in my config.inc.php and tada! it finally worked. Before all that file had were variables being set. Now it has a echo "<!-- -->"; as the first line followed by my variables.

I have no idea how this happens. The only difference I can see between the two systems is that the Cobalt machine runs Apache 1.3.20 and my RedHat machine runs 1.3.23. Any feedback would be awesome.

• NukleHeD

[mrmufin]

Perhaps the php.ini file has different values for each machine?

One thing that I usually do, mainly because I'm absolutely anal-retentive about not changing anything when I move code from one machine to another, is set a constant for my include path which is dependent upon the server:

switch($HTTP_SERVER_VARS["SERVER_NAME"]) {
	case "laptop.mufin":
		define(APPS_PATH,"/home/mrmufin/apps/");
	break;
	case "bitchinservers.com":
		define(APPS_PATH,"/usr/home/bitchins/apps/");
	break;
	default:
		define(APPS_PATH,"");
}

With that being done, all I need to do is add a case when I move stuff to another machine. Then in my application I can always call includes using the APPS_PATH constant:

include_once(APPS_PATH . "myBitchinTools.php");

Just one o' those thangs I find useful, mainly because it always works. A sysadmin can futz around the php.ini file all week long without breaking my script...

Have fun.

[BDKR]

I don't know for certain, but isn't that Cobalt RAQ a Sun box. If so, check the OS. I'll bet it's not Red Hat. That could be an issue too.

Just something to consider.....
BDKR

[nuklehed]

It is a Sun box. That could be an issue. I really think it has something to do with PHP losing track of the include path. Mufin's suggestion will probably work best in that situation. I wonder how I can implement that strategy since the include on top of the hierarchy is the one not being found. I will try to implement the strategy and let you all know if it worked out. Thanks for the speedy responses!

• NukleHeD
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