Connecting to MS SQLSERVER 2005

[AndrewKKWalker]

I have been to it several times.
Is it possible to download the whole PHP manual, or is it only available on line in this form?
I hate reading manuals on a computer screen.
Much rather print it out, but not one link at a time.
Nothing wrong with the manual, just the wrong medium for me.
I look at a screen enough, can't be doing it in my spare time.
The problem is you cannot easily browse through it like a book, and I like books.
You have to know what you are looking for, and how it has been worded in the on line document.
Then you have to flip between screens or print out little chunks.
As an ongoing document I can see why it might be difficult to have it as a complete download, but it would be good all the same.
Don't get me wrong, it is an excellent and extensive resource, I just don't want to have to go to every hyperling to print it out.
Even if I could just get a print out of the MSSQL section in one go it would be nice, but one link at a time could drive you nuts (well me anyway)

I am sure others will disagree, but it's all subjective.

Anyway, I am off to print out lots of little sections now

[Wiedmann]

Is it possible to download the whole PHP manual,

The PHP manual is also available for download at "php.net".

[AndrewKKWalker]

Excellent. Thanks.

Actually I just started going through picking out the bits I think I need, and it would be impossible to
print it all out as one download. There is far too much interaction.
A manual needs explanation, and a how to do it example, and this has loads of examples.

Anyway, I'm now off to PHP.Net to get a download.

[AndrewKKWalker]

AT LAST

Thank goodness.

Finally after using the built in dll php5ts.dll, and the Core built in functions

mssql_connect
mssql_select_db
mssql_query
mssql_num_rows
mssql_fetch_array
mssql_close

everything is ok now.

I have functional connectivity and also data retrieval

Problem was, it all seemed simple at first.
Then it didn't work.
Then I went off to the Microsoft web site (BIG MISTAKE), and then spiralled into confusion.

Now connected ok and everything working!!!

Thanks all for your patience and help.

Best bit was, I didn't have to do anything to any config files,
and I didn't have to bang my head against solid objects.

I'm now off to explore all the other mssql functions and get some proper pages up and running,
and it's only just Wednesday!

[AndrewKKWalker]

Just when you thought it was finished I thought I'd raise this.

Having said in my initial posting, it was for 'MS SQL 2005' at the start and then used the Core php5ts.dll successfully it would appear,
I noticed the following addition to the PHP Manual for Microsoft SQL Server,
that was posted much earlier in this thread

http://de.php.net/manual/en/book.mssql.php

On this page at the end is an additional note

AA
11-Mar-2009 08:26
On windows, do not use this for mssql 2005 of later. The methods of access are deprecated.

Use the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Driver for PHP instead.
Current link is.
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2005 ... river.aspx

The implications of this statement are that I should NOT be using the Core Drivers with SQL SERVER 2005 (but so far they appear fine),
or is this just an opinion.

I have not managed to get the MS SQL Driver Functions or libraries working,
and quite frankly don't want to bother if I do NOT need to.

[AndrewKKWalker]

MS SQL Driver working as well now

I had another go at this and this time used thread safe version.
Maybe that is the issue, it cannot mix and match.

Anyway, it all worked, so now I have 2 options for connection to SQL SERVER 2005

[Wiedmann]

so now I have 2 options for connection to SQL SERVER 2005

There are 3 others

odbc, pdo_odbc or pdo_mssql. These 3 are also part of the XAMPP package.

[AndrewKKWalker]

OK thanks

I'll look into their relative merits and usage

[emilykate]

I have installed the updated extention from microsoft and still having isssues trying to connect to mssql server 2005

Did you at any stage get this message?

[Microsoft][ODBC Driver Manager] Data source name not found and no default driver specified

*edit

If so, what did you do?

My coworker managed to get this working with wamp ... i have xampp on my local environment. i have two xampp running parallel at the moment thinking my current xampp install was missing something or config I have set in the past. But it appears that it is not the case.