Gatsby

Thank you, Larry - very useful information!

Hi, Larry. If you're inclined, I'd really appreciate your insights regarding .html or .php file extension naming, and how the different extension names (with identical internal php code) effect functioning? I've been able to have PHP functions work with either extension name in previous personal projects, however I'm not exactly clear on standing practices / naming conventions? Also, why can't external CSS files be referenced with the header.html? For an example, could I change this file to header.php, and with a few minor edits have it functioning the same and referencing external CSS sheets? Thanks is advance.

Right on - thanks, Larry.

Resolved: I was bringing up the directory in the browser url without "www". So, the browser was resetting as "www...". I just realized this now. Sorry for the useless question.

Hi, Larry. I noticed an issue related to logging into the Message Board page from a live web server. For some reason the login form does not respond on the first entry - instead it simply resets, and the user is forced to login again. On the second attempt, all works as it should. There are no error prompts or anything - the login submission simply responds as if no submission had taken place at all. All error-prompting from inaccurate entries prompt just fine from the start. The issue only occurs if accurate login info is entered - and only if it's a brand-new session, or I've deleted all previous session cookies. Do you know what would account for such an issue? Thanks in advance.

Thanks, Larry! I'm glad I asked - I had a vague feeling it was too simple to be safe. I will be working on that next...

Ok - I have the message board working on the live server now, after removing Filter Extension and using the simple GET method: // Check for a thread ID: $tid = FALSE; if (isset($_GET['tid'])) { Do you see any problems with this method used in this context, even though it works - I mean technically, Larry? Thanks again for your guidance and help - sincerely much appreciated.

Ok - thanks. I will research that. Btw, would it be out of the ordinary to ask the Web server company to update their PHP version? The server service has been sub par, and the system seems outdated to me. Current version stats: PHP Version 5.2.6 FreeBSD 6.4-RELEASE-p8 FreeBSD 6.4-RELEASE-p8 #1 r101746: Mon Aug 30 10:34:40 MDT 2010 root@..usr/src/sys/i386/compile/VKERN i386 Build Date:May 7 2008 22:22:24

Here's what was reported, Larry: "Fatal error: Call to undefined function filter_var() on line 11" And the related function... 9. // Check for a thread ID: 10. $tid = FALSE; 11. if (isset($_GET['tid']) && filter_var($_GET['tid'], FILTER_VALIDATE_INT, array('min_range' => 1)) ) {

I will insert an error script into the offending pages - and I'm going over Ch 8 too. Will report back after a valiant effort...

Well I've been trying to debug the issue of the "subject" link on the forum.php page not displaying when clicked, for quite a few hours now. The read.php page displays normally upon clicking a subject heading on the forum.php page, except the body content of the read.php page is completely empty - no text and no error prompt either. Again, the message board works fine on my local XAMPP host - its only an issue when on a live Web server. I went through every table and field in both MySQL databases (XAMPP and Web host) and all the related php files. Any ideas to head me in the right direction, Larry? BTW, does it matter that I'm using one database with unrelated (to the message board tables) tables in it? Not sure if its recommended practice to create a brand-new database for such things? Thanks much.

Ok, sir - time issue is now resolved. Next I just need to figure out why the heck the threads/post reply page is not displaying when I click on a post "Subject". I'm going to be doing some debugging. If you have any ideas, that would be great. If not I understand, as it could be quite a few things I imagine. Thanks again for all of your help today.

Well, I wrote the web server admin, requesting that he install MySQL timezones, and this is what he responded: "The server has the correct time zone running, I just set the "Global" time zone for mysql to be the system time. Let me know if that is what you need." The message board is still not functioning, and I'm not sure how to further clarify to him what I might need done on the server? Thanks again, Larry.

Oh - that makes sense. I can only see the mysql database in XAMPP. I will make the MySQL timezones installation request to the admin, and go from there. Thanks!

Thanks for your quick reply, Larry! I had a feeling that was the problem. The Web host that the message board is currently on (for testing) seems to be sub-par. Do I, necessarily, need to see a "mysql" database in my Web hosts phpMyAdmin page - with the "information_schema" database, etc? Right now only my domain database, the "information_schema" database and "test" database are included. Should I be able to simply request to the server admin that the MySQL timezones be installed? Lastly, would this issue also explain why nothing is returned when I click the subject line in the forum? Thank you.