Problem: compile php with PDFLIB and PHP 5.1.6

[CoolMike]

Hi

I'm using PHP 5.1.6 and need the PDFLIB functionality. Therefore I marked the tickbox PDFlib in WHM and recompiled PHP.

In phpinfo I can see, PHP is configured with pdflib:

'./configure' '--with-apxs=/usr/local/apache/bin/apxs' '--prefix=/usr/local' '--with-xml' '--enable-bcmath' '--enable-calendar' '--enable-ftp' '--with-gd' '--with-jpeg-dir=/usr/local' '--with-png-dir=/usr' '--with-xpm-dir=/usr/X11R6' '--enable-magic-quotes' '--with-mysqli' '--with-mysql=/usr' '--enable-discard-path' '--with-pdflib' '--with-pear' '--enable-sockets' '--enable-track-vars' '--with-ttf' '--with-freetype-dir=/usr' '--enable-gd-native-ttf' '--with-zip' '--with-zlib'

But there is no section in phpinfo for PDF below. On another server with pdflib, I can see this section.

When I try the testscript fom php.net for PHP5 I get this error message:

Fatal error: Class 'PDFlib' not found in /home/username/public_html/test.php on line 4

Can someonw help me with this problem? Or is PDFlib not working with this PHP version?

Michael

[MZmuda]

Hi, Mike,

I too had MASSIVE problems installing PDFLib. PLEASE DON'T do anything I say in this message without knowing that I was taking multiple stabs in the dark, hoping SOMETHING would work out.

First, get into contact with the guys at PDFLib. They DO offer some good support.

Second, I found (and this is weird,) that doing the Apache update and turning on PDFLib (Free) (the free version of PDFLib) FIRST greased the wheels for a later PDFLib Pro (or whatever the paid-for version is called) installation. (I don't know how this worked - I had PDFLib all installed and everything, and it didn't work. Then I installed the Free PDFLib version, and shazam, the pro version materialized. I still can't figure it out.)

I'm migrating to a new box as we speak, and based on my last experience installing PDFLib, I've decided to hire a server management company to do it for me. The $30-$100 that you're going to spend will save you LOTS of time and aggrivation later. (The last time, it took me about a week [Really - took me about 7 days to get it installed]) Mind you, I was "up" at 4 and 5 am to get "real-time" tech support from PDFLib in Europe, so I could ask a question, get an answer, try it, and ask another question MULTIPLE TIMES in a day - something that is a little hard if you're e-mailing them at... say... 1pm Pacific time! (Actually, their support WAS pretty good, and even got back to me at what would have been around 11pm their time, so...)

Good luck installing it - Let me know how it goes for you!

- Mike Z.

[CoolMike]

Hi

Thanks for the information, did you also use the PHP version 5.1.6? Because I installed pdflib already several times with PHP4 and never had problems.

Michael

[MZmuda]

Hi, Mike,

I think when I did it, it was version 5.1.4 or something like that. (It was about 4-5 months ago.)

Never tried it in PHP 4.x.

Let me know if / how you get it installed -

- Mike Z.

[bigpy2003]

To get it working with PHP 5, I did the following:

I downloaded PDFLib Lite from the PDFLib website. I then extracted it. After extracting it, I did the following:
./configure
make
make install

After that was done, it was then installed. Now, time to install the php lib.

I did:
pecl install pdflib

It'll ask where your copy of pdflib is installed, I put: /usr/

It then builds the extension, puts it in a directory (can find it through the output) and all you need to do is copy it to your php extension dir and modify your php.ini to load the module.

[MZmuda]

Cool - Thanks, Bigpy,

I eventually ended up hiring a support company to do it for me - It's all installed now, but what a pain!!!

I remember doing something like that (installing the lite version then the regular version over it, which, for some reason, seems to work just fine...) but I will remember YOUR notes for the next time I have to install it on a new server.

Thanks again -

Z

[DannyM]

Which company did you hire?

[Spiral]

I eventually ended up hiring a support company to do it for me - It's all installed now, but what a pain!!!

There was a waste of money for you!

Compiling PDFLIB into PHP 4/5 is incredibly brainless simple!

That is one item easy enough that I probably wouldn't even bother to charge you.

[DannyM]

Well, if so, why don't you tell us how to do it :-)
As you can see using the search on the forum, there are more people having trouble with this.

[MZmuda]

There was a waste of money for you!

Compiling PDFLIB into PHP 4/5 is incredibly brainless simple!

That is one item easy enough that I probably wouldn't even bother to charge you.

Good to know, Spiral!

Honestly, it was just such a pain... my "semi-managed" support company even tossed the problem over to CPanel support, and they spent a good couple of hours (5?) and couldn't get it installed...

I think I got it installed by doing **SOMETHING** like

1) Install PDFLIB (full ver) per the instructions in the included documentation.
- [phpinfo shows no pdf support installed]

2) Install PDFLIB Lite via CPanel (or Cpan)
- [phpinfo shows pdflib lite installed]

3) Install PDFLIB (full ver) again per the instructions in the included docs...
- [phpinfo shows pdflib full version installed]

Go figure...

And yes, I tried Lite then full, and nada - no dice.

So, yes... I will DEFINITELY give you a call the next time my servers need a new install..

(Oh - and whenever they release a new version, it's a new install all over again! YAY!!!)

Ok - 'nuff fer me...

Ciao -

Z

[CoolMike]

Looks like this is still not working. I have to install it again, but still not working. Is there any good installation instruction to install pdflib with php5?

[bigpy2003]

Looks like this is still not working. I have to install it again, but still not working. Is there any good installation instruction to install pdflib with php5?

Maybe my blog might help. http://justletitflow.com/blog/pdflib-and-php-5/

[MZmuda]

That's a really good blog! I may have to refer to it when I upgrade to the latest version of the pro version of PDFLib.

Thanks!

- Z

[justhost]

Hello all

I am curious if all of you have purchased a licence to run PDFLib on your servers? I would like to install and activate it however, I do not want to pay the hundred s the licence costs?

Anyone?

[bigpy2003]

depends, if you just want to create pdf's, then you can use their free one...as long as it's not for commercial use...im sure you know that though.