If (!file_esists) difference in PHP4/PHP3 & require($variable) in PHP3

2hawks

I am stumped and it's driving me insane.

I am trying to determine if a file exists and if not, display a line of text and exit that block of code. I have this working on my own server and my regular host on the net as it uses PHP4. At least I thinks it's because the server uses PHP4. I suspect that my syntax may be flawed in a way that PHP4 can forgive but PHP3 will not. The following is what have that works just fine in PHP4:

if($products[2]=="")
{echo "No Extended Description has been entered.></td>\n";}else
if(!file_exists($products[2]))
{echo "No Extended Description has been entered.</td>\n";}
else

{echo require($products[2]), "</td>\n";}

And the following is my clip of code in PHP3:

if ($products[2]=="")
{echo "No Extended Information has been entered.></td>\n";}
else
if (!file_exists($products[2]))
{echo "No Extended Information has been entered.></td>\n";}
else
{ require($products[2]); }

This last piece of code generates the following Error Message:

Fatal error: Failed opening required './inv_desc/9907.html' in [host] on line 73

I have been going over the documentation and have tried a variety of solutions to no avail. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have a limited amount of time to do this otherwise I would simply switch my employer to a more competent provider.

juschillinnow

try replacing the $ value with the actual value. If that does not work then try changing the permissions of the file or folder that the file is in to 0777 or 777 whichever your server requires. If you said that it works on your computer, you pc may be reading it as localhost and allowing the file reading whereas your server may not.

CHECK YOUR PERMISSIONS!

Weedpacket

It doesn't look like a PHP3/PHP4 thing; just that the copy running on the host is unable to include the file cited. Given that the success of file_exists() implies that the file is being found, the problem may revolve around file reading permissions (especially if your host has "Safe Mode" turned on).

2hawks

Thanks for the reply,

I should have added that I include file via the require statement througout the site. It is in this one instance that this fails.

But now that you mention it, the Server is a BSD box, what exactly is 'Safe Mode'? This host is rather... Ahem Strict...

2Hawks

2hawks

I checked the permissions and all are as they should be.

a bit of clarification on the development environments that I am using:

The server I am using at home is a Linux box (RH8) with samba shares. I use notpad to edit files directly on my home server, which will then query the database on my personal account on dreamhost's servers.

From work I will modify the file, and upload it either to dreamhost or my employers site, which is the site that has php3 (THe BSD Box) . The plan was to complete this project on an advanced server then migrate from the BSD Box to a more advanced server that can handle PHP4.

The crunch is we need something on the BSD box NOW and time is short. Any Further Assistance will be greatly appreciated.

2hawks

Weedpacket

Safe mode

Roughly speaking, in safe mode, the only files that the web server can use are those owned by the server (typically "nobody"). If you create a file on the server using some other account then that account will own it and PHP won't touch it.

If this is the problem (see what value is returned from ini_get('safe_mode') to see if it's turned on or not); you may be able to get your host to loosen safe mode restrictions on the appropriate directory (the safe_mode_include_dir setting), or possibly log in to upload the file using the server's account, or maybe chown it once it's there.

Do you ever require the same file in those other situations where it works? I kinda infer from your description that this file is the only one that you edit and upload, and it's the only one causing trouble...