session variables

dudeman11

When using session_start(), I am unable to retrieve session variables. When I run phpinfo(), no session variables show up. I seem to have php.ini set up correctly, but no luck. Any advice?

PHPdev

Are you using session_register() after your session_start().. I think session_register will also start a session if you have not already made a call the session_start.

PHPdev

cahva

From php.net:
"Use of $SESSION (or $HTTP_SESSION_VARS with PHP 4.0.6 or less) is recommended for improved security and code readablity. With $SESSION, there is no need to use the session_register(), session_unregister(), session_is_registered() functions. Session variables are accessible like any other variables. "

So dont use session_register(). But lets say you have code like this:

session_start();
$_SESSION['hey']='Heyy!';
header("Location: http://www.yoursite.com/test.php");

And in the test.php:

session_start();
echo $_SESSION['hey'];

That should print Heyy!. If thats not the case, then I would look in your php.ini in the part where its telling you the session.save_path. By default its directory is /tmp. Maybe you havent created that directory on your webserver? I had similar problems a while ago and its cause was that the session-path was put in some other clients directory on the server.

jonsof

Could someone do that using META tag for Redirection?

Thanks!

dudeman11

I tried your suggestion, Cahva. Unfortunately, nothing printed to the page. I also tried altering the save path, but that didn't help either. Running phpinfo() shows no session variables. It's quite frustrating...

PHPdev

Look in phpinfo() in the session section. Make sure everything looks good there... like some of the important info in mine says...

Session Support = Enabled
Session.Savepath = /tmp

Sounds like you may have to have some write access to the session.savepath...

Also in your variables do you show any cookies?

Thanks

PHPdev

jonsof

So guys let me ask you a question about sessions

Can we have a HTTP Authentication via session variables?

dudeman11

My save path seems to work fine. The designated folder contains the session ID. Problem is, I can't seem to generate any session vars. I've tried using session_register and I've tried just declaring a session var:
session_register("foo");
or
$HTTP_SESSION_VARS["foo]";
or
$_SESSION["FOO"];

If these were actually created wouldn't I see them when running phpinfo()?

cahva

Actually no. You dont see them in phpinfo(). Atleast on my server(Windoze) phpinfo() doesnt tell any session variables. But sessions are working fine here. So you say it does write something to the dir where you have set the session savepath?

I did the script with the $_SESSION['hey']='heyy!'.
It saves it into file:
sess_cc31cbcd3b148f87a036251411d3769f

It contains data:
hey|s:5:"Heyy!";

What does the file look like when you open it?

dudeman11

Your suggestions have been quite helpful. I am generating a session ID to the proper directory, and show the session variables that I've created in the data file as you've demonstated.

Here's the discrepancy: a script that doesn't work on my local drive (windows, php 4.2.3, apache 2.0.43) works using a remote server (linux, php4.1.2, apache1.3.6).

I'm using a simple test script (from the Wrox book) to capture a form variable and post to a second script, where I capture a 2nd variable, placing the 1st in a hidden form field. I then post both to a third script. Using phpinfo() the variable stored in the hidden field shows no value, while the variable collected from the second script shows a value, but won't print to the page unless I explicitly call for $_POST[foo] or if I turn register_globals on (the remote server has it turned on).

Why isn't the value of hidden variables passed on?

lostcarpark

Two things to check for Session variables on Windows:

Open php.ini and make sure the "session.save_path" setting is set to a valid folder. I think the default is "/tmp". Change to something like "c:\temp".

Check the permissions on the above folder and make sure the user the webserver runs under has read/write access.

Hope this helps,

James

saintdev

Originally posted by lostcarpark
Two things to check for Session variables on Windows:

Open php.ini and make sure the "session.save_path" setting is set to a valid folder. I think the default is "/tmp". Change to something like "c:\temp".

Check the permissions on the above folder and make sure the user the webserver runs under has read/write access.

Hope this helps,

James

sorry if this is an old post, but it seemed to most fit my question and some moderators are picky about searching the forum.

I've changed the "session.save_path" to "C:/temp" in my php.ini, but when I run phpinfo() it still says that the directory is still "/tmp". Yes I have restarted Apache, I even tried restarting my computer to clear it out, but even thought the php.ini says c:/temp it still thinks it's /tmp. Anyone have any ideas?

Weedpacket

Aah, that raises a few possibilities. The obvious one is that your php.ini is not being read at all, and is running on compile-time defaults. Up near the top of the phpinfo record should be an entry saying where it's looking for its Configuration File. Is that the same place where your php.ini is?

saintdev

Doh! Thanks for pointing me to that. I had it in the system directory not the windows directory. Thanks again for pointing out my mistake!

Weedpacket

When I first set PHP up on Windows, it took me ages to realise what was going on.