PHP Mail/Function Question

[centenial]

Hi,

I have a PHP function called 'database_backup()' that makes a complete backup of a MySQL database. Every time I run the php file I want it to email me the backup. I tried doing it like this:

$my_message = database_backup();

mail($my_email, $my_subject, $my_message, $my_headers);

But that didn't work - How can I include the contents of a function in an email message?

Thanks,

[mjax]

You have to return something from the function database_backup() for it to be used in the mail() function.

[NogDog]

centenial wrote:

But that didn't work

Might be a good idea to tell us specifically how it did not work: was no email received, was it received but empty, or did the server explode in a burst of flame? 😉

[MarkR]

Don't do this. Anything in PHP which does the above is flawed and will not work in the general case.

Get a proper database backup system instead.

Justification

1. The implementation of database_backup() is probably wrong (Well, it is in PHPMyAdmin anyway, perhaps you've written one right?)
2. The script may timeout before the database backup is complete
3. The backup may be too large for email and hence stop arriving when the MTA places its size limit.

Just get a proper backup system.

Mark