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My Web host tells me that PHP no longer supports "->

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 9:36 am
by Johnnyjoe2000
Last week the host of one of my web sites did an update to PHP and crashed the web site. I am more than a little upset it is going on 5 days and still the site is down.

I noticed that their server while executing the script would kill the script any time it reached a greater than sign. Obviously this makes it difficult for any mathmatical evaluations or array signments such as: $db->query($sSQL); Basically it is now using ">" instead of "?>" as the script end marker.

So today the host-website tech emails me and tells me that he thinks PHP nolonger supports "->" in the scripts. I personally think he full of -bull-, but then I am not a full time programer and certainly don't keep up with PHP standards. Has anyone heard that PHP in recent updates has done away with using "->" for assigning an array, or is he just trying to buy time and not fix thier issues?

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 9:44 am
by Grim...
He's wrong - there isn't a version of php (and there never will be) that uses '>' in place of ?>

Re: My Web host tells me that PHP no longer supports "-

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 12:54 pm
by AKA Panama Jack
Johnnyjoe2000 wrote:So today the host-website tech emails me and tells me that he thinks PHP nolonger supports "->" in the scripts. I personally think he full of -bull-, but then I am not a full time programer and certainly don't keep up with PHP standards. Has anyone heard that PHP in recent updates has done away with using "->" for assigning an array, or is he just trying to buy time and not fix thier issues?
Your host is being run by a bunch of MORONS who shouldn't be let within 100 yards of a computer. It sounds like one of their idiot techs was screwing around with the php.ini and they completely hosed everything. They probably didn't keep a backup of the old php.ini so they can't try reverting to it (not much changed between php4 and php5 in the php.ini).

Man, it gets my panties in a bunch to see idiots like this maintaining servers. They probably couldn't handle the drive up window at a Micky D's but they are put in charge of maintaining a server.

If I were you I would start looking for a new hosting company and ditch these morons fast.

Frustrated

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 1:14 pm
by Johnnyjoe2000
OK my web host is now telling me that every single PHP code I have is not 5.2.2 compleint becouse it has ">" symbols...........

I agree it is time to change host companies.....

Re: My Web host tells me that PHP no longer supports "-

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 1:31 pm
by maliskoleather
AKA Panama Jack wrote:Man, it gets my panties in a bunch to see idiots like this maintaining servers. They probably couldn't handle the drive up window at a Micky D's but they are put in charge of maintaining a server.
haha.. thats great

and please switch hosts now :| php never has, and never will remove the ?> as an end tag, or change the -> symbol. php is based of C+ type language standard, and as far as i know, will not be changing either in the future.

...though in php6, when it releases, we wont be able to use <? as an opening tag anymore...

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 1:37 pm
by Luke
What errors are you getting?

No Error messge

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:01 pm
by Johnnyjoe2000
This is just it. I am not getting an error message. Once the server finds the first ">" sign the server quits the script and returns the rest of the script area as plain text on the web page. So the pages are just a mess with code snippets that came after any ">" sign.

Today the host tech messed with the ini file again, and now the PHP pages on the site are all being displayed as pure text. The server isn’t even trying to run anything server side anymore.......

It is so frustrating since I can’t just be there looking over the techs shoulder, or just fixing it myself. This is a web site for a non-profit organization and unlike my other web sites that are on servers I have access too, this is the only site I manage that is hosted by an outside company.

Truly frustrating. :-)

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:26 pm
by Luke
yup they sound like real knuckleheads. sorry :(

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:28 pm
by guitarlvr
who's your hosting company?

Wayne

HostOnce.com

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:32 pm
by Johnnyjoe2000
HostOnce.com

I must admit that we have used them for over 5 years and this is the first time they have really <span style='color:blue' title='I'm naughty, are you naughty?'>smurf</span> me off.

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:42 pm
by AKA Panama Jack
There's your problem. They are using Windows for their servers. Those idiots probably don't know anything except Windows. They probably know nothing at all about PHP. Windows certified techs tend to be braindead about anything that isn't natively Windows based. :D

Any bets on them telling you that you need to switch to ASP to get your site working properly? :twisted:

Chuckle...

Their demo pages don't even work. :D

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 3:24 pm
by Chris Corbyn
Are you 100% sure that > is having the effect you think it is? Web browsers do funny things with > and < characters. Clcik view Source if you haven't already done so.

Let's say for argument's sake you use short tags:

Code: Select all

<? code_here() ?>
Rather than proper tags:

Code: Select all

<?php code_here() ?>
Then I could see why you're getting strange things happening after an upgrade.

I really can't think of anything you can do to PHP to break it like you're mentioning ;) It's more likely short_tags have been disabled.

What does this exact code show?

Code: Select all

<?php phpinfo() ?>

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 4:37 pm
by RobertGonzalez
You could very well experience this problem if you are using short tags in your code. Are you sure your tags are proper tags (<?php) and not short tags (<?)? I only ask this because I had a very similar problem when I moved some old PHP 4 code to a new PHP5 server that had the short open tags directive OFF.

PS '->' is not for arrays, is the object scope (or scope resolution) operator. That will never go away in PHP unless your host managed to find a way to force you to use static class calls all over the place.

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:01 pm
by Grim...
AKA Panama Jack wrote:There's your problem. They are using Windows for their servers.
In fairness, it's the fact that they have done something stupid that's caused the problem, not the type of servers the chose to use.

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:32 pm
by Luke
PS '->' is not for arrays,
I meant to point that out as well and I forgot in all my excitement. :lol: