[RESOLVED] Browser Can't Find Files...

SDSU

Yes, I'm a complete NOOB- not just to PHP but to programming in general. I just started reading "PHP and MySQL for Dummies". My problem is this: In the early section of the book, it asks you to test the functionality of the server and PHP (as well as the MySQL database but I haven't got that far yet).

So the book explains that the default web space for my Apache server is in the htdocs folder. Great. Found it. Then the book explains that if I type in "localhost" into the browser, there is a page that gets previewed. I did this and the page says "It works". Great. Then the book asks to write out some PHP script and save it to the same htdocs folder and name it test.php. It then says you can preview the test.php file by putting localhost/test.php into the browser. So I type out the script the book has given me on to a Notepad file and save it in the htdocs folder as test.php. I then type localhost/test.php and I get a "Not Found" error on the page. I then get a known good html page and save it in the htdocs folder as test.php and still I get a "Not found" error.

The "It works" html page that worked is in the same folder as the one that doesn't work (htdocs).I'm just trying to get my server and PHP up and running here. Does anybody have any ideas? Again, I am completely new at this so any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you! 🙂

(Also, the book explained how to change the Apache configuration file to recognize PHP and I did this as well. But I don't think this is the problem because it won't reconize ANY pages regardless if they have PHP or not)

ClarkF1

Does the file have a .txt extension e.g. test.php.txt

Sometimes when you type in test.php into the save box it still adds .txt on the end.

Are you using a windows or unix server?

Houdini

Also type this little file and save it as test.php and save it in the htdocs folder..

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Then type http://localhost/test.php into either Firefox or Internet Explorer or whatever browser you are using. Then let us know what happens. If your server is properly set up you shoudlget a long table of all kinds of information about your PHP installation. You must access all your stuff on your server thru http://localhost this is the root directory of the server.

SDSU

ClarkF1 wrote:
Does the file have a .txt extension e.g. test.php.txt

Sometimes when you type in test.php into the save box it still adds .txt on the end.

Are you using a windows or unix server?

Good call! I typed in localhost/test.php.txt and it indeed did come up. So thanks for that!

My page did not display properly, however. Here's the code I used:

It displayed the script above verbatim. :o Any thoughts? Also, how do I know which extensions are being added to my files? I look at the "Details" view in Windows Explorer and it still doesn't add the extension graphically. 😕

Thank you.

Houdini

I am assuming the you are using Notepad to write your files, when you save them with notepad use the drop down box and select All Files, not text then resave as test.php not test.php.txt for the PHP interpretor to read a PHP unless you alter the httpd.conf file and possibly also the php.ini file then it will look for the extension of .php it will not interpret a text file at all even if it is a PHP file.

If you are going to write and test PHP code I would strongly suggest using an editor that is for such things the one that I use and am quite satisfied with is PHP Designer, just do a google search for it, and downoad and install it, you will be glad you did.

To actuaolly see all file extensions in windows then go to Control Panel, then Folder Options and click the View tab and make sure that the checkbox for Hide extensions for know file types is NOT checked, I think it is by default, then click apply and OK.

ClarkF1

You need to remove the .txt extension. Right click the filename and choose rename and delete ".txt"

Next time you create a file in notepad when you save it type the filename in e.g. test.php and then from the "Save as type:" menu select "All Files".

It won't add the file extension then.

If it doesn't show up graphically it's probably because you have the "Hide Known File Extensions" option enabled.

Open up a folder or use Windows explorer. Go to the Tools menu and click on Folder Options. Select the View tab and then uncheck the box next to "Hide extensions for known file types". Click "Apply" and then "OK". Any files which have a .txt extension should show up with that extension.

Any sort of editor that highlights syntax is good. I use PSPad.

SDSU

ClarkF1: Thank you, I am now displaying my files in Windows Explorer with their extensions and I can edit them.

So I did edit the original Notepad file to become a PHP file. When I tried to view it with my browser, a weird thing happened: A download box opens up - giving me the option to "Open with" or "Save to disk". So instead of processing the script, it simply wants to provide it to me in file form. So I scrapped that idea.

