- Help! Odd PHP behavior on local computer...

Question

Can anyone tell me why I can no longer open PHP pages on my
computer?
I can't even F12-preview like I could last week... it just
jams when it
should be opening IE and displaying the page.
So I try using windows explorer to open the page manually...
and notice
there's no association for PHP files anymore. No cute little
icons.
Naturally, it asks me what I want to open this file with. I
say IE... and it
jams again, like it does in the F12 preview.
I try again, this time selecting Firefox. Firefox opens,
displays nothing,
and windows asks me again what I want to open this file with.
I pick Firefox
again... same thing. Infinite loop... it doesn't jam or
anything, it just
keeps asking me what I want to open it with when I choose
Firefox.
Dreamweaver opens and reads the file with no problem. I just
can't view it
in any of the browsers.
It's a fully functional HTML page with body tag and
everything... only two
includes are used, which is why it's a .php.
Renaming it .HTM works. It'll open (though obviously, without
the includes).
Why is my system suddenly having such a hard time with PHP
when it never has
before? Is this another one of those lawsuits Microsoft lost
or something?
The only thing that changes on my system since this was
working fine are the
various security patches Microsoft makes us download.
Help?
PS: Once uploaded and viewed through the HTTP address,
neither browser has
any problem viewing the PHP file. How weird is that? It just
won't open it
locally.

Answer 1

>I can assure you that I've never used a testing server in
my life, and
>these very same PHP pages (which are just HTML pages with
a couple of file
>includes in them) were working just fine until recently.
You can assure all you want but if you are not using a
testing server, this
is clearly impossible. PHP code cannot be executed without a
testing
server. I think if you look more closely you'll find that
either -
* the page has no PHP code, or
* you actually DO have a testing server defined without
realizing it
> A testing server may be necessary for some situations,
but PHP files with
> nothing but includes in them isn't one of those
situations.
If the includes are PHP includes it will not work without a
testing server.
If the includes are HTML includes it will work without a
testing server
LOCALLY, but if the page has a PHP extension, it will not
work remotely.
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
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==================
"Reese" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I can assure you that I've never used a testing server in
my life, and
>these very same PHP pages (which are just HTML pages with
a couple of file
>includes in them) were working just fine until recently.
>
> Also until recently, Windows recognized PHP extensions.
Now it doesn't.
>
> The problem isn't the testing server. I just went to
take a look at it for
> fun, and I've never seen any of the options in there
before, ever.
>
> A testing server may be necessary for some situations,
but PHP files with
> nothing but includes in them isn't one of those
situations. Temp files
> worked just fine to preview these pages until now.
>
> I'm going to work now, where I've got another copy of
these same files and
> this same program (though it's a different license). I
can all but
> guarantee the F12 on PHP files will work there, with the
testing server
> off. I'll confirm that within the hour.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "David Powers" <[email protected]> wrote in
message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Reese wrote:
>>> DW allows you to create temp files via F12. It
shows you those temp
>>> files.
>>>
>>> Why is this news to everyone?
>>
>> The use of temp files with F12 isn't news at all. To
view PHP, however,
>> you need a testing server. Alternatively, set up
your remote server as
>> the testing server. That will also work.
>>
>> --
>> David Powers
>> Author, "Foundation PHP for Dreamweaver 8" (friends
of ED)
>> Author, "Foundation PHP 5 for Flash" (friends of ED)
>>
http://foundationphp.com/
>
>