[SOLVED] Use PHP from a local folder?

[Mattman86]

I have a small store and I needed a better POS program. The best one I found is a PHP web-based one. I really don't want to have to use it over an internet connection. Is there a way to use PHP from a folder on the computer?

[jamiemac2005]

Yep there is, you can install your own server on your PC... I suggest something nice and easy to use; XAMPP...

Step1) Install XAMPP
Step2) Copy the PHP files into the XAMPP/htdocs folder
Step3) Clone the origional database(Google is your friend)

This is only useful if you're only using it on a single computer, if not then i suggest you have one internal server(set up one computer to run the server, drag the files from that server and so on).

How many tills/comps do you want to use? what size store? and what sort of tasks are most regular? (e.g. is it just a selling+stock count job or are there more advanced ordering jobs, and so on)... Also which POS system was it you've found?

Cheers,
Jamey

[Mattman86]

Hey,

Thanks for the reply. I downloaded and installed XAMPP but I can't figure out how to use it.

I'm only using it on one computer. The POS that I found is the first one on Download.com when you search for 'PHP POS'

[jamiemac2005]

Hey, okay... Basics of XAMPP;

1) Go to the XAMPP Installation Folder
2) Copy the POS system's PHP/HTML/whatever files into the "htdocs" folder.
(Pre-3, i suggest you back up the files in HTDocs or move them to another subfolder of the HTDocs folder)
3) Rename the homepage of the POS system to "index" (leaving the extension how it is).
4) Open up the XAMPP control panel (Start->XAMPP->XAMPP)
5) Click Start next to "Apache" and "MySQL"
6) Open your web browser, in the address bar "http://127.0.0.1/" or "http://localhost" and press enter
7) The POS system should show.

If for whatever reason you have troubles sorting this out i'll give you a hand.

Cheers,
Jamey

[Mattman86]

Thank you for the step by step guide. But I can only get to step 5. The MySQL service starts fine but the Apache service won't seem to start.

[jamiemac2005]

apache takes longer to start.... A few things to try though:

- Is "SVC" next to apache ticked? if not, tick it, you want this to be a windows service, it makes life easier.

- (If it's already ticked) Click "SCM", this will bring up windows' Services manager... In this, find the "Apache" (+sometimes you have a version no.) service, right click on that service and chose properties... The easiest way to make this work is to change the "Startup Type" dropdown to "Automatic" then click apply. Then find the "mysql" service and do the same. Once you've done that restart the computer and continue at step 6 (The services should have automatically started when windows did[a way to check this is to open the XAMPP control panel]).

Give that a go, if it doesn't work then post back.

Cheers,
Jamey

[Mattman86]

Ok, the SCM thing worked... do you think you could take a look at the POS and tell me why it can't connect to my database?

[jamiemac2005]

Okay, sorry, missed a step; setting up the database. Give me a minute to have a look at the system and see what it says. I will post back ASAP.

[jamiemac2005]

Hey again:

This is from the readme of the file, this is the bit i missed(emboldened):

1. Unzip the Program and place the folder onto a web-server with PHP and MYSQL.
2. In a browser go to:  http://Yourwebserver.com/Path To Point Of Sale/install/index.php/  YOUR DEFAULT USERNAME IS : admin YOUR DEFAULT PASSWORD IS:pointofsale
3. Fill out the information and click install
4. The tables will be created in your selected database.
5. You will be redirected to login (admin/pointofsale)
6. Add customers, brands, categories, suppliers, and items and you are ready to start selling!
*** Make sure the database you choose is already created!
** Make sure you add brands, categories, and suppliers first then add items.
* Make sure the settings.php file is writable

So... Try that step... Go to http://127.0.0.1/install/index.php or whatever the directory is under "htdocs" and go from there.

Cheers,
Jamey

[Mattman86]

Yeah, I saw that too. I opened Access and created a database and saved it in 'C:\xampp\htdocs'. When I setup the form, it doesnt work.

[jamiemac2005]

That's because your database is controlled by mySQL not access, do as the instructions say (visit http://localhost/install/index.php, and follow the instructions). It will create the database (in your mySQL server) itself. Then you should be able to go back to the origional homepage.

Cheers,
Jamey

[Mattman86]

How do I make a database in MySQL?

[jamiemac2005]

Visit the address. The system will do it for you.

[Mattman86]

It's not doing it.

[jamiemac2005]

... Care to elaborate? what's going wrong?/how do you know?

Cheers,
Jamey

[calthephenom]

try downloading apache

[jamiemac2005]

XAMPP is a pre-packaged exe containing Apache, MySQL, PHP and Perl.

The problem right now is installing the database that the POS system needs to use.

As for installing the database Mattman86; What is the file structure of your POS system under the HTDOCS folder?

e.g. is it set up to be htdocs\index.php(the homepage) and htdocs\install\index.php(the install page) or is there another folder under the HTDocs folder in which the POS system resides? if there is then navigate to http://localhost/thatfolder/install/index.php and you should see a page entitled "PHP POS Install"... Fill in the details required, and click Install, you should then be greeted by a install successful message or an error (if you get the error post what it is)...

Cheers,
Jamey

[Mattman86]

it is set up to be htdocs\index.php(the homepage) and htdocs\install\index.php(the install page).

When I fill out the little form and tell it a database to use, it just says that there is an error connecting to the database. When I check, the database file is there.

[Mattman86]

it is set up to be htdocs\index.php(the homepage) and htdocs\install\index.php(the install page).

When I fill out the little form and tell it a database to use, it just says that there is an error connecting to the database. When I check, the database file is there.

[jamiemac2005]

Okay, next thing to check, Go to Start-> XAMPP -> Make sure that MySQL is running, if it's not. Start it. Then try and fill in the form again.

If not then check the form is filled in correctly:
Database Server: localhost
Database Name: (Try a random name, if that doesn't work then use:) "phpmyadmin" (without the quotes)
Database Username: root
Database Password: (blank)

That should tag the database onto the phpmyadmin database(an XAMPP out of the box installed database).

Post back with how you get on, if this still doesn't work i'll post a method of creating the database from scratch(hopefully as easily as i can get it to).

Cheers,
Jamey