Trouble getting scripts to run properly.

MBenefactor

Hi all,

I'm looking to season myself in some php programming. But, before I could get started, I ran into a bit of a roadblock. That is, I can't get scripts to run properly. 🙁

I've recently run across a means of merging two forum databases into one using a php script. The code can be found here.

My problem is that the script runs until line 153 (where it prints "Shifting IDs in table." Then, it just stops. Now comes my fun part.

I have a mirror of my forums running on my PC here. It's running Abyss Web Server, PHP 4.3.7, and MySQL 4.0.18. They are phpBB based. I have no trouble accessing the forums and manipulating the databases locally or remotely. Thus, I'd want to assume that the server is properly configured for routing to my php interpreter.

But then, I tried uploading the script to my hosted server. I tried running the script from there, and it worked (though I had plenty of errors because it wasn't configured properly 😃 ). Thing is, they're running Apache (no suprise there 😉 ) and PHP 4.3.4. Would the difference be running Apache, or could it be my php setup with my server? (I don't know, because the php-based forums are working.) Or, is it the php version?

So, is it time for me to get to learning Apache, or can someone point out something I'm missing? Thanks for any help, y'all!

rachel2004

Is the PHP that you are running locally have register_globals = ON?

MBenefactor

Yes, globals are on. 🙂

rachel2004

If your remote web server is running it with register_globals = OFF, then that could be the problem. What is it set to on the remote web server?

MBenefactor

Hmmm... It doesn't seem to make a difference whether the register_globals parameter is set on or off here on my PC; I get the same reply from the script. My host is prone to hiding juicy bits from their users, so I can't access the php.ini to check.

rachel2004

You could create a file and put only the following contents in it:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Then save it on your remote web server as phpinfo.php

View it in your browser and it will show you all of the PHP settings of your remote web server. From there, you should be able to determine if register_globals is on or off on the remote web server.

MBenefactor

A mighty useful command, thanks! I ran a check, and found that globals are "on" on my remote host. Are there any other parameters I should look for? I took down a quick list of differences between their config and mine.

rachel2004

Can you post the block of code for the error you're getting at line 153? Any other relevant code, post that too. However, do not post your entire file as I do not have time to look at the whole thing.

MBenefactor

Certainly.

<?php 

$dbms = 'mysql'; 
$phpbb_root_path = '../forum/'; 

$dbhost = 'localhost'; 

$dbuser = 'MB'; 
$dbpasswd = '--------'; 

// Name and prefix for the database that should keep the original IDs 

$dbname1 = 'forum'; 
$table_prefix1 = 'phpbb_'; 

// Name and prefix for the database that is going to be added 
// to DB1. 
$dbname2 = 'forum2'; 
$table_prefix2 = 'phpbb_'; 


# NO NEED TO MODIFY CODE BELOW 
# MODIFY ONLY IF U KNOW WHAT U R DOING 

...

// Traverse the shift_tables array 

foreach($shift_tables as $key => $value) 
{ 
   $table = $key; 
   $merge_tables[$table] = 0; // keep an array with all tables that need merging 
   $column = $value[0]; // Column with ID that needs to be shifted 
   $ref = $value[1]; // Tables that are using the mentioned ID. 
   print "Shifting IDs in table $table<br />\n";  (Line 153 here.)
   $max = shift_ids($table, $column); 
   flush();

It gets this far, and then just stops. 🙁

MBenefactor

The "forum" and "forum2" databases are being serviced by MySQL. When I run it on my server here, I get a...

Shifting IDs in table

When I run it on my remote host, I get...

Warning: main(../forums/extension.inc): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/johnmc/public_html/merge.php on line 30

Warning: main(): Failed opening '../forums/extension.inc' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/johnmc/public_html/merge.php on line 30

Warning: main(../forums/includes/constants.): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/johnmc/public_html/merge.php on line 31

Warning: main(): Failed opening '../forums/includes/constants.' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/johnmc/public_html/merge.php on line 31

Warning: main(../forums/includes/db.): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/johnmc/public_html/merge.php on line 32

Warning: main(): Failed opening '../forums/includes/db.' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/johnmc/public_html/merge.php on line 32
Shifting IDs in table categories

Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in /home/johnmc/public_html/merge.php on line 349

Here, it's running, but it can't find the databases because they aren't on the server. 🙂

Anything catch your eye?

rachel2004

Have you checked your permissions on the remote web server as well as making sure the paths are correct for the files that the script is trying to call? It seems to be a permissions issue on the remote web server from having just glanced at what you posted...

rachel2004

Correction: the errors are because it can't find files in the include() or require() statements at lines 30, 31, and 32 of your code. I didn't see anything wrong in the foreach loop code that you posted, btw.

Do a check that all of the files required by the script are actually in the directories that they are expected to be in on the remote web server.

MBenefactor

Yes, the databases are not present on the server at this time. My main focus isn't getting the script to work, but getting it to run. It runs on the remote server, and this will work for me once I get SSH access. What I'm trying to do is debug the reason it will not run completely on my server here, for when I start experimenting on other scripts. 🙂

MBenefactor

Hi folks,

Well, after laboring with Apache, I was finally able to get the script running! 😃 So, that's one problem down, but...

Now comes the part where I learn more about PHP. 🙂 Now that the aforementioned script is running, I've run into a unique roadblock (i.e. I haven't found any references to it on here or other forums). When the script now gets to line 349, I receive a fatal error. If I may:

344
345 function getmax($dbname, $table, $id) 
346 { 
347    global $db; 
348       $sql = "SELECT MAX($id) as max_id FROM $dbname." .$table; 
349       if(!$result = $db->sql_query($sql) ) 
350       { 
351           message_die(GENERAL_ERROR, 'Could not fetch max(id).', '', __LINE__, __FILE__, $sql); 
352       } 
353       if($max = $db->sql_fetchrow($result)) 
354       {

I now get this output:

Hacking attemptHacking attemptShifting IDs in table categories

Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in c:\program files\apache\apache\htdocs\merge.php on line 349

I'll continue researching the problem, but could I ask a professional's opinion of what is occuring here? Thanks!

MBenefactor

Thanks, all. I finally got it working on my host's server once I got SSH access. Apparently, I had something configured improperly between Apache and MySQL, though I've also been told it might have something to do with problems running the server on Windows 98. In any case, thansk for the assists. 🙂