Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP

17-Jun-09 0:23

AJAX is Asynchronous Javascript and XML. The term is often used to refer to the ability to update part of a web page without refreshing the whole page.

Flex is a technology developed by Adobe and is based on the language Actionscript (which is also part of adobe Flash - which you probably know). Flex is more application, form and programmer oriented than Flash is - however, the two use the same language, so there are many areas in which the two applications are similar and can perform the same tasks.

Things needed to create a webmail system

xiaomahe15-Jun-09 10:46

xiaomahe

15-Jun-09 10:46

Hi, i am new to this site, and i love it..

I would like to ask few questions to guide me to finish my project. I want to create a PHP based webmail system, but i am not sure if it is just enough to code the webmail using php itself.

I am wondering, do i need to install another program such as Postfix and Dovecot?? Coz 2 of them are email servers rite? and webmail need an email server to access to..

I want to create prototype webmail, hence this system will not really be online, maybe could be used in just local area network..

So, conclusion for all the questions:
1. DO i need to install the email server?
2. Can i just create an webmail system using PHP itself without installing Postfix and Dovecot?

Thanks if you could help me. I'll be very happy

Marc Firth15-Jun-09 22:11

15-Jun-09 22:11

I don't so much have a solution as I am interested in what you are doing. I'd like to know how you get on with creating it (as I've thought about making one in future).

From my knowledge of php:

I don't think you can create an email system with php alone. I might be wrong (I hope). But still there's no point reinventing the wheel so I do strongly suggest investigating using dovecot/postfix. you should be able to use functions such as phps exec to run commands within postfix/dovecot etc

Are you going to be building it open source?

xiaomahe16-Jun-09 7:06

xiaomahe

16-Jun-09 7:06

Hi Marc.. I was planning to do a simple webmail system for my project. It should works like normal webmail such as hotmail or yahoo, but it will be in the simplest design.

I would like to implement encryption to that system, so it can only send an encrypted email. What i am wondering about is, do i need to install the mail server?? or can i just save all the email information (including email messages, user id, email, etc) into sql databases.. Because when user had login the webmail, all the emails information is downloaded from the mail server? correct me if i am wrong.. Hence, i guess mail server might be needed.. But as this is just a small project, i am not going to make an online system.. So it will be in local host.. So is it possible just to download all the emails information of an user from sql database? without had to download from the mail server..

I am doing this for my Final Year Project for my degree, so if anyone could help with the settings on how to build a webmail system using php? I would be very appreciate..

Marc Firth17-Jun-09 0:09

17-Jun-09 0:09

I did a bit of research.

You dont need to install the webserver.

Useful links:

Take-AJAX-to-Your-Email-Inbox-Developing-a-Webbased-POP-3-Client/[^]

http://www.phpbuilder.com/manual/ref.imap.php[^]

http://uk.php.net/imap[^]

Syed M Hussain17-Jun-09 5:23

Syed M Hussain

17-Jun-09 5:23

Hi Guys

I'm assuming your all trying to develop an interface to a mailbox which has already be setup. Php provides the imap dll for windows which you can use to establish a connection to a mailbox. Alternatively if you know the raw commands for either imap or pop3 and you don't mind getting dirty then you can code it your self.

www.cy2online.net

xiaomahe20-Jun-09 5:01

xiaomahe

20-Jun-09 5:01

Yeah, for my project is similar to something like you mentioned, it works just like hotmail or any other webmail application, where people used the webmail to access to the mail server(which has been setup)

I just want to make an offline mail server for my project, and i only want my LAN network to access the network. Strictly not for outsider..

And thanks Marc for the links..

Marc Firth25-Jun-09 2:40

25-Jun-09 2:40

No problem. Let me know how you get on.

I am posting data to another site but it doesnot work...

Khawar Abbas115-Jun-09 0:33

Khawar Abbas1

15-Jun-09 0:33

I am posting data to another site using header in php. it works fine from my local machine but when i deploy the application to the international server, it does not work. Any suggestion.....................

Do good and have good.

Re: I am posting data to another site but it doesnot work...

