Configuring PHP 5.2.3 To Work With MySQL 5.0 in IIS 5/6 Environment

By assuming the installation for PHP 5.2.3 and MySQL 5.0 were complete (normal/default installation), the following are the necessary steps to make the PHP and MySQL talk to eah other.

Step 1: In the C:\PHP folder copy the file "libmysql.dll" to your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder. Make sure you don't overwrite any existing file in this folder. If file exists, first rename it so you can go back.

Step 2: In the C:\PHP folder copy the file "php.ini-recommended" to your C:\WINDOWS folder. Rename this file to "php.ini"

Step 3: Edit this file "php.ini" using a text editor like notepad. Find the line where it says "extension_dir = *something*". Uncomment this line by removing the preceding semi-colon. and set it to say: extension_dir="c:\php\ext". But you need to comment the line where it says doc_root. Otherwise an error that says "No input file specified" will appear if you test any php script. (Php only interprets phpfiles that are located in or below the doc_root directory)

Step 4: In the same file "php.ini" also un-comment out 2 other lines by removing semi-colon. Find the lines where it says: extension=php_mysql.dll and extension=php_mysqli.dll and uncomment both lines by removing the semi-colon.

Step 5: Reboot the computer

And you are done.

osCommerce, CRE Loaded or Zen Cart

If you're looking for a free shopping cart, you might be wondering which of these cart is the best suit your needs; osCommerce, CRE Loaded or Zen Cart? Below is a quote from a forum that relates this three applications.

You have the Open Source Community which made osCommerce as a shopping cart. Then more features and installs were provided by the community which made later versions of osCommerce. Then still more features are added at the .org site. Next, some groups realized that people kept wanting some core set of modules and features installed on their oscommerce sites. So you have CRE Loaded. (the Chain Reaction Edition of osCommerce "loaded" with many of the features and modules). Then the CRE project has a split and Zen Cart is born. From there, Zen Cart goes on its own path and CRE Loaded goes on its path (not totally different, but both are great and have their own style). You also have VirtueMart which is osCommerce cart combined with CMS like Joomla/Mambo.

I've installed osCommerce and CRE Loaded before but Zen Cart is still new to me. I like some of the Zen Cart's powered shopping cart and I just can't wait to play with it.