[RESOLVED] don't understand terminal services

lauras2009

Why do I need to use one of the terminal services (vi, shell, GNU nano) to edit the php.ini file? (Not even sure that "terminal services" is the right term.)

Why can't I just edit it in Dreamweaver?

Why can't I find it in my file system?

I am on a Mac.

TIA
Laura S.

jazz_snob

Why do you have to edit a php.ini file?

By the way, I think "terminal services" has the connotation of some microsoft thang, whereas vi, nano, pico, etc are programs you can execute in a terminal window (aka: on command line).

The thing you want to be aware of is that php.ini file will be parse and the format is very exact and if your editor (e.g.: Dreamweaver) adds any characters that aren't expected, it won't work, and probably result in a error when the php.ini is processed.

lauras2009

I don't think it's uncommon to edit the php.ini file. You need to edit it in order to turn on error reporting, for one thing.

Regarding terminal services ... can anybody recommend an easy one? All of them seem to be designed to make life harder ...

jazz_snob

What you are calling "terminal services" are just editors. If you aren't inclined to use one of them from the command line, like vim or pico or nano, then you could try using a GUI based editor: TextEdit.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2523

The trick is getting to the ini file. On my mac its in /private/etc and to get there I start TextEdit, Select File> Open, then type in /private/etc where it says "Go To" and that takes me into the correct directory. I'm using TextEdit version 1.2.

As a rule of thumb, always copy the file you are about to edit and rename it so you can revert back to it in case something goes wrong.

lauras2009

That brings me back to my original problem. I can't find the php.ini file anywhere on my system, even though it must be there because php is running. I've turned on hidden files and searched for it, and searched for folders called 'private', 'etc', 'usr', 'local', etc ... but it doesn't turn up anywhere. Same goes for httpd.conf, which is one of Apache's configuration files ... Where are they?

jazz_snob

lauras2009;10917131 wrote:
That brings me back to my original problem. I can't find the php.ini file anywhere on my system, even though it must be there because php is running. I've turned on hidden files and searched for it, and searched for folders called 'private', 'etc', 'usr', 'local', etc ... but it doesn't turn up anywhere. Same goes for httpd.conf, which is one of Apache's configuration files ... Where are they?

Maybe this will work?
Go to Applications > Utilities and launch Terminal

type

locate php.ini

it should list all the php.ini files

lauras2009

That works -- thank you! But (never completely satisfied), I don't know why I can't see these "hidden" directories/files, and if I can't see them or access them in any way besides the command line, then I am stuck editing them with a command line / terminal service program ... I guess ... maybe I just have to accept it and move on. Unless you or someone has any other ideas.

bradgrafelman

lauras2009 wrote:
I don't know why I can't see these "hidden" directories/files

Well, because that would defy the definition of "hidden" (aka unable to be seen).

lauras2009 wrote:
I can't see them or access them in any way besides the command line

I presume that these "hidden" directories are similar to hidden files/folders in Windows - hidden to prevent the average user from accidentally modifying important/system files.

As such, I would further presume that you would need to do what Windows users do when they want to edit such files; either unhide the folders or memorize the path so that you don't need to browse for them in your visual editors.

lauras2009

I've tried un-hiding the files and I still can't find these "hidden" files/folders (e.g., php.ini, httpd.conf, /private, /usr, /etc ).

bradgrafelman

I would imagine you would need to unhide every hidden folder in the path to the file; an unhidden file residing in a hidden folder (inside a hidden folder, inside another hidden folder, inside... etc.) can't be seen.

EDIT: Note that I said "I would imagine..." because I can't say for certain; I don't have a Mac (thankfully :p) to test any of this on, so I can't be for sure.

lauras2009

Well this is interesting ... I tried a different script for show/hide the hidden files and now I can see them. Looks like I can even edit them in Dreamweaver if I want. So I guess I am all set now. Thanks for all the help!

LauraS.