database connection for total newbie

Pnop

Hi,
I'm building a script and want to connect to a database.

This I found easy enough, but I would like to call the database config "if you like" from another page into the php pages how is this done?

i.e.

<?php
include ("config.php") ;

but what next? I've tried all kinds so far but keep getting, Unable to connect to the database server at this time.

😕

cosminb

what kind of database????

Pnop

sorry,

mysql

treds1

you use

include'config.php';

if its not working check your connection settngs shoudl be somethign like

<?
$dbHost="localhost";
$dbUser="username";
$dbPass="password";
$dbDatabase="databaseName";

$db = mysql_connect("$dbHost", "$dbUser", "$dbPass") or die ("Cannot connect to database.");

mysql_select_db("$dbDatabase",$db) or die ("Cannot find database");

hope this helps

Pnop

This is actually what I am using and it doesn't appear to work?

As the actual page:
<?php
include'config.php';

//connect to database server database
$dbcnx = @mysql_connect($db, $hostname, $password, $user);
if (!$dbcnx) {
die( 'Unable to connect to the database server at this time.</>' );
}
//connect to the database
if (!@mysql_select_db('database') ) {
die( 'Unable to locate the database at this time.' );
}

?>
 Here is some information from the database for testing puposes:
<blockquote>
<?php

As the config:

<?php

//DB

    $db = "database";
    $hostname = "localhost";
    $password = "password";
    $user = "user";

Obviously with the correct details in the actual pages!

Hope you can help!

DeltaRho2K

If it''s not working, then change what you are doing to how treds1 is posting, because treds1's way will work for you (I actually don't double quote my variables because it isn't needed).

Don't (especially since you are a newbie) get bogged down in all of the extra error checking. Rewrite the code to the way treds1 is doing it, and if you want fancier error checking later, adjust it accordingly.

// Connect to the host
$dbcnx = mysql_connect($hostname, $user, $password) or die ("Can not connect to the database");

// Connect to the Database
mysql_select_db($db);

Pnop

OK thanks guys sorted.

Just needed that nudge to do it exactly.

Pnop

Had it working earlier or so I thought?

Is this looking right?

<?php
include'conextion.php';

//connect to database server
$dataconx = @mysql_connect($dbHost, $dbUser, $dbPass, $dbDatabase);
if (!$dataconx) {
die( 'Unable to connect to the database server at this time.</>' );
}
//connect to the database
if (!@mysql_select_db("$dbDatabase", $dataconex) ) {
die( 'Unable to locate the database at this time.' );
}

Should add here it connects to database server but fails at database?

DeltaRho2K

<?php

//DB

$db = "database";
$hostname = "localhost";
$password = "password";
$user = "user";

?>

If this is your config file (obviously the actual variable definitions are different), but if the variable names themselves look like this in your config file, then make thse changes:

1) Get the $dbDatabase variable out of your connect string.
and
2) Remove the double quotes, and use the same variable name for the database as in your config file.

Make these changes, exactly, and if this still doesn't work, then repost here (including the applicable contents of your config file)

<?php 
include'conextion.php'; 

//connect to database server 
$dataconx = @mysql_connect($hostname, $user, $password); 
if (!$dataconx) { 
die( '<P>Unable to connect to the database server at this time.</>' ); 
}


//connect to the database 
mysql_select_db($db);
if (!@mysql_select_db($db) ) { 
die( '<P>Unable to locate the database at this time.</P>' ); 
} 
?>

Lastly, why are you using IF statements to write out your error, when mySQL give you the OR DIE option?

treds1

As DeltaRho2K said there is no need to use the if statement threre is no need, using the or die is perfectly acceptable, the script i posted earlier is prety much exactly what i use all the time and have never had any problems, just call it something like dbcon.php and include it whenever you need it using

include'dbcon.php';

YOu say it is failing to connect to database, check the variable(in my script) $dbDatabase to see if it matches the name of the data base you are using. Only other thought is that there may be a problem on your server somewhere.

If you still cant get it to work post your full code and will take a look

Pnop

cheers guys here's the code that works fine.

Thankyou for your help.

<?php
include'config.php';

//connect to database server
$dataconx = @mysql_connect($dbHost, $dbUser, $dbPass, $dbDatabase);
if (!$dataconx) {
die( 'Unable to connect to the database server at this time.</>' );
}
//connect to the database
if (!@mysql_select_db("$dbDatabase") ) {
die( 'Unable to locate the database at this time.' );
}

Pnop

P.S. I'll try now without the if statements to see what happens!

Loking for indepth help a free script I want to develop if anyone interested?