mail() function not sending emails!!

arabianknight

hey this is my first post ever! I am really hoping some one can help me with this.
I have a basic php contact form on my site addressed to a good email address. The php code executes properly. But it isn't sending the form. I have the same problem on my local testing server and through my host both running php 5. here is code:

<?php
function spamcheck($field)
{
//filter_var() sanitizes the e-mail
//address using FILTER_SANITIZE_EMAIL
$field=filter_var($field, FILTER_SANITIZE_EMAIL);

//filter_var() validates the e-mail
//address using FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL
if(filter_var($field, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL))
{
return TRUE;
}
else
{
return FALSE;
}
}

if (isset($_REQUEST['email']))
{//if "email" is filled out, proceed

//check if the email address is invalid
$mailcheck = spamcheck($REQUEST['email']);
if ($mailcheck==FALSE)
{
echo "<h2>Woe! Thats not an email address. Please <a href=\"contact.php\">go back</a> and try again.</h2>";
}
else
{//send email
$name = $REQUEST['name'] ;
$email = $REQUEST['email'] ;
$phone = $REQUEST['phone'] ;
$comments = $_REQUEST['comments'] ;
mail("my@example.com", "name: $name",
"phone: $phone", "$comments", "From: $email" );
echo "<h2>Thank you for contacting me. You will be hearing from me very soon</h2>";
}
}
else
{//if "email" is not filled out, display the form
echo "<form action=\"contact.php\" method=\"post\">
<h2>Contact Form</h2>
<dl>

<dt><label>Email</label></dt>
<dd><input name='email' type='text' class='form' value='sendmail' size='25' />
</dd>

<dt><label>Phone</label></dt>
<dd><input name='phone' type='text' class='form' value='sendmail' size='25' />
</dd>

<dt><label>Comments</label></dt>
<dd><textarea class='form' name='comments' rows='5' value='sendmail' cols='25'></textarea>
</dd>

</dl>
</form>";
} ?>

I was hoping to glean off someones superior experience and wisdom. any leads would be appreciated.

dagon

try the mail() line with out the rest to a known email address not on yahoo\gmail etc.

If that fails check the mailserver set up in php.ini.

arabianknight

what do i need to check for in the .ini file.
Not only is this the case on my local server, but also with a professional host. you'd think they would have everything right?

arabianknight

I feel really lost.
I tried the most basic using the most basic form from the w3 school up on my local and remote server. they both execute fine echoing "mail sent". But still no email. This is the php i tried.

<?php

$to = "my@email.com";
$subject = "Test mail";
$message = "Hello! This is a simple email message.";
$from = "someonelse@example.com";
$headers = "From: $from";
mail($to,$subject,$message,$headers);
echo "Mail Sent.";

dagon

you should check the return value from mail() but it does look like its your host.

arabianknight

Hey i got it to work. here is the new code for future reference:

<?php
function spamcheck($field)
{
//filter_var() sanitizes the e-mail
//address using FILTER_SANITIZE_EMAIL
$field=filter_var($field, FILTER_SANITIZE_EMAIL);

//filter_var() validates the e-mail
//address using FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL
if(filter_var($field, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL))
{
return TRUE;
}
else
{
return FALSE;
}
}

if (isset($_REQUEST['email']))
{//if "email" is filled out, proceed

else
{//if "email" is not filled out, display the form
echo "<form action=\"contact.php\" method=\"post\">
<h2>Contact Form</h2>
<dl>

<dt><label>Email</label></dt>
<dd><input name='email' type='text' class='form' size='25' />
</dd>

<dt><label>Phone</label></dt>
<dd><input name='message' type='text' class='form' size='25' />
</dd>

<dt><label>Comments</label></dt>
<dd><textarea class='form' name='message' rows='5' cols='25'></textarea>
</dd>

</dl>
</form>";
} ?>

It works on my server which is the important thing. But for some reason, my local server on my mac osx 5 wont send it. I know i have to tweak the php.ini file. But that scares me. does anyone know what i need to do?