Reason for white/empty/blank screen when loading a php page ?

ajs · #1 (**permalink**) 12-02-04, 02:05 PM

I am trying to install a php script and when I try to pull it up via the web all I get is a blank/empty/white screen. I know this is vague, but I was wondering if there is there a common reason why this happens ?

mdhall · #2 (**permalink**) 12-02-04, 07:09 PM

Posting your code will help someone to figure it out. It could be caused by several things.

ajs · #3 (**permalink**) 12-02-04, 07:14 PM

There's many php files, but since it all starts with an installer, ill post that

Quote:

<?

if (!isset($action)) {

?>

<html><head><title>Installation</title></head><body>

<form action="" method="POST">

<table align=center width=70%>

<tr><td align=right>Sql Server: </td><td align=left><input type="text" name="serv" size="40" value="localhost"></td></tr>

<tr><td align=right>Sql login: </td><td align=left><input type="text" name="logi" size="40"></td></tr>

<tr><td align=right>Sql password: </td><td align=left><input type="text" name="passw" size="40"></td></tr>

<tr><td align=right>Database name: </td><td align=left><input type="text" name="d_name" size="40"></td></tr>

<tr><td align=center colspan=2><input type="hidden" name="action" value="install"><input type="submit" value="save" size="40"> <input type="reset" value="clear" size="40"></td></tr></table>

</form></body></html>

<?

}

if (isset($action) && $action=="install")

{

$file = fopen("conf.php","r") or die ("No access to the file");

$rf = fread($file,filesize("conf.php")) or die ("No access to the file");

fclose($file);

$rf = eregi_replace("nameofserver",$_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'],$rf);

$rf = eregi_replace("nameofdbserver",$serv,$rf);

$rf = eregi_replace("dblogin",$logi,$rf);

$rf = eregi_replace("dbpassword",$passw,$rf);

$rf = eregi_replace("dbname",$d_name,$rf);

$file = fopen($_SERVER["DOCUMENT_ROOT"]."/inc/siteconf/".$_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'],"w") or die ("No access to file");

fwrite ($file,$rf) or die ("Please CHMOD 777 yourservername file");

fclose($file);

mysql_connect($serv, $logi, $passw) or die("can't connect to the database");

mysql_select_db($d_name) or die("can't select the database");

$fp = fopen($_SERVER["DOCUMENT_ROOT"]."/dump.sql","r+");

$content = fread($fp, filesize($_SERVER["DOCUMENT_ROOT"]."/dump.sql"));

fclose($fp);

$cont1 = explode(";", $content);

for ($i = 0; $i < count($cont1); $i++)

mysql_query($cont1[$i]);

header("Location: /index.php");

}

?>

I can try and do it manually from what I gather this is what the installer tries to accomplish

1) Save host path, user, pass, db to conf.php
2) create [sitename] config in /inc/siteconf/ with 777 CHMOD
3) Fill DB with dump.sql

Is this all it's asking to be done?

CMIVXX · #4 (**permalink**) 12-02-04, 10:07 PM

Your essentially receiving an error because PHP has choked somewhere. If you have access to the error logs, take a peek at the error log and you will be able to see what's wrong.

On the other hand, just make an .htaccess file (assuming the server is Linux) and put this in the file:

Code:

php_flag display_errors on 
php_value error_reporting 7

This website has a quick breakdown for what the error numbers mean...
http://www.help.websiteos.com/suppor...es_and_php.htm

Good luck. If your still stuck, drop the errors on here and we'll see what we can do.

ajs · #5 (**permalink**) 12-02-04, 11:46 PM

I am using a linux server and added that to the .htaccess file, where do I get the reports as it still displays a blank screen.

<?Wille?> · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-04, 01:36 AM

didnt se the ! in the first if
my bad

but now i see a new issue.. the form action is set to "".. does it submit to self?
replace it with "<? echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>"

also this code requires register_globals to be enabled (baad thing).. so check if its on
(php.ini)

ajs · #7 (**permalink**) 12-03-04, 01:57 AM

oops n/m...

ajs · #8 (**permalink**) 12-03-04, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by <?Wille?>

didnt se the ! in the first if
my bad

but now i see a new issue.. the form action is set to "".. does it submit to self?
replace it with "<? echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>"

also this code requires register_globals to be enabled (baad thing).. so check if its on
(php.ini)

Oh, I got the script from someone else, Is there a way around register_globals ?

<?Wille?> · #9 (**permalink**) 12-03-04, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajs

Oh, I got the script from someone else, Is there a way around register_globals ?

sure.. you send all info from form with method post.. so what you need to do is replace all thease $rf = eregi_replace("nameofdbserver",$serv,$rf);
to to something like this
$rf = eregi_replace("nameofdbserver",$_POST['serv'],$rf);
the action var also needs to be with $_POST[].. define from where they come and there is no need for register_globals to be enabled

hope it helps
Wille

ajs · #10 (**permalink**) 12-03-04, 03:12 AM

Thanks for the tip.

I just checked with my hosting provider and register_globals is on