PHP, Apache and mysql setup (Dummies book)

oafcdave

I decided to teach myself PHP and mysql so bought the for Dummies book PHP and mySQL. Now I have installed everything as quoted in said book and from looking around a few PHP sites I have seemed to have set the httpd conf file correctly but when I try and load the test.php file into the browser it appears blank but if I 'view source' the code is their for the browser to read.

I am running the latest PHP and apache 1.3 on XP home.

I am trying to open the test.php from my c:\laticsweb\test.php

Am I running the file from the wrong place? If so where would http:\localhost actually be.

Sorry if this is really simple but I have spent 2 nights resolving this now and I'm thinking of using the book to keep me warm instead of reading it...........now where did I leave those matches?

Thanks inadvance Dave

gsf600y

Open up the Apache Service Monitor (probably sitting in your system tray), and the status bar should say:
"Apache/1.3 (Win32) PHP/4.3.1"

if it says:
"Apache/1.3 (Win32)"
then Apache doesnt know about PHP being installed.

Can you view html pages ok?
http://localhost is the correct address. It points to your
C:\program files\apache\htdocs directory
so [url]http://localhost\test.html[/url]
points to
C:\program files\apache\htdocs\test.html
You install directory might be different of course.

Do you have these lines in your httpd.conf?
LoadModule php4_module "c:/program files/apache/PHP INSTALL FOLDER/sapi/php4apache2.dll"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

oafcdave

thanks for the reply gsf600y

So I should really use the test.php in the directory C:\program files\apache\htdocs, In other words this is basically my server?

I do have AddType application/x-httpd-php .php in the httpd.conf but not LoadModule php4_module "c:/program files/apache/PHP INSTALL FOLDER/sapi/php4apache2.dll"

will give it a go.

Bit of bummer buying a book and then not being able to get past Chapter 2.

Thanks again gsf600y

bj_

Also, if you have windows XP you might have IIS server on. You may want to:
1> go to your start menu
2> right click my computer
3> click manage
4> expand "Services and Aplications"
5> double click "Services"

6> now in the textbox look for "IIS Admin". If you see click it and then click stop if it is availible.

I too spent many hours installing PHP and Apache. This is probably one of the hardest parts of learning PHP.

gsf600y

So I should really use the test.php in the directory C:\program files\apache\htdocs, In other words this is basically my server?

correctamundo.
the htdocs directory is where all your webserver files reside.
If you look in your httpd.conf, you will see a parameter that sets this directory.
You could change it to anything you like, but it uses that directory by default.

I also found installing PHP a bit of a pain.....i was copying dll files and .ini files all over the place! 😃

What did the Apache Service Monitor say btw?

Let us know how you get on.

oafcdave

will let you know how I get on gsf600y.
I'm currently in work so can't check the Apache Service Monitor at the mo'.

Hope it works.

Cheers
Dave

Norman_Graham

Nother little piece of advice - buy a book about PHP for clever people. Dummies are too dumb to do PHP.

Norm

oafcdave

Thanks for the advice I am now reading my thro' chapter 3.

Talk about frustrating

cheers oafcdave 😃