Super noob question

talkingtree

hi i'm extremely new to php, i just installed php from http://www.php.net/downloads.php

using the php installer program

and i did this:

<html>
<head>
<title>My First PHP Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
echo "Hello World!";
?>
</body>
</html>

i saved the txt file to index.php and tried it on my computer but all what i get is a blank page, how come?

i tried uploading to my server with the same name and it shows up as a blank page too

MikeEller

Is your server (web server) set up to handle .php files?

talkingtree

yes the server handles php

MikeEller

can you replace the .php file with a .html file and have it work fine?

Jack_McSlay

you only installed the PHP interpreter. It will only do anything with command-line scripts if you don't install a Web Server on your PC.
If you're on windows, go to http://www.wampserver.com.
If you're on linux, go to your package manager and install PHP and apache from there (and prefferably mysql too).
If you're on mac, I'm not sure, but I guess the only easy way to install a PHP/apache server is through xampp

talkingtree

MikeEller

no it still doesnt work ><

Jack McSlay

so i need to install wampserver thing to make my computer a server then php can run?

Jack_McSlay

Yes.

talkingtree

i installed wamp and turned it on

then i came back to open the file, it is still blank, wat did i do wrong ><?

bradgrafelman

(Thread moved to the Install forum)

You don't need to install WAMP - I never have.

What it sounds like you should do is uninstall Apache (however many instances you now have installed) as well as PHP and start from scratch. I've always recommended installing PHP manually as I've had 100% success doing it that way (plus I found that the PHP manual gave easy instructions to follow). If not, there are guides posted in this forum.

Jack_McSlay

did you double-click the file or did you put the file on your document root folder and accessed it through localhost?

brad: from my experience with PHP training, making beginners configure Apache/PHP/MySQL manually is a BAD idea

laserlight

brad: from my experience with PHP training, making beginners configure Apache/PHP/MySQL manually is a BAD idea

Personally, I think they only need to learn how to configure PHP manually. The Apache and MySQL installers are fine.

rulian

edit: just saw the previous post mentioned this issue, sorry
/**
question:
how are you opening the file?
you cant just drag in into a browser like you can html files
with PHP you have to access it via the localhost by opening a browser (assuming everything is installed and your localhost name is "localhost")
and going http://localhost/myphpfile.php

if you installed apache or even wamp
open up your browsers and go http://localhost/
and tell us what it says
**/

bradgrafelman

laserlight wrote:
Personally, I think they only need to learn how to configure PHP manually. The Apache and MySQL installers are fine.

Oh, definitely - I still use the MySQL MSI package whenever I throw it on a test computer.

It's really not that hard to manually install PHP (it takes what, 1-3 minutes plus a reboot, tops?) and with the availability of how-to guides, I don't see any reason not to. If someone doesn't have the logic and/or computer skills to manipulate a couple of files, then I don't think jumping into PHP coding should be their first concern anyway.