Marc Firth15-Jun-09 3:36

15-Jun-09 3:36

- Walk through the code step by step to debug it. add echos to check things are being sent.
- make sure the database details are correct
- make sure the folder you are writing to has write permissions enabled
- check you are not using a local Server_name such as localhost
- check that you are not using functionality that requires changes to made to php.ini
or
- provide us with more information and sample code so we can help you further

PayPals Add To Cart Button for one off items

Member 373991012-Jun-09 21:35

12-Jun-09 21:35

I can create a PayPal Add to Cart Button outside of Paypal but if one has only one item to sell. It is possible for two or more people to buy the same item.

A button could be created within PayPal that has inventory control and would prevent additional sale of the one item. That requires constant logging in to Paypal.
My programming skills is limited to some basic Basic.

What I am after is a way to remove the button or deactivate it from the page after it is pressed once. IE When a person is taken to the cart view. What I am also looking at is using the unlink function to remove the page perhaps. I would manually reset the button if the sale fell through after that.

All I can do is send a potential customer to PayPals checkout I cannot control externally that someone else is also sent there before I have had time to remove the item for sale.

My ultimate purpose is to set up an online garage sale to sell my unwanted goods accumulated over the years. I am trying Ebay but sometimes an item has to be listed many times for a sale and it becomes uneconomical. I have a site and reasonably good in HTML but not a good in programming.

I am thinking that when a person returns from a transaction to a page that has an onload the sending page can be insrtucted to be deleted or the link made inactive.

I have asked PayPal and it has been accepted as a feature request but that may never eventuate.

I thank anyone in advance for some ideas on this.
Terry

Terry

Member 373991013-Jun-09 19:43

13-Jun-09 19:43

I am tryingto use the unlink function but calling it to delete a test file does not work.
I used this simple example

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"><br />
<html><br />
<head><br />
	<title>Untitled</title><br />
</head><br />
<br />
<br />
<html><br />
<body><br />
<br />
<?php<br />
echo "Loaded";<br />
$myFile = "T1.txt";<br />
unlink($myFile);<br />
?><br />
<br />
</body><br />
</html>

My thinking now is after a successful transaction, where the customer is directed to. I use an onload command that deletes the page that has the add to cart button.

Before I can follow this tact I need to prove the function and so far it does not remove the file. I have tried the full URL of the file I am trying to delete as well.
I haven't done error trapping so that I guess is next. I would not like a customer to see an error message however.

Terry

Marc Firth14-Jun-09 21:54

14-Jun-09 21:54

<?php if(file_exists($myFile)){ ?>
Html button code here
<?php
unlink($myFile); }?>

Member 373991015-Jun-09 3:19

15-Jun-09 3:19

First off Neonlight thanks for your response

<?php if(file_exists($myFile)){ ?>
Html button code here
<?php
unlink($myFile); }?>

The button code exists as part of a html page advertising the item. Why would the button code be placed there is it important or would the Html button code placed anywhere on the html page matter.
<?php if(file_exists($http://domain/file_to_delete.html)){ ?>
<?php
unlink($http://domain/file_to_delete.html); }?>

I may have got the bull by the horns. PHP is not my thing I will have to do a course.

I was under the impression that the unlink function actually deleted files. but you are giving me the impression that it unlinks reference to the file is that so?.

aAs I said above the button code sends a potential customer to a Paypal cart then onto a Paypal checkout. That I have no control over. However in the button code there are two url's one a success "The customer bought" The other a cancel.

Now as I intend to only offer one item and not wanting two people buying the same item I was thinking of using a onload command in the success page to delete the advertised item page so no one else can purchase it. Now if the unlink function can remove the button that would be terrific. I know I could use the Zen cart but that would be overkill for the few items I have around the house to sell.

I can create the buttons within the Palpal site and they will handle inventory but it is a hassel when to create your own code is so easy. I did not invent it Paypal has instructions.

I like a lot of people have things like old golf sets photography gear and old kids stuff and its time I downsized and it is too good to dump.

Anyway thanks again I will study the function load it up to my server and delete away

Terry

Marc Firth15-Jun-09 3:32

15-Jun-09 3:32

Apologies - i misunderstood and thought the file to be deleted was being used as a boolean.

Note: you cannot use URLs in the file_exists function - only directory paths(see below).

