Built-in Web Server w/PHP

[BillAnton]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the link to the KB article, but I don't believe that is what MR Blumenthals is referring to in his response on this thread:

However if you want to install our special PHP + xDebug package (pre-configured, ready to work with internal web server) from OUR website, rest assured, it includes everything you need.

I want to find this specific

pre-configured, ready to work with internal web server

he is talking about. Obvious you and others will think that Blumentals has gone the extra mile for the paying customers (therefore giving him the right to insult) when in actuality the KB article takes you to some third party site that does not mention or document anything about installing xDebug for use with the Blumentals built-in web server.

I just want to be given accurate, truthful information and not some marketing hype that others here will see and thing is helpful information when it is quite the opposite. If there is a link to a

pre-configured, ready to work with internal web server

download on the Blumentals please have someone from Blumentals give us the link, and put it on the sitemap also.

[Karlis]

There IS a link in the FAQ:
http://www.blumentals.net/webuilder/faq ... =hpd_debug

The same applies to the KB:
http://kb.blumentals.net/kb/index.php?V ... EntryID=24

I do not understand what is so difficult in
1) simply clicking on - How do I enable the PHP debugger?
2) reading one of the first paragraphs "To save time, you can use automatic PHP and xDebug installer. Click here to download it."

The FAQ is easy to find the Knowledge Base also seems to be structured ok, yet many are having problems. You are not the only one. Now I'm not offending, I'm just researching here, so that we can improve things. So, help is appreciated. Obviously something is wrong with the support materials. What is the problem here, how do you think? Is it that nobody ever reads the FAQ/KB or are they still difficult to browse and understand? Or are you looking in another location? Or is the language used too poor or difficult?

[mwb1100]

I want to find this specific

pre-configured, ready to work with internal web server

he is talking about.

It's in the "Click here" link in the following text:

To save time, you can use automatic PHP and xDebug installer. Click here to download it. After installing this package, please skip directly to Step 4 described below, otherwise continue with Step 1.

This same link is in the WeBuilder helpfile in the "Installing PHP debugger" topic and in the WeBuilder FAQ topic How do I enable the PHP debugger?

Getting the PHP debugger setup correctly can have some pitfalls - I know that when I was setting it up it took a few tries. One reason is that there are several variables in the mix - which web server (built in, IIS, or Apache), which PHP (there might be various versions and/locations, and what's in the php.ini all need to be set up correctly. When I was getting things set up I ran into problems with being confused over using the internal webserver vs. using the mapping I had for PHP in IIS. Something that added to my confusion was that the settings for these things are spread over several areas in the WeBuilder configuration:

• Preview/Script Preview - settings for whether or not to use the internal web server
• Preview/Script Preview/Web Server Settings... - the path to php-cgi.exe
• Preview/Mappings - settings for the external web server (if that's what you're using)
• PHP Settings - settings for the PHP executable (which apparently is not used for the debugger - the one in Preview/script Preview/Web Server Settings... *if* you're using the internal web server)

It might be nice if this were cleaned up, but honestly I'm not sure exactly how it should be structured.

(therefore giving him the right to insult)

FWIW, I think you're reading a lot more insult into the "You have gotten this wrong." than was there. I know everyone has their own take on things, but it doesn't seem insulting at all.

[BillAnton]

I am interested in getting this working and I apologize for sounding too strong. Yes, I see that the Click here DOES refer to your installer, but when I read the heading [quote]The fastest and the most reliable way (beginner friendly)[/quote] I went on to the individual steps because beginner friendly usually means loading everything and not offering any specific configuration options. Then the individual steps takes you to the xDebug site and not very helpful. I will Click here and download the installer and try that.

As to the original problem. Since I had PHP installed on my computer whoever is reading this please consider the perspective that I had with the problem of using the internal server. I think a reference to that should be made and also in the regular directions for setting up the internal server it should be emphasized to download unzip BUT DO NOT INSTALL PHP. After all that is a little unusual.

Lets hope I can, after a few days of confusion get the app set up with the internal server and PHP debugger working so I can get back to work!

[chrisjlocke]

Bill- I thought (going by post #9 in this topic) that you had gotten it working?
Again, I believe the confusion about having or not having php installed is down to whether you require php.exe or php-cgi.exe. If the latter, this is not available in the installer. If you have php4 installed, then there is no issue, as WeBuilder (et al) will use php.exe on your system. Its this that isn't clear in the KB articles.

Karlis- The KB article does imply you need php installed:

Step 1 - Download and install PHP
To run PHP scripts, you need the PHP interpreter installed.

It does however, then mention downloading the zip package, and not the installer. Easy to overlook.

Maybe this could be changed:

Step 1 - Download and extract PHP
To run PHP scripts, you need a PHP interpreter on your computer.

[daredare]

i have another question related to this webserver preview:
can you choose between mappings and the built in server? because if i unclick the built in server the preview doesnt work anymore but if both are selected the preview works.

[davenz]

@those who grumble about the support replies.

I too have had support that come across as arrogant and gruff. I think I know why though; my wife is Croatian, and sometimes she says things that appear nasty, but it isn't what she actually means, (at least, I hope not!), it is just the way she learnt and interprets the English language. I suspect Karlis and Gatos meant no disrespect in their responses, just that English is their second (or maybe third) language and they use 'perfect' English as opposed to colloquial English. This can make many Europeans sound arrogant and condescending to us 'English' speakers.

Of course this doesn't cover the help files, or other information that may be wrong.

Just my theory; they really could be grumpy so-and-so's!

Dave.

[mwb1100]

Lets hope I can, after a few days of confusion get the app set up with the internal server and PHP debugger working so I can get back to work!

Oh - for some reason I had thought that you did get things working... Here's what I have working on my system:

• I downloaded & installed the Blumentals PHP package from http://download.blumentals.net/php5xd.exe
• In "Preferences/Preview/Script Preview" I have "Use the built-in Web server" checked
• In "Preferences/Preview/Script Preview/Web Server Settings..." I have the "Path to php-cgi.exe [...]" set to "c:\php525xd\php-cgi.exe" - the default location that the above package installs to. Note that you need to stop the built-in web server using the button on the dialog to set this item. Restart the built-in web server.
• In "Preferences/Preview/Mappings" I have "Use folder mappings when displaying preview" unchecked. I'm not sure if this is necessary, but I think it might interfere with debugging PHP files that are in mapped directories. If you need this capability, I'd suggest getting the basic debugging working first, then we can go back and see how to get debugging working for mapped directories later.
• In the "Preferences/PHP Options" panel I have the "Path to PHP executable (php.exe)" set to "C:\php525xd\php.exe" - I'm not sure that this has anything to do with debugging - I think it's just for syntax checking.

Now open or create a very simple PHP file, something like

Code: Select all

<?php
    echo 'Hello World!';
    phpinfo();
?>

The script should preview OK in WeBuilder.

Set a breakpoint and do a "PHP/debug/Run" - it should stop on the breakpoint.

[Karlis]

We are considering to introduce a one-click installer that will install PHP + xDebug and in addition configure everything or a step by step wizard but that is work in progress.