odd startup screen?

[ghiebert]

Hi all

Hey I'm quite excited by this framework, it's exactly what I need for several applications. I can see Dataface gaining a loyal following through the years.
On my first test start all worked well, though not new to databases I am new to MySql. I can add delete search records. Yes! However I did notice that my screen looks unlike your example. Mine is quite plain and unformatted, not nearly as nice as your illustration, so I am getting ready to delete and reinstall this weekend.
Now as far as I know one can't log in to a command line prompt on most host servers, isn't that right? So I just used Ws_Ftp to make my directories. I do not run the makesite utility although I would if it came to my attention that I could. I am following manual setup instructions, and enabling read write access using Ws_Ftp's built-in chmod dialog screen.
http://kohen.zenutech.com/database/index.php
is my startup screen.
Can anybody suggest how I can correct my installation procedure before I try the reinstall again this weekend?

Regards,
Gord

[shannah]

OK.. this plain look is likely to do with dataface not picking up the stylesheet.Ê This is 99% of the time caused by an incorrect url in the df_init() call in your index.php file.

e.g.:
df_init(__FILE__, '/path/to/dataface');
The '/path/to/dataface' part should be a url that can be reached by a web browser. It can be a relative url (e.g. if your dataface directory is inside your application's directory it would be just 'dataface', or if it were in the parent directory, it could be '../dataface'.
Alternatively you can put a fully qualified url like 'http://yourdomain.com/path/to/dataface'.
This should clear it up.
Best regards
STeve

[ghiebert]

It is a server that is case sensitive, if that makes a difference.



Gord

[ghiebert]

Ok, I got it. Kept trying different things.

I think I was pointing to the subdirectory named Dataface instead of just my installation directory. For the benefit of others, if you copy the working files into a directory named dataface on your root, there is ALSO a subdirectory in there called Dataface with a capital D. Do NOT point to that. You will fail. As Steve clearly mentioned in a previous post (about 300 posts ago and I missed it - hey I'm pretty tired after a days work) whatever you type in after df_init(__FILE__, you should be able to append /dataface_info.php to it and you will get the screen stating that Dataface is installed correctly. If you don't, you got it wrong. Or use the double dot like I did.

Using url's didn't work for me for some unaccountable reason, but this did - as I see it did for another user:

require_once '../dataface/dataface-public-api.php';
df_init(__FILE__, '../dataface/');
$app =& Dataface_Application::getInstance();
$app->display();
?>

Anyway wish me luck. Hope this helps somebody else new to all this.

BTW: For you PHP guys, it's not a big deal but in reinstalling I have some directories I can't delete, namely the old template_c stuff. There's a bunch of server written files in there. I have noticed this happening with other PHP programs also, that I have tested. Do I get the host server tech support to delete that for me? I can't change permissions on those files, or anything except read them so I'm guessing you'll say yes.

Gord

[fcc]

What are the server files called? You should be able to change the permission of a file using the chmod command. If you are using an FTP to access the server files, right clicking on the file and going to properties allows you change the access of the file (of course this depends on the FTP you are using. I am using FireFTP).

[shannah]

Yes.. this can be a hassle on some servers.Ê The problem is that these files are owned by user that runs the web server's process.Ê It is possible to write a PHP script to delete these files - other than that you may have to get the host to delete them for you.

I recognize that it would be better if these files were created so that your user can delete them.. I'll look into that for a future release - or I'll create an uninstall (or cleaning) script that can be used for this.
Best regards
Steve

[ghiebert]

That would be cool, Steve. Actually quite some time ago this happened to me on another server and it scared me silly, turned me off PHP. Actually I think those directories are still there. LOL
Hmmm Anyway, too bad, I could use that familiarity right now.

So ... Fong, here are the directories/files affected. I was able to delete everything but these, though I was able to rename the root directory names to junk and junk1. No slight intended.

The files in the directory
/path/to/dataface/Dataface/templates_c/dataface/*.*

also in
/path/to/mydataface/templates_c/dataface/*.*
/path/to/mydataface/default/*.*
(how the heck those latter got there beats me, prolly my screwup)

and the filenames are like %%82^82D^82D7308C%%Dataface_Lo~20070328
which in this case is really %%82^82D^82D7308C%%Dataface_Logo.html.php because the error message states quite enigmatically ...

SITE chmod 777 %%82^82D^82D7308C%%Dataface_Logo.html.php
Operation not permitted
Chmod failed. It may not be supported on remote site.

Yeah right, I know better. It just doesn't want to be deleted.
Maybe the filenames are just too darn long.

Regards,
Gord

[shannah]

Hi Gord,

The templates_c directory is where smarty stores its compiled templates.Ê Because the files are created by the web server process, apparently your user doesn't have permission to delete them.Ê This is why a PHP script could delete them, because they run as the web server user.Ê
-Steve