Joomla! Discussion Forums

There is no configuration.php under my joomla file. I don't know why.

I ftp my joomla softare to my host, there aren't any .htaccess and configeration.php file under my joomla software. what should i do?

The configuration.php file is only created AFTER you complete the installation process.
If you server can't create the file then you may find it useful to put an empty text file there called configuration.php - note the file MUST be less than 10bytes.

Then complete the installation as normal.

There is a specimen .htaccess file included with Joomla - it is called htaccess.txt and if required should be renamed as indicuated:
note the final name of the file starts with a dot has htaccess after it and nothing else.

After activating this file you may get a server 500 error - read the instructions inside the file
there are some configuration options that can be tweaked.

Dean

thank you reply my question at first. another question is how to edit php.ini. I asked my host, they gave me a answer is copy php.ini to proper location. After I copy it to my joomla file, It's no use.
I'm new to joomla, excuse me I'm always ask such silly question.
I'll be appreciated of your reply.

To edit the php.ini file - simply download it to your own computer with ftp.
Edit in notepad or with a similar text editor (NOTE: note a word processor).
Then re-upload to your server.

Dean

Thank you for your reply. i know how to edit and reload by ftp. but where can  I insert those codes in php.ini.  I am a Chinese women. I am grateful to your help.

Dear Dean:
              That problem was solved. Thank you very much. I changed my image. That foto is me. let me say hello and thank you.
Good day and good time!

Hi,

Interestingly I sent another reply yesterday - but it doesn't seem to have made it here.
I wonder what happened?

Glad you have things under control.

Dean

After several time of contct, my host support edit my php.ini, and I edit my globals.php ,because there exist another problem, then I set up joomla website successfully. I download that php.ini, at last I know what i should do. Now I am busy on intergarate a smf to joomla, because I need my visitor submit news not only me.
Thank you of being so patient.

Dear Dean ,
              I have to ask you seond time, when I set up a new Joomla there appear the problem again.
I edit it session_save_path = /home/gurucnco/public_html/tmp    ; argument passed to save_handler
                                    ; in the case of files, this is the
                                    ; path where data files are stored
but it doesn't work, i don't know why.
I have ever set up two joomla website, first one is English version by fantastico, second one is Chinese
version by hand. as you know there appear session_save_path unwritalve when I set up Joomla by hand. last time this problem has been solved. but when I integrate a smf to joomla, I can't use database password,because first one is set up by fantastico. I have to removed it. There appear something wrong with my second Joomla website. The Chinese word become fess.
when I set up a new one, there appear the problem, so I use this method, just copy code and change path.It doesn't work. I don't know why. but when i ask my host, no one can help me.
They only said that i am sorry, you should go through.
           

Dear Dean,
              I am sorry to ask you same question again.I edit php.ini When I install Joomla Under subdirectory it works, while under public_html it doesn't work. I have ever installed two joomla website. one under public_html through fantastico another under subdirectory through manual. As you know, aanother one under subdirectory had ever appeared session save path unwritable. It had been solved.
            When I integrate smf to joomla, I found that it's difficult to integrate smf to the Joomla website under public_html which had been installed through fantastico, so i had to removed it and installed a new one under public-html manual, now it doesn't work.
my path is session.save_path        =  /home/gurucnco/public_html/tmp  , my user name is gurucnco.I copy this file php.ini and put it under public-html    public-html/administrator and public_html/includes.
now it doesn't work.

Dear Dean,
              That problem was solved at last. I try to copy php.ini and put it under every file of directory public_html not only put it into Public_html , public_html/administrator and public_html/includes, so it works. You needn't reply my last post.

Hi Dean (my favourite hero;)),
I did everything as you explained, even wrote a small/step by step Portuguese/English tutorial based on your session_save_path hack,  tutorial here: http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,184504.msg876959.html#msg876959. My question is: if every time that I install/uninstall a component (like opensef, artio joomsef...)will  the line in configuration.php became not writeable? If so, and seeing the above quote from HarryKare I was wondering what exactly are the steps to configure a similar and not so temporary directory? Can you please advise me on this? Thank you

Well - as I've tried to stress all along - this is a HACK.
It is best used as a temporary measure until your host can help, or until you can find a better host.

