Possible HInt on how to get around Admin and Catalog not showing after clean install.

[Sparrz]

I have been trying to install a clean version of OSCMax for 3 days now and I kept coming up with the sae issue alot of other people are having. The install goes fine, but when I get to the the page to choose either Catalog or Admin, either one takes me to a Blank Page.

What I have discovered is that the FTP Upload option maybe causing this problem. I have tried both oscMax 2 RC 2 and RC 2, both had the same results. I noticed in the Installation Notes that this needed to be uploaded in ASCII, and my setting was on Auto.

I switched it to ASCII (in WSFTP it is the button in between the two screens), and it worked with one drawback the images are messed up. The way around this (the only one I can think of) is to re-upload your images in either BINARY or AUTO. Most of the Images are in the image directory and the language directories, as well as the image and language directories in admin.

If this can help any of the developers as a hint or a place to look, all the better as it was my intent to just point this out as a possible way around it as it worked for me.

I am working with a Linux Server for this one but I also ran a test on a Windows Server (where you do worry about permissions), and the install went right through with FTP Upload Option of AUTO.

Hopefully this will give some insight on how to fix this problem, either that or look into going to a Windows Server.

[michael_s]

I have installed osCMax well over 1000 times via ftp on various Linux servers and never once have had any issues at all. There are no issues with the osCMax package. The php files are packaged in ASCII and the images are binary. So, just upload them as-is.

A blank screen means you are getting a php error. Check your error logs for a specific error message. I bet your ftp upload is simply timing out on some files and they are not uploading... thus causing your php error. Post the error from the logs.

I use cuteFTP or filezilla as my FTP clients and they are both set to auto detect ASCII or Binary based on file type. Perhaps you need to tell WSFTP that php needs to upped in ASCII. There should be a configuration option in WSFTP to set the file type.

[Sparrz]

Well I have tried this on both a Linux and a Windows Server the problem is not happening on a Windows Server at all but continues on the Linux Server.

So please disregard my HInt posting but I can still say there is some difference going on here between Windows Servers and Linux Servers for sure, as both uploads this time were done with the exact same settings, just different servers and I did not get the message about CHMODing the configs in Windows, but Windows went right through to Both the Catalog and Admin Links, Linux showed blanks on both.

And nothing is showing errors anywhere and I am not timing out with any files either.

I also even had to use CHMOD 777 instead of 706 as that deos not get picked up, and I have followed the instructions very closely, this has been tested several times by me over the past 4 days now.

Unfortunately I myself have access to the Windows Server Hosting Control Panel but not the Linux Server Hosting Control Panel, as I am trying to install that one for someone else and they hesitate in giving up the access for that for obvious reasons. Futhermore, regular OSC installs work fine on this Linux Server.

[Sparrz]

Well I double checked everything and there are no errors showing, the DB is being written to properly, all instructions were followed, AUTO Upload set on WSFTP, PHP was checked if it was included in the filters for ASCII (it is), all precautions were taken to insure clean upload, even downloaded a new and clean copy of R3, nothing is helping, and this still installs without a hitch on a Windows Server, but Blanks on both the Admin Link and the Catalog link.

I am not missing anything in this but the problem is still there. There has to be a reason why this is happening to so many people. And I am not new to installing OSC, or CRELoaded, or PHP, and I am very familiar with MySQL, so much so I have transferred 1200+ products through the use of Excel and MySQL Query Browser after installing MAX on a Windows Server. I did also manage to install on a Linux Server and the only difference I can think of is that there was a previous version of OSC there that I just renamed to catalog234 and it seemed to install correctly without incident.

There is something else going here than everyone needing to check their upload error logs, no one is finding errors.

I am just trying to help out with this issue that seems to be cropping up with alot of people. And I would like to suggest that the problem determination of "Checking Error Logs" is not helping without getting reamed out here.

There has to be another possibility as I am not showing any errors, I had the person who needed this installed to check on their end for errors as well and they aren't showing any.

[michael_s]

I am not asking for your upload error logs... I am asking for the the server apache/php error logs.

If there is a problem, it will be logged to your error logs. A blank screen instead of a php rendered page ALWAYS means a php fatal error. But unless you post the exact error, nobody can help you.

So, you need to look in the error log and post any errors you get when trying to open the catalog in your browser.

There are very few people that ever have the problem you are having, so I am not sure why you keep saying it is common - it is not common.

There are only a handful of people that ever have any issue at all with the install. Of the few that have problems, most had ftp issues and missed some files, and the rest had some sort of server compatibility issue. Both easily resolved.

My seven year experience with osCMax tells me that you are just fouling the install somewhere or your server is running in safe mode with register_globals off, and until you check your php error log, there is not much anyone can do to help you.

I am not asking you to check your server logs for the fun of it. It will tell you exactly what is causing the 'blank screen'

[Sparrz]

I apologize if I sound like indicated that the majority is having this problem, I have just come across several postings here in trying to find an answer here. That is what I meant by "I kept coming up with the same issue alot of other people are having".

I did state earleir that I was not the owner of this Site, I am just installing for them, and that they have checked the logs on their end and they are not finding anything. And I can assure you that after 10 tries of installing this, I was paying very close attention to my uploads.

As the DB is being written to correctly, when looking at it through MySQL Query Browser I can find nothing wrong and have even compared to previous versions. I have been told that I should look into the .htaccess, and have even tried to go as far as making sure that the php.ini file for fixing the register_globals is there as well. And have even asked the host to switch between the two settings.