Better code would be
when they try to view the item:

//if the item exists
if(file_exists("C://path/to/your/htdocs/itemForSale.php"){
//go to that items page
header("Location: /itemForSale.php");

//otherwise go to different page
} else {
header("Location: /thatItemHasBeenSold.php"); //or whatever
}

When the "buy now" button is clicked (payment is successful) go to an intermediary page where you

unlink("C://path/to/your/htdocs/itemForSale.php");

Then when other people go to visit that items page again, it will not exist and they will be directed to "thatItemHasBeenSold.php"

Member 373991015-Jun-09 3:51

15-Jun-09 3:51

I really appreciate your help I have just been playing with the unlink function. I have found that I need to give the function full permission. but I am not allowed to delete a web page?

I will digest what you have said.
You have used C:/ but it all must happen on the server I never realised that my root directory on my site could be refered as c://. One continues to learn

Trouble is the more one learns the more one realises how little he has.

If the page was item.php could I delete that. Off to play with all forms of the code.

Hmm! where did the site go OMG | :OMG:

Terry

Marc Firth15-Jun-09 4:27

15-Jun-09 4:27

Haha. Very insightful.

But the more one learns, the more one has at his disposal.

And yes you can delete any file. You may need to put an "@" symbol in front of unlink to get it to work though. i.e:

<?php
@unlink('item.php');
?>

Re: PayPals Add To Cart Button for one off items [modified]

Member 373991015-Jun-09 15:02

15-Jun-09 15:02

Again thanks.

Now I will see what mess I can get myself in. Just so you know what I am after my intended site is http://mrtworld.com I am trying video and other means to advertise. I do sell software (Using Rapidq basic and AHK) My main site gets 500 hits a day so I can link. This is a hobby I am retired and well on my way to making my first million/10,000. Still it keeps me out of mischief.

I will post back when I have a working system. You never know you may have stuff you want to sell. I intend to make an automatic site creator. Basic is so easy to manipulate text and RQ works well in Vista. AHK (AutoHotKey) makes a great companion.

Ain't life great. Live well and long
Terry

As an after thought I would tackle the problem this way.
for each item I have for sale I will create a Item_Name.txt file basicly blank but existing.
using your suggestion
I shall create a "If not Fileexists(Item_Name.txt)
Else" condition where the Else will point to an "ItemSold Page"
Obviously on a successful sale I will unlink the Item_Name.txt file.

I now have the solution and need to design the structure o I do not have to modify many pages manually

I will put a test set of pages up and run it in PayPals sandbox.

Well I have it

<br />
<?php  $F = File_Exists("item_sold");<br />
  		If ($F == "1")header 'Location:http://www.mydomain.com/itemforsale.php' );<br />
 		Else header( 'Location: http://www.mydomain.com/sorry.html' );<br />
  ?><br />

The success page(one for each item) will have the unlink of the item_sold above

I found that the buy now button was the best option in this case.

So Marc with the insight you have given me it has awakened my knowledge of C I programmed in over 20 years ago which makes php come to life, I did not realise the syntax was so simular.

It was not long ago I could not even spell programer now I are one

Till my next major requirement Marc stay well, I may need you Wink | ;)

Terry

modified on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:59 PM

Marc Firth17-Jun-09 0:32

17-Jun-09 0:32

Member 3739910 wrote:
So Marc with the insight you have given me it has awakened my knowledge of C I programmed in over 20 years ago which makes php come to life, I did not realise the syntax was so simular.

Yeah, very similar. I learnt c++ first. Picking up php was as easy as breathing.

Marc Firth17-Jun-09 22:07

17-Jun-09 22:07

Member 3739910 wrote:
When I thought it save to go back in the water I have a problem

This code will not work I think I must have a mistake somewhere. As you can see it is basicly what you sugested. Other php works and I do have the page ext php

Also this does not work for me. I am missing something

Could it be the permission of the files?

I will keep hammering at it. My ftp program is running hot
Terry

Dunno where your post went so I copied the above in from my email.

Fixed code

<?php
//htp -> http and Two closing brackets
if(file_exists("http://mrtworld.com/item01.txt")){
//htp -> http
header("Location: http://mmrtworld.com/description/clock.php");//this page will have the code
} 
else {
//htp -> http
header("Location: http://mydomain.com/sorry.html");
}
?>

and remember i said you must use directory path not url:

<?php
echo file_exists("C://xampp/htdocs/item/item001");// no output
?>

Member 373991017-Jun-09 22:53