You can add code into the Joomla PHP itself to set this - that will be relatively stable but will be lost should you upgrade Joomla.

I wouldn't be happy using any of these techniques for more than a week or two.
a local php.ini file or .htaccess are the best bets - one or other should work for most people - you just have to bear in mind that the php.ini route then you may need to copy the php.ini file to ALL sub folders under your Joomla installation.

Hope that helps

Dean

Well, I'm in total desperation, exhausted! I'm new at all this PHP, Joomla, it's so hard to follow every instruction... I think there should be a step by step guide for every component, plug-ins, needed files like htaccess, instead we have to search several and read almost similar posts. Copy from examples given, then arrange them into your own platform, then and again when something breaks search the cause, ask, find a possible or multiple answer, rearrange... (maybe someone could write a book, I would definitely buy one!)
It's so difficult. I think I need a big cup of coffee...

Anyway, Dean I wasn't thinking of upgrading to joomla beta, I asked my host (2 support tickets now) to create a session save path for me, still waiting (btw it's hostmonster)... 

Meanwhile, I do have to use the hack, so, let me see if I understood you: 

1. The hack in configuration.php is always deleted when we either install or uninstall a component (I uninstalled open_sef to install joomfish and artio joomsef), right? We have to edit it again and temporarily things will be 'kind' of fixed.

2. There are 2 other workarounds more permanent :
a) through php.ini, (if we have access to it);
b) through .htaccess,(if we have access to it);

One thing that I didn't understand, was if I have to route the php.ini file on all folders in both situations. (Oh  !)

Having said that, I do have access to both this files, which is easier to implement? What are the steps? Is there already an example here in the forum somewhere? I'm going take that big cup of coffee, right now!

Thank you Dean, and sorry for my complaints, they are directed at my  own incapability to get good results faster!

Running a website is a complicated business - no-one can protect you from this - and for many (myself once upon a time) it is a very steep learning curve. The mix of technologies involved is tremendous.

Joomla is EASY for an END USER to USE once it is already installed and configured.
Compared to most other systems Joomla is FAIRLY EASY to install and configure - but this is relative ease not absolute.

I have a site where I have started to detail as much of this stuff as I can - I don't think anyone has done a thorough job of listing ALL of the technologies, software and skills needed for a 'clueless newbie' to pick up Joomla and run with it ALL THE WAY from start to finish. most books and tutorials assume a level of competence and awareness of web technologies that I feel many end users (especially one man outfits) simply do not possess. There is nothing wrong with this - an author has to pick his target audience and adjust his writing to suit - most simply do not aim at people who are literally absolute beginners.

To tackle your comments:
1. No - most components will install and uninstall without affecting the configuration.php file - the ones you mention are the exception to this rule.

2. There are many more than two workarounds for this - but those two are 'stable' - only one will be available on any one host though - usually depending upon whether PHP is run as a server module or through CGI (technobabbly - try one - if it doesn't work, try the other, or ask your host).

If a local copy of php.ini is required then it WILL need to be copied into sub folders - you can get a script to do this work for you. So don't worry. Most hosts who require this will have a script that they can give you. If they don't then ask them what exactly you are paying for.

Dean

thanks for that!!!

everything was fine until i migrated to the php5 server at my host (bluehost). i couldn't access php.ini anymore. so i changed .htaccess. but then i activated fastcgi that they just installed. now htaccess doesn't have any effect. so i tried configuration.php, that worked but yes, not too loyal. the globals.php worked!

I tried to configure out all options in htaccess.txt without any good result after uploading it and rename it to .htaccess. As a last way out i emptied the .htaccess totally and I still got the internal server error 500..? If i remove .htaccess from my server I got the pre-installation check again.

I also have an one.com account and used CMS Made Simple without problems, but now I even can´t use an empty .htaccess file?