I then saved the original file in the htdocs folder as an HTML file (since I'm getting so good with extensions :p ). When I do this, the HTML output is displayed, but not the PHP output. As if the browser is processing the HTML but not the PHP. 😕

So then I download PHPDesigner (thanks Houdini) and I copy and paste the script to a new PHP file and save it in the htdocs folder (with a slightly different name). I type the address into the browser and the same download box comes up. 😕

Any more thoughts? Thanks for all your help so far! 🙂

Houdini

Sound like PHP is not fully or properly installed. Have you gone over the PHP Manual and carefully followed the install at this php.net page. Carefully go over the install for your system and you will probably see where you need to make changes to get it going.

SDSU

Houdini wrote:
Sound like PHP is not fully or properly installed. Have you gone over the PHP Manual and carefully followed the install at this php.net page. Carefully go over the install for your system and you will probably see where you need to make changes to get it going.

Thanks Houdini. I was suspecting that it wasn't installed properly. I'll go to your link and go thru the proper installation. I sure am learning a lot! 😃

(I'll post back with a resolution)...

Houdini

If you have too much trouble then you can always go to plan B which is downoad and install XAMPP and then within 15 minutes after download you will be able to run PHP MySQL Perl phpMyAdmin and mercury Mailserver and Filezilla FTP server.

ClarkF1

I've found that on Windows if you open the file using the file menu it'll ask you whether you want to download it, but if you type the location in the location bar it will open as expected.

SDSU

Houdini wrote:
If you have too much trouble then you can always go to plan B which is downoad and install XAMPP and then within 15 minutes after download you will be able to run PHP MySQL Perl phpMyAdmin and mercury Mailserver and Filezilla FTP server.

Thanks for the Plan B. I hope I won't be needing a Plan C. 😃

SDSU

ClarkF1 wrote:
I've found that on Windows if you open the file using the file menu it'll ask you whether you want to download it, but if you type the location in the location bar it will open as expected.

Yeah the book specifically states not to open it with the file menu. I've just been using the url. 😉

Houdini

If I remember correctly it took me acouple of days to finally set up Apache I think 1.03 MySQL and probably PHP3xxx (I have a very old third edition of PHP and MySQL for Dummies Janet Valade). Then when I wanted to update to Apache 2.0 I found XAMPP and have used it ever since. It took longer to download it than to install it and be running an Apache with PHP Perl MySQL and more, I will never manually install again, and only tweak the php.ini to suit my needs.

SDSU

Houdini wrote:
If I remember correctly it took me acouple of days to finally set up Apache I think 1.03 MySQL and probably PHP3xxx (I have a very old third edition of PHP and MySQL for Dummies Janet Valade). Then when I wanted to update to Apache 2.0 I found XAMPP and have used it ever since. It took longer to download it than to install it and be running an Apache with PHP Perl MySQL and more, I will never manually install again, and only tweak the php.ini to suit my needs.

Hmmmm... I just checked out the website. I think I'll give it a try. Thanks. 🙂

ClarkF1

I think I had it going in five minutes after downloading.......

XAMPP rules.......takes all the hassle out of it. You'd don't need IIS or anything.

SDSU

Yessssssss!!!!

It works! That was so easy. And it even has a Control Panel.

Thanks for your help to both of you. I hope you guys don't mind more questions in the future. I mean, I'm still only in the first part of the book. :queasy:

😃

Resovled by installing with XAMPP installer.

ClarkF1

Feel free to ask..........I still reference a book from time to time.

If you have any queries about functions the best place is www.php.net

You can just type in the name of the function and it'll take you to a page with detailed information on how to use it and in most cases examples some provided by users

SDSU

ClarkF1 wrote:
Feel free to ask..........I still reference a book from time to time.

If you have any queries about functions the best place is www.php.net

You can just type in the name of the function and it'll take you to a page with detailed information on how to use it and in most cases examples some provided by users

😉