Hi Alex
ADODb will not work either. ADODb is basically a PHP abstraction class
library that relies on lower level database extensions to connect to the
various databases. The problem for you is that other than the odbc
extension combined with MDBTools, and the odbtp extension, there is no
other way to connect to an MS Access database from Linux under PHP.
BTW, you mention that your other alternaive is to learn ASP. This implies
that you will be using IIS on another machine. Can PHP be installed on
that machine?
-- bob
On Wed, 12 May 2004, Alex Gemmell wrote:
> Thank you Trevor!
>
> Funny you should mention ADOdb. I just d/l it and uploaded it to my web
> site! I am working through the docs now. I was losing hope because I
> couldn't find what I was looking for but if you don't mind I will help
> myself to your connection string:
>
> case "OtherDB":
> # Sample connect string to Access MDB file
> $myDSN="PROVIDER=MSDASQL;DRIVER={Microsoft Access Driver
> (*.mdb)};Dbq='C:\Database.mdb';UID=;PWD=;";
>
> I have been using the realpath function of PHP in other connection strings
> to map the path from the server root to the database location. I assume
> will work fine here:
>
> $myDSN="PROVIDER=MSDASQL;DRIVER={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; Dbq=".
> realpath("prices/mydb.mdb") .";UID=;PWD=;";
>
> I'm still not sure this will work. I'm getting a lot of information from
> people saying a .mdb file (the MS Access database) just can't be accessed
> this way and I should use an intermediate database format, like .dbf which
> can be made by exporting the database out of MS Access into "dbase 5".
>
> Does anyone know what the connection string for a .dbf (dbase 5) format
> database is?
>
> Alex
> |:| Reply-to: <mailto:alex.gemmell@xxxxxxxxxx> alex.gemmell@xxxxxxxxxx |:|
> _____
>
> From: Gryffyn, Trevor [mailto:TGryffyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: 12 May 2004 15:09
> To: PHP List
> Cc: Alex Gemmell
> Subject: RE: Linux/PHP/Access Database - oh boy :(
>
> First, I don't think you are likely to use COM calls on a linux box since
> COM and DCOM are MS things aren't they? Even if not, it might require some
> configuration on the server end which you can't do.
>
> I use the ADOdb database library for PHP in all the things I do:
> http://php.weblogs.com/adodb
>
> I have a dbconnect.inc file that has all my connect strings in a switch/case
> statement that dynamically changes the connect string.
>
> I think you can connect DSNLess to an Access database this way.
>
> I'll paste a stripped down version of the dbconnect.inc to my message since
> I don't know if this list accepts attachments. Let me know if you have any
> questions.. good luck!
>
> -TG
>
> <?php
> include("adodb/adodb.inc.php");
>
> ADOLoadCode("ado_mssql");
> $db = &ADONewConnection("ado_mssql");
>
> switch ($database) {
> ################################################################
> # Cargo System databases
> ################################################################
>
> case "PhotoGallery":
> # Where the photos are stored
> $myDSN="PROVIDER=MSDASQL;DRIVER={SQL
> Server};SERVER=PhotoServe;DATABASE=Photos;UID=username;PWD=password;";
> break;
> case "UserLogin":
> # Where the user login information is
> $myDSN="PROVIDER=MSDASQL;DRIVER={Microsoft ODBC for
> ORACLE};SERVER=TMPROD;UID=ops;PWD=ops;";
> break;
> case "OtherDB":
> # Sample connect string to Access MDB file
> $myDSN="PROVIDER=MSDASQL;DRIVER={Microsoft Access Driver
> (*.mdb)};Dbq='C:\Database.mdb';UID=;PWD=;";
> break;
> }
>
> $db->Connect($myDSN);
> #$db->debug=true;
>
> if ($sqlquery <> "") {
> $rs = $db->Execute($sqlquery);
> if ($rs === false) {
> print "<h2>Error: (" . $db->ErrorNo() . ") " . $db->ErrorMsg() .
> "</h2><br>\n";
> } else {
> $arr = $rs->GetArray();
> print "Status: (" . $db->ErrorNo() . ") " . $db->ErrorMsg() . "<br>\n";
> }
> } else {
> $rs = $db->Execute($sql);
> if ($rs === false) {
> print "<h2>Error: (" . $db->ErrorNo() . ") " .
> $db->ErrorMsg()."<br>$sql<br>\n";
> }
> }
>
> $sqlquery = "";
> $sql = "";
>
> $db->Close();
> ?>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alex Gemmell [mailto:alex.gemmell@xxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 8:12 AM
> To: PHP List
> Subject: Linux/PHP/Access Database - oh boy :(
> Hello all,
>
> I am fairly new to Linux/PHP so please bear with me. I have an awfully
> awkward problem to solve - a stop gap solution for the next 6 months until
> we have out in-house servers set up and running. I also have a very short
> timeframe to sort this out. I am using PHP on a remotely hosted Linux web
> server to build my website, however I have been given a MS Access database
> to use! Despite my best efforts (and two days Google trawling) I haven't
> found a suitable solution so I am turning to your collective knowledge.
>
> First things first - I do not run the server and cannot install any new
> tools on to it (I cannot access the folders above my web root). There are
> lots of suggestions on the net about installing MDBTools and UnixODBC RPM
> (http://bryanmills.net:8086/archives/000099.html) - but that involves the
> admin who won't do it! I can, of course, put scripts that may help in the
> actual web folder and reference them if anyone has any ideas.
>
> I know I must use a DSN-less connection. I first tried connecting directly
> to the mdb file using:
> $conn = new COM("ADODB.Connection") or die ("Cannot create ADODB
> Connection object.");
>
> //$connstr =
> "PROVIDER=MSDASQL;DBQ=/prices/mydb.mdb;"."DRIVER={Microsoft Access Driver
> (*.mdb)};"
> //$connstr = "Provider=Microsoft,.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source=".
> realpath("prices/mydb.mdb") ." ;";
> // I've never got the above two connection strings to work but I
> include them for completeness and in case any realises they might help me!
> $connstr = "DRIVER={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; DBQ=".
> realpath("prices/mydb.mdb") ." ;";
>
> $conn->open($connstr);
>
> This worked on my localhost running IIS 5 (unsurprisingly) but fell over
> immediately on the Linux box. I am told this is because COM support in PHP
> before version 4.3.x is buggy (he PHP version installed on the server is
> 4.1.2). Is this true? Will upgrading to version 4.3.x solve all my
> problems?
>
> Also, I heard that converting the .mdb file to a .dbf file might help - but
> how do I connect to that with PHP? The PHP manual says this about dbase
> functions:
> "These functions allow you to access records stored in dBase-format (dbf)
> databases. There is no support for indexes or memo fields."
> That's no good because I have long text fields in the Access database that
> are of type "memo"!
> The Manual also says "we recommend that you do not use dBase files as your
> production database" - eek! It's only a small database (one table with
> about 50 records, each with no more than 20 fields) so hopefully it will
> suffice.
>
> Am I right in thinking I have very few options? I don't want to move over
> to ASP (would that even help?) because it means learning VBScript and I
> don't have a lot of time. Also, I can't use another database (e.g. MySQL)
> cos the server admin is NOT helping me and won't install anything new.
>
> I know 99% of you will want to tell me to just back out of this horrible
> tangle and take a different route, but is there one person out there who can
> help me get through this nightmare?
>
> Thank you!
>
> Alex Gemmell
> |:| Reply-to: <mailto:alex.gemmell@xxxxxxxxxx> alex.gemmell@xxxxxxxxxx |:|
>
> Or call me for free using Skype:
> <callto://alex.gemmell/>
>
>
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