I need .htaccess to rewrite URLs to *.html files - don´t understand anything, sorry...

.htaccess files can only be used on apache web servers and even then only where the host allows.
You need to check with your host whether you are allowed to use them.

From your description it sounds like either your server is IIS and not Apache, or .htaccess usage is not currently enabled.

Dean

Hi again!

It is an apache webserver and I made another site (http://www.kbauto-fyn.dk) successfully controlled by another CMS where I use .htaccess to rewrite URLs from PHP to HTML. See the PHP info for that site here: Ok, that´s new for me - now it´s gone (phpinfo)..!

The hosting company I use: http://www.one.com/en/ - "SAFE MODE" is set to "ON"...

Hmmm I really want to try Joomla out, it looks cool and I have heard a lot good things about it, but it´s important for me to rewrite URLs and I dont know another methods than .htaccess to do it!


Best regards,
Brian

Permission to run / use .htaccess can be set on a domain by domain basis, and even on a folder by folder basis.
This really is a question for your host.

Posting phpinfo in public like that is DANGEROUS.
I'd edit your last post and remove that if I were you - also remove the file from your server now you have advertised it.

SAFE MODE is more or less a killer to a Joomla site. I realise there are posts around here that explain the hoops you need to jump through to make it work - but it really isn't worth the effort. Joomla is an interactive script - well application, it needs to create files and folders on the fly. Safe Mode gets in the way too much.

Dean

Ok, thanks for your reply Dean.
I didn´t knew it was dangerous to use phpinfo in public, but now i know, thanks for that!!!
If SAFE MODE makes more trouble than solutions I will look after another host!

Best regards,
Brian

i tried but i still can't get it right..tell me if i got the wrong code here T_T

my sessions folder is on
/Joomla_1.0.13-Stable-Full_Package/sessions/
and i changed the config.php to



did i did something wrong? 

and i forgot to mention that my host is running on a linux server and i'm using joomla v1.0.13.
Shall i install first without session save path before changing config.ini or any components? HELP PLEASE 

jesus get rid of your phpinfo or you will probably get hijacked.

After almost 4 failed installations, where I couldn’t login like administrator, I came here and I found the way to mine solution, wich I'm giving you hoping this will help some of you.
I edit the php.ini file on my server and look for the session.save_path = and wrote there the path that the tech support of my host gives me. Then all is working like it supposed. I didn’t have to create any file or modify any .htaccess file. It took me almost a day, but I finally solved.
In conclusion, it depends on your server possibilities. Ask the tech people that bring you their host services

I've been quite careful in my wording in previous posts.
DO NOT change you live site variable.
COPY IT and add /sessions on the end and use that as the basis for a workaround using one of the three or four methods detailed throughout this thread.

I consider this to be the definitive answer - all other posts are going around in circles.
The answers are here - honestly.
http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic ... #msg562118

Dean

I think I have a new twist to this problem. At least I can't find a reference to this particular twist.
I've looked at the four options. I don't have access to the php.ini or the .htaccess files. So, I tried the
session_save_path('/path/to/a/writeable/folder');

It worked, this time, but there's a problem. My hosting can't guarantee which server will be accessed at any given time, so this is not the best solution.

It was suggested that I put the session info in the database. I noticed that Joomla actually does some of this (and expanding the table wouldn't be a challenge), but does anyone know how I can get it to only rely on the database for session info.

Hi there,

I have the same problems: no session save path set and marked as unwriteable. Therefore, I am able to login as administrator in the backend but not as an registered user in the frontend. After login in the frontend it allways redirect me to the index page.

I followed everybody's instructions. I tried includeding session save path (/path/to/my/session/folder) in .htaccess, globals.php, and/or configugation.php. Although it does rewrite the session save path value to the one I give, it still does not let me login from the frontend and as long I have the new session path set I can not login to the backend. The administrator login reloaded the admin login form.

I spoke to the host company and they said is a problem with joomla. They even suggested trying to change my template. I did so but the same problem happened.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Phanor