Some useful Programming FAQ's
| What is the path to perl? |
/usr/bin/perl
You can also find information on paths to other useful programs by logging in to your eXtend Control Panel and selecting ‘Website Diagnostics’, from there just select ‘Paths and Versions’.
Note that if you are writing CGI scripts in Perl, the first line of the script should be the path to perl, prefixed with '#!', i.e., '#!/usr/bin/perl'
| How do I create a MySQL database? |
Log in to your eXtend Control Panel and select "Web Tools" and then "MySQL Databases". Please note that not all accounts include MySQL databases.
| How can I manage my MySQL database? |
Once you have created a database using your eXtend Control Panel you will be able to manage it using phpMyAdmin. Once the database is created you’ll see a new option in the MySQL section of your eXtend Control Panel. You’ll now be able to Edit/Manage/Delete your databases. To manage your database all you need to do is to click on the ‘Now’ link and phpMyAdmin will start.
| How do I connect to my MySQL database? |
Once you have created a database using your eXtend Control Panel you will be able to manage it using phpMyAdmin. Once the database is created you’ll see a new option in the MySQL section of your eXtend Control Panel. You’ll now be able to Edit/Manage/Delete your databases. To manage your database all you need to do is to click on the ‘Now’ link and phpMyAdmin will start.
| Can you set "register_globals" to ON in PHP for me? |
Such a global change to the php.ini config is a well known security risk and affects all other customers and isn't something we'd consider doing. However you can set that and any other variable using the method below.
You can create your own php.ini file inside whatever sub-directory your script is in. You can then determine the exact behaviour for your PHP scripts yourself.
There's a lot of documentation on how to use the various configuration features inside php.ini online at http://uk2.php.net/configuration.
| CGI scripts fail with 'exec format error' |
A CGI script must begin with a valid 'interpreter line'. That must be the first line in the file and must start in the first column. It should begin with the two characters '#!', followed by a path to an interpreter, followed by any options.
For example:
#!/usr/bin/phpwill run the script through the PHP interpreter at /usr/bin/php.
#!/usr/bin/perl -wruns the script through /usr/bin/perl with the -w flag to enable warnings.
An 'exec format error' is the result of an invalid interpreter line. That could be because the interpreter line is missing, or indented with a tab, for instance.
| Common server software requirements |
All standard Apache modules are installed on the web servers, including mod_rewrite. In addition, as of 15/08/2005, the following commonly requested items of software are installed at the versions listed:
- Perl v5.8.5 with Crypt::SSLeay module v0.51
- PHP v4.3.11 with Zend Optimiser v2.5.7
- Python v2.3.4
- Ruby v1.8.2
- MySQL v4.1.12
- ImageMagick v6.0.7
- GD v2.0.28
- CURL v7.12.1
For a full listing of Perl and PHP modules installed, see the control panel.
