bminister
Jun 7 2007, 07:24 PM
I believe that the majority of my database files should display as text files (an example being header.php), correct? The problem is when I unzip my osCommerce program my PrintShop/Broaderbound software grabs the files and configures them as its own. So I cant use or edit them in my admin directory - they're just displayed as question marks and no page is displayed when they are clicked. I'm really green at all of this so any help you can give me with trying to do this the right way would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
spax
Jun 7 2007, 07:47 PM
To see the output of a PHP file, you need PHP and a Server - usually Apache - installed on your PC. To see osCommerce PHP files, you also need MySql installed. You can install all seperately and use IIS instead of Apache if you want, but osCommerce is geared to Apache so that is recommended. You can use an installer such as XAMPP that will install all the necessary packages in one go - Apache, MySql, PHP and phpMyAdmin.
To edit the PHP files, you need a good text editor. There are plenty of free ones out there - EditPad Lite and Crimson Editor, to name just two. Once you have one, you will then need to associate PHP files with the editor.
cannazine
Jun 7 2007, 08:19 PM
Hi bminister;
Associating file-types to a particular program is pretty straighforward.
Right-click the file you wish to work with (header.php for example) and select "Open with.." from the right click context menu. Select "Wordpad" from the installed apps on your computer, and then check the little box which reads "always open this type of file with this program" or similar.
From then all you need to do is right click a php file, and select "edit" (or open - same as through your FTP prog), and the file will open for you to work with it in Wordpad.
Wordpad excells over notepad in so far as it doesn't strip out all the formatting turning your normally beautiful php page of code, into an unreadable mass of jumbled up text.
Don't forget (as I did) to save the original file before carrying out any edits.
It will save you a world of trouble when it goes wrong later (it always does).
After you edit the file you can upload it to your server and it should be hunky-dory.
Altogether a full "round trip" file download, edit, save, reupload etc just takes a couple of minutes and gets quicker the more you do it.
Good luck!
Ian
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