PHP:Save MySQL Database

[Salchester]

Howdy Everyone,

Using MySQL along with PHP, is it possible to save information stored in a database to a text file, then at a later date, load the text file data back into the database?

Many Thanks,

[DJMaze]

Sure.

How do you want to store it?

[sde]

there's a system command to backup your database (not a mysql_query command)

mysqldump -u<username> -p<password> <dbname> > backupfile.sql

there's a tutorial in the php section on how to dynamically load a mysqldump file too.

[DJMaze]

Since he's using xampp pack there's probably no password needed

mysqldump -uroot <dbname> > backupfile.sql

[Salchester]

I searched around "Code Newbie", and came across the page at the following URL, on how to create .txt files using PHP.

Creating TXT Files

Can information from within forms, be stored to a text file, and can the text file be stored anyway on the computer, for example the root directory of drive "c:/"?

Many Thanks,

[DJMaze]

Yes and no, it all depends on your OS security policy.
But since you're using Windows OS i doubt you've set one up, so yes you can.

And if you do understand Windows and did setup a security policy there's a 26% change the password is the name of one of your kids. If not, then 12% change it's your lover.

Oh and probably the password is written down on a note-it that sticks on the monitor. Now how can you forget the name of your kids

[sde]

i sometimes am not sure how to take DJMs posts, but they can certainly come across as condescending.

salch, as DJM said, yes it's possible, but the directory you want to write to must be writable by the web user. i don't know what user apache runs as under an XAMP system.

[Salchester]

What do you mean by user?

Many Thanks,

[sde]

when you run a program, the system runs it as your user (whatever you login to windows with)

your web server also runs as a user, but it may or may not be your own username.

you can do a ctrl+alt+delete and view your processes. look for the apache process and it will show that user it's running as in the 'User Name' column.

if you don't see the user name column, you can go to View->Select Columns in the windows task manager.

[Salchester]

SDE,

How do I go about storing information from a form inside a text file?
For example a persons name, from a text box.

How can the information be encrypted.

Many Thanks,

[DJMaze]

Originally Posted by Salchester

How can the information be encrypted.

WoW, shouldn't you first learn about securing your server before overloading it with encryption methods like blowfish?

[Salchester]

How?

Many Thanks,

[DJMaze]

1. Download CentOS iso cd's or dvd (choose i386 for intel 32 bit or x86_64 for 64 bit)
2. Burn them on cd/dvd
3. Reboot and install (make sure to check Apache and other webstuff at install)

After that you have a secure system, which is much easier then to explain you in this topic how Windows security works.

[Salchester]

What Do I Need To Do After?

Many Thanks, much appreciated!!!

[DJMaze]

CentOS is an Operating System just like Windows is.
It has all the tools you currently use for a server like Apache, MySQL and PHP.
So after install (windows is gone) there's nothing you need to do, other then developing your website.

Then you will notice where and where not you may store files on the system thru PHP since the system is already protected.
After that we could guide you how to use encryption as used with:

- PHP: crypt - Manual
- PHP: md5 - Manual
- PHP: sha1 - Manual
- PHP: gnupg Functions - Manual
- PHP: hash Functions - Manual
- PHP: Mcrypt Encryption Functions - Manual

Windows is a mess if you want to properly setup a server with your scripts.
You need IIS knowledge since Apache will not provide the security on Windows.