set_time_limit

Anon

I am currently working on a mail list usign PHP4 and mysql. I need to be able to send a minimum of 5,000 emails. Unfortunately the script I created in PHP times out at about 1,400 records.

I have researched this forum and a few others only to discover other people having the same problem but no real solution.

I tried all the answers.

I added the ignore_user_abort() function to the top of my script. The script will process even if my browser is closed but it still manages to time out.
So I used the set_time_limit(0) function at the top of my page and it still manages to time out.
I tried using the set_time_limit(0) function in side of my while loop and still it times out.
My PHP4 is not running in safe mode. PHP4 is compiled as a module.
Some how the set_time_limit(0) seems to just get by passed.

Can anyone tell me what else would cause the set_time_limit(0) function to be overridden?

Thanks,

Jeff Philapy
http://www.altahost.com

Anon

In the loop that sends the email, add
echo ".";
flush();

This will pervent the browser from timing out.

I may have misunderstood them problem however.

Anon

Check out what the manual says about max_execution_time().

Anon

Safe mode enforces the max execution time set in the php.ini file.

Anon

True, but he already said it was not running in safe mode :-)

Anon

um. Yes, which likely means he didn't know that safe mode limits him that way... which is why I pointed it out.

Or did I not make any sense when I wrote him that?

Anon

Oh, ok. I misread his post, I thought is said "My PHP is now running in safe mode" instead of "my php is not running in safe mode"

Sorry for the confusion.

Anon

:-) that's why I pointed out that you pointing out what you pointed out was in relation to what he pointed out, quite pointless.

:-)

Anon

Interesting idea, maybe I can use that in one of my other scripts.

Anyways I know the problem is not the browser because I can close the browser and the script will continue to run. So it is a server side issue.

Thanks,

Jeff

Anon

Yeah I checked the manual but it doesn't specify if any one of the methods of setting the time limit on your script take precedence over the others. I probably should just assume that the max_execution_time in the php.ini file has highest priority. I will try and see.

Anyways here is what the documentation says:

Your script can also be terminated by the built-in script timer. The default timeout is 30 seconds. It can be changed using the max_execution_time php3.ini directive or the corresponding php3_max_execution_time Apache .conf directive as well as with the set_time_limit() function.

Thanks,

Jeff

Anon

and your point?????

Anon

In the loop that sends the email, add
echo ".";
flush();

This will pervent the browser from timing out.

I may have misunderstood them problem however.<<<

I just tried this out. At least by keeping the browser open it does manage to finish the process. But I prefer to be able to close the browser and finish the process without relying on the browser being open.

Thanks,

Jeff

Anon

giggle

Anon

Jeff Philapy wrote:
I just tried this out. At least by keeping the browser open it does manage to finish the process. But I prefer to be able to close the browser and finish the process without relying on the browser being open.
Thanks,
Jeff

I have to tell you that this is the most insane thing I have ever heard... PHP is meant to produce output and not work being closed. And still, wouldn't you like to know the speed, success information, which emails returned unfound, etc?

If you want an unattended client, why don't you just PURCHASE or CODE a mass-emailer?

Uh.

Or go for a list-server?

Ah.

Michael

Anon

Is this how flush() should be used inside the loop that sends email ?Many thanks in advance !
Peter
<?
set_time_limit(0);

$result = mysql_query("select email from Mastermail");
while($email_row = @mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
echo ".";
flush();
$to = $email_row['email'];
mail("$to", "$subject", "$msg", "$headers");
}
?>