Newest KB Articles in php

phpMyAdmin configuration storage settings

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 21:44:28 GMT

phpMyAdmin settings are stored in a MySQL database to retain them between browser sessions. Setting up the storage requires minor updates to a MySQL database and the phpMyAdmin confic.inc.php file.

MySQL CREATE TABLE

While not required, if not on a Basic plan it would be best to add a new database to store the phpMyAdmin settings rather than storing them on an existing database. And note if using phpMyAdmin to make the connection to the new database, you may need to (temporarily) change the server setting within the config.inc.php beforehand.

If there is some familiarity with MySQL queries, the CREATE TABLE query can be found within /phpMyAdmin/sql/create_tables.sql (open the file in a text editor). However, the file includes a CREATE DATABASE command that has to be omitted. To run the query by hand, copy the syntax starting on line 39 to the bottom of the file (line 355). For reference, and readability, that would mean the first and last CREATE TABLE are

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `pma__bookmark` (

---

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `pma__export_templates` (

Alternatively, download and extract the updated create_tables.sql here: create_tables.zip

Then IMPORT that file to the database or open it in a text editor and copy and paste the full syntax into a new query window.

config.php.inc

After the tables have been created, a number of lines have to be uncommented and four values have to be updated in the config.php.inc. Look for the "phpMyAdmin configuration storage settings" section of the file, then uncomment all the "User" and "Storage" lines as in the example below, save for "controlport". Because the database is using the default MySQL port, it's unnecessary to uncomment the line.

In addition to uncommenting the lines, from the example below, update the databaseServer, databaseUsername, databasePassword, and databaseName with the MySQL database where the above query was run to complete the update.

/**
 * phpMyAdmin configuration storage settings.
 */

/* User used to manipulate with storage */
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlhost'] = 'databaseServer';
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlport'] = '';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controluser'] = 'databaseUsername';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlpass'] = 'databasePassword';

/* Storage database and tables */
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['pmadb'] = 'databaseName';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['bookmarktable'] = 'pma__bookmark';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['relation'] = 'pma__relation';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['table_info'] = 'pma__table_info';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['table_coords'] = 'pma__table_coords';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['pdf_pages'] = 'pma__pdf_pages';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['column_info'] = 'pma__column_info';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['history'] = 'pma__history';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['table_uiprefs'] = 'pma__table_uiprefs';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['tracking'] = 'pma__tracking';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['userconfig'] = 'pma__userconfig';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['recent'] = 'pma__recent';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['favorite'] = 'pma__favorite';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['users'] = 'pma__users';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['usergroups'] = 'pma__usergroups';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['navigationhiding'] = 'pma__navigationhiding';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['savedsearches'] = 'pma__savedsearches';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['central_columns'] = 'pma__central_columns';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['designer_settings'] = 'pma__designer_settings';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['export_templates'] = 'pma__export_templates';

Reviewing and updating PHP settings

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 21:34:32 GMT

PHP settings are reviewed and updated by uploading the two corresponding files to a hosted site. To view the current PHP settings, a phpinfo script. To make changes to those settings, a user.ini / .user.ini settings file.

phpinfo

phpinfo is used to display the current PHP configuration for the site / server. Specific parameters can be passed to customize the output or to display all information the following syntax can be used:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

The syntax would be added to a PHP file, uploaded to the site and viewed in a browser. An example script can also be found in the .zip in the sample section below.

user.ini / .user.ini

A site's PHP settings can be adjusted by creating a user.ini or .user.ini file, adding the appropriate syntax, then uploading that file to the document root of the site via FTP. The file name depends on the version of PHP being used, which can be reviewed at Winhost Control Panel > Sites > the applicable domain name > PHP Version.

If the PHP version is 5.3 ,5.6 or 7.0 the file name is: user.ini

For any other PHP version the file name is: .user.ini

Sample

An example of a common update is the post_max_size and upload_max_filesize settings, often changed to allow plugin and theme uploads through WordPress.

For PHP 7.2, the settings default to 8 MB and 2 MB, respectively, which can lead to some upload errors within WordPress. To increase those settings, for example to 60 MB, create a new text document with the following syntax:

post_max_size = 60M
upload_max_filesize = 60M

For PHP 7.2, the file would be saved as .user.ini, then uploaded to the document root of the site. Once uploaded, to see the setting updates reflected on the site, first recycle the application pool at Winhost Control Panel > Sites > the applicable domain name > Recycle App Pool > Recycle App Pool.

Once recycled, the new Local Value should be reflected when reviewing a phpinfo script.

For an example phpinfo script and both a user.ini and .user.ini file, download PHPsettings.zip

Send mail using Mail.php / PEAR

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 16:52:17 GMT

To send mail using Mail.php, PEAR and a .user.ini, defining the path to PEAR, need to be uploaded to the site. With package and setup instructions below.

Download PEAR.zip

winPear.zip

Inside the .zip is the PEAR directory, which contains a web.config to prevent browser access, a test script zsend.php, and both a .user.ini and user.ini. Editing and uploading the .user.ini or user.ini depends on the version of PHP set in the Winhost Control Panel. And if not sure which is applicable, uploading both won't cause any issues. For the purposes of the article, the .user.ini is referenced.

Update and upload .user.ini and PEAR directory

If the site has an existing .user.ini, it will need to be updated with the server path to the PEAR directory. If the site does not have a .user.ini, the example file included in PEAR.zip may be used after replacing "FTPusername" with the FTP username for your site account.

For reference, the Path to root is found in the Site Info pane of the Winhost Control Panel.

Upload the /PEAR directory and the updated .user.ini to the document root of the site to use Mail.php.

Testing Mail.php

zsend.php may be used to test Mail.php. First update the settings in the script highlighted in red below.

<?php
ini_set('display_errors', 1);
ini_set('display_startup_errors', 1);
error_reporting(E_ALL);
require_once "Mail.php";
$from = "postmaster@domain.com";
$to = "postmaster@domain.com";
$subject = "Mail.php test email";
$body = "Test email sent using Mail.php.";
$host = "m##.internetmailserver.net";
$username = "postmaster@domain.com";
$password = "password";
$headers = array ('Date' => date('r'),
  'From' => $from,
  'To' => $to,
  'Subject' => $subject,
  'Message-ID' => '<' . time() . md5($from . $to) . '@domain.com>');
$smtp = Mail::factory('smtp',
  array ('localhost' => $host,
  'host' => $host,
  'auth' => true,
  'username' => $username,
  'password' => $password));
$mail = $smtp->send($to, $headers, $body);
echo "Mail.php test"
?>

After updating, save the changes and upload the script to the site. View the page in a browser and you should see "Mail.php test" returned. If the email is not received, review the path to PEAR in the .user.ini and/or the zsend.php settings.

To prevent abuse, zsend.php should be deleted from the site after testing.