I just cannot think of anything esle to do to try and reslove this. I am always left coming back here to try and find another answer because the host people do not know what to do with it at this point and are suggesting to use an old OSC and MOD it myself. I was just hoping coming here for the answer would help avoid this step. Sorry for bothering you with this.

[jpf]

POST both of your configure.php files here (less the DB info).

If your having problem with installing and bringing up osCMax - you will have the EXACTLY the same problem with the old plain OSC. They use the same install script and write to the same configure.php files.

[Sparrz]

Okay here are the configs you asked for jpf, hope it helps...


-------------------------------------------------------------------
ADMIN CONFIG IN admin/includes...

<?php
/*
osCMax v2.0, Open Source E-Commerce Solutions
osCommerce Documentation by OSCdox :: osCommerce and osCMax installation and users manual, discussion forums (News)
Copyright 2006 osCMax2005 osCMax, 2003 osCommerce
Released under the GNU General Public License
*/
// Define the webserver and path parameters
// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)
define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://www.juegosmalabares.com'); // eg, cPanel® - should not be empty for productive servers
define('HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER', 'http://www.juegosmalabares.com');
define('HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER', '');
define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'false'); // secure webserver for catalog module
define('DIR_FS_DOCUMENT_ROOT', '/home/juegosmalabares/public_html/catalog/'); // where the pages are located on the server
define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/catalog/admin/'); // absolute path required
define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/home/juegosmalabares/public_html/catalog/admin/'); // absolute pate required
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/catalog/'); // absolute path required
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/juegosmalabares/public_html/catalog/'); // absolute path required
define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
define('DIR_WS_ICONS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icons/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_IMAGES', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'images/');
define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
define('DIR_WS_BOXES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/');
define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_IMAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'images/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_MODULES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/modules/');
define('DIR_FS_BACKUP', DIR_FS_ADMIN . 'backups/');
define('DIR_FCKEDITOR', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'FCKeditor/');
define('DIR_WS_FCKEDITOR', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'FCKeditor/');

-------------------------------------------------------------------

CONFIG IN includes....


<?php
/*
osCMax v2.0, Open Source E-Commerce Solutions
osCommerce Documentation by OSCdox :: osCommerce and osCMax installation and users manual, discussion forums (News)
Copyright 2006 osCMax2005 osCMax, 2003 osCommerce
Released under the GNU General Public License
*/
// Define the webserver and path parameters
// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)
define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://www.juegosmalabares.com'); // eg, cPanel® - should not be empty for productive servers
define('HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER', 'http://www.juegosmalabares.com');
define('HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER', '');
define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'false'); // secure webserver for catalog module
define('DIR_FS_DOCUMENT_ROOT', '/home/juegosmalabares/public_html/catalog/'); // where the pages are located on the server
define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/catalog/admin/'); // absolute path required
define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/home/juegosmalabares/public_html/catalog/admin/'); // absolute pate required
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/catalog/'); // absolute path required
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/juegosmalabares/public_html/catalog/'); // absolute path required
define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
define('DIR_WS_ICONS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icons/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_IMAGES', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'images/');
define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
define('DIR_WS_BOXES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/');
define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_IMAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'images/');
define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_MODULES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/modules/');
define('DIR_FS_BACKUP', DIR_FS_ADMIN . 'backups/');
define('DIR_FCKEDITOR', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'FCKeditor/');
define('DIR_WS_FCKEDITOR', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'FCKeditor/');

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And I did run a regular OSC install and it went in fine, a couple of times to make sure.

[michael_s]

You really need to provide some more debug info... Othewise we are just guessing.

If there are no errors in the error log, which I highly doubt, then you are basically stuck. If your server is not reporting php errors, you need to increase the log level to get more detail in the error logs.

So, how about the debug info? What php version? What web server (apache? what version?) what OS? What mysql version?

In php.ini, is register_globals enabled? Long arrays enabled?

[Sparrz]

Okay I have relayed this info to the owner, again I must tell you that I do not have control of that end and I am asking for access to the Host control panel. But I have not gotten an answer as of yet. I do however appreciate all the help, but I would like to indicate that from my point of view there deosn't seem to be any errors. Please understand that I have installed this on a Windows server that I have controll over and there was no issue at all. You must understand that as far as I can tell I am not doing anything wrong, so please try to understand that telling me that I have missed something is really frustrating, as I know the very same downloaded version works fine when going to a Windows server. I have never seen this happen before on an install and I am trying to provide all the info I can get my hands on, and my last posting was the result of being asked for that info imparticular by jpf.

I can however show you the PHP.INI file that is there.....

register_globals = On

That is all that is in that file.

as far as the other info you are requesting, again I have forwarded this to the owner and am waiting for a response. As soon as I have it I will bring it here to show.

I do appreciate all the help you seem to be willing to provide, but I can assure that I have not changed anything within the install and do not understand why this would work fine on Windows and not this particular Linux Server. And to be told that I may be the cause of this error by not being attentive to how I am installing when I am doing everything the same as always is increasingly frustrating and not helpfull.

I will try and get all of this info for you and persist on trying to gain access to the Controls for this to get more if need be. I have even had to go to the extent of asking the owner if they are willing to switch to a windows server as I do know that there is no problems there for a fact. I have even tried copying a completed windows install over but I still have the same problem.

I am not suggesting that there is a problem with this package, but as far as the actual install I am insisting that from what I can see so far if it goes fine unto a Windows Server, personally I am not able to determine the problem until I get this info from the owner.

Thanx in advance and hopefully there is just a simple fix for this issue. I do really appreciate that fact that this is barnone the best package I have seen for OSC yet, and assuming this can be fixed would recommend this to anyone I come across looking for the perfect Ecommerce solution.