Session Problem - could it be cos of register_global s?

[Matthew]

Hi,

!!I'm A Newbie Alert!!

My server runs PHP version 4.4.3.

I'm successfully creating a session and can set and retrieve my own
session variables.

As far as I can tell the $_SESSION['uid'] variable should be created
automatically when session_start() is called. When I retrieve this
variable however it is empty.

Is this because -- manual -- "PHP directive register_global s went from ON
to OFF in PHP » 4.2.0." ??

If so: How do I turn register_global s on, do I just edit the .htaccess
file and add the line below (exactly as shown?

php_flag register_global s on

If not, any ideas why $_SESSION['uid'] does not have a value?

Note the value of $_SESSION['cookie'] is also empty, isn't that also
supposed to be created and sent to the browser automatically by
session_start() ?? --My browser does not receive a cookie either?

In a muddle, regards, etc..

[Rik Wasmus]

On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:25:25 +0100, Matthew <ma*****@spamki ller.comwrote:

My server runs PHP version 4.4.3.

I'm successfully creating a session and can set and retrieve my own
session variables.

OK

As far as I can tell the $_SESSION['uid'] variable should be created
automatically when session_start() is called. When I retrieve this
variable however it is empty.

Nope. Unless you name it that way.
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/ref.session.php >

The default 'session.name' is PHPSESSID, which you can normally will NOT
find in $_SESSION, but in one of the $_REQUEST arrays (and thus obviously
in $_REQUEST). $_COOKIE['PHPSESSID'] _if_ the session works with cookies,
optionally in the $_POST or $_GET array in case of a transparant session
id (which is not recommandable).

If you choose another name for a session, this should be done with
session_name('c ustom_name_of_s ession') BEFORE the call to session_start() :
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/function.sessio n-name.php>
--
Rik Wasmus

[Rik Wasmus]

On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:38:05 +0100, Rik Wasmus
<lu************ @hotmail.comwro te:

On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:25:25 +0100, Matthew <ma*****@spamki ller.com>
wrote:

>My server runs PHP version 4.4.3.

I'm successfully creating a session and can set and retrieve my own
session variables.

OK

>As far as I can tell the $_SESSION['uid'] variable should be created
automaticall y when session_start() is called. When I retrieve this
variable however it is empty.

Nope. Unless you name it that way.
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/ref.session.php >

The default 'session.name' is PHPSESSID, which you can normally will NOT
find in $_SESSION, but in one of the $_REQUEST arrays (and thus
obviously in $_REQUEST). $_COOKIE['PHPSESSID'] _if_ the session works
with cookies, optionally in the $_POST or $_GET array in case of a
transparant session id (which is not recommandable).

If you choose another name for a session, this should be done with
session_name('c ustom_name_of_s ession') BEFORE the call to
session_start() :
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/function.sessio n-name.php>

Addendum: if you're just curious what your session id actually is, use
session_id().
--
Rik Wasmus

[Matthew]

Rik Wasmus emailed this:

On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:38:05 +0100, Rik Wasmus
<lu************ @hotmail.comwro te:

>On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:25:25 +0100, Matthew <ma*****@spamki ller.com>
wrote:

>>My server runs PHP version 4.4.3.

I'm successfully creating a session and can set and retrieve my own
session variables.

OK

>>As far as I can tell the $_SESSION['uid'] variable should be created
automatical ly when session_start() is called. When I retrieve this
variable however it is empty.

Nope. Unless you name it that way.
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/ref.session.php >

The default 'session.name' is PHPSESSID, which you can normally will
NOT find in $_SESSION, but in one of the $_REQUEST arrays (and thus
obviously in $_REQUEST). $_COOKIE['PHPSESSID'] _if_ the session works
with cookies, optionally in the $_POST or $_GET array in case of a
transparant session id (which is not recommandable).

If you choose another name for a session, this should be done with
session_name(' custom_name_of_ session') BEFORE the call to
session_start( ):
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/function.sessio n-name.php>

Thanks for both replies Rik.

Addendum: if you're just curious what your session id actually is, use
session_id().

What about the cookie, how do I retrieve that, I need to add it to a
database table?

Cheers and sorry for the newbie questions.

[Rik Wasmus]

On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:49:23 +0100, Matthew <ma*****@spamki ller.comwrote:

Rik Wasmus emailed this:

I thought I posted :P

>On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:38:05 +0100, Rik Wasmus
<lu*********** *@hotmail.comwr ote:

>>On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:25:25 +0100, Matthew <ma*****@spamki ller.com>
wrote:
As far as I can tell the $_SESSION['uid'] variable should be created
automaticall y when session_start() is called. When I retrieve this
variable however it is empty.

Nope. Unless you name it that way.
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/ref.session.php >

The default 'session.name' is PHPSESSID, which you can normally will
NOT find in $_SESSION, but in one of the $_REQUEST arrays (and thus
obviously in $_REQUEST). $_COOKIE['PHPSESSID'] _if_ the session works
with cookies, optionally in the $_POST or $_GET array in case of a
transparant session id (which is not recommandable).

If you choose another name for a session, this should be done with
session_name( 'custom_name_of _session') BEFORE the call to
session_start ():
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/function.sessio n-name.php>

Thanks for both replies Rik.

Addendum: if you're just curious what your session id actually is, use
session_id().

What about the cookie, how do I retrieve that, I need to add it to a
database table?

Trust me, you don't. The value in $_COOKIE['PHPSESSID'] is exactly the one
given to you by session_id(). (Assuming you have the default PHPSESSID
session name)
--
Rik Wasmus

[Matthew]

Rik Wasmus emailed this:

On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:49:23 +0100, Matthew <ma*****@spamki ller.comwrote:

>Rik Wasmus emailed this:

I thought I posted :P

>>On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:38:05 +0100, Rik Wasmus
<lu********** **@hotmail.comw rote:
On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:25:25 +0100, Matthew <ma*****@spamki ller.com>
wrote:
As far as I can tell the $_SESSION['uid'] variable should be
created automatically when session_start() is called. When I
retrieve this variable however it is empty.

Nope. Unless you name it that way.
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/ref.session.php >

The default 'session.name' is PHPSESSID, which you can normally will
NOT find in $_SESSION, but in one of the $_REQUEST arrays (and thus
obviously in $_REQUEST). $_COOKIE['PHPSESSID'] _if_ the session
works with cookies, optionally in the $_POST or $_GET array in case
of a transparant session id (which is not recommandable).

If you choose another name for a session, this should be done with
session_name ('custom_name_o f_session') BEFORE the call to
session_star t():
<http://nl2.php.net/manual/en/function.sessio n-name.php>

Thanks for both replies Rik.

> Addendum: if you're just curious what your session id actually is, use
session_id().

What about the cookie, how do I retrieve that, I need to add it to a
database table?

Trust me, you don't. The value in $_COOKIE['PHPSESSID'] is exactly the
one given to you by session_id(). (Assuming you have the default
PHPSESSID session name)

Okay, thanks again. Hopefully I'll get to grips with all this tomorrow.
It's 22.00 in my TZ and I'm ready for a beer (or 2) before bed. Night and
thanks for the help.