install gd lib (newb)

[Pig]

I use PHP on a casual level, but only for writing code. I have never installed or configured PHP. I'm working with a PHP/MySql program, but it requires that gd lib, and it's dependecies be installed. The server admin will allow it to be on the server, but won't do it himself.

I'm a total newb at this, and don't know where to start. I dl'ed gd lib, but the documentation there, and EVERYTHING I find online assumes I understand the basics of how to do it. Does anyone know a good reference that will start at ground level? I've searched all over php.net and google, and all I can come up with are strings of text that I'm supposed to do something with, I have no idea what.

I greatly appreciate any help you can give.

==============================================

System Linux egret.webminders.com 2.4.14 #2 SMP Fri Nov 16 23:47:02 CST 2001 i686 unknown
Build Date Feb 28 2002
Configure Command './configure' '--with-mysql' '--with-apache=../apache_1.3.19' '--enable-track-vars'
Server API Apache
Virtual Directory Support disabled
Configuration File (php.ini) Path /usr/local/ZendOptmizer/etc/php.ini
ZEND_DEBUG disabled
Thread Safety disabled

[largo]

Hi,

GD support needs to compiled into PHP, which means PHP needs to be re-configured once GD has been installed on the base system.

What distribution of linux are you running. Start by:

1) looking for GD packages* for your distro.
2) Download and install**.

* If you cannot find packages, download the source and install it.

** The config example (below) assumes png, jpg and freetype are present and installed / linked correctly.

3) Re-configure php and add the following lines:

--with-gd=/path \
--with-freetype-dir=/path-to-dir \
--enable-gd-native-ttf \
--enable-gd-imgstrttf \
--with-jpeg-dir=/path-to-dir \
--with-png-dir=/path-to-dir \
--whatever-else-you-need

Your system administrator will obviously have to give you root access to get this done.

It's recommended you get packages as GD install gets a bit hairy if things go wrong. It's not simply a matter of re-installing it, you have to completely remove the existing install, tracking what files went where.

good luck.

-m.

[Pig]

Thanks for the info, but I probably wasn't clear. I don't have a clue about how to even install PHP, or anything. I don't even know the first step. I do not have root access. I have ftp access to my domains' section of the server with lib, cgi-bin folders, etc, and phpmyadmin.

I'm sure I can get it worked out once I have an idea of what the steps are, but I can't find anything that tells me what specifically I have to do. For instance, you say to install GD, but I have no clue what the steps are to do this.

Thank you for taking the time answer my newb questions.

[largo]

Is there a reason you chose Pig as your handle? I find it difficult to address people as pig :)
--

Unfortunately, there is little you can do here without root access.

One (bad) solution is looking for a compiled php binary which packs GD support and running it from your cgi-bin folder, again, you need GD installed correctly in the path the cgi-bin library will be linking to. And again, you need root access to install gd to the system.

Your admin is unfortunately the only one who can help you here, unless of course I am missing some other method to get this running.

I remember vservers (a hosting company) had an imap library for php compiled as cgi (the default one didn't pack the functions) and that was the only solution available at the time. Can anyone else think of a non-root (ftp access only) solution here?

-m.

[Pig]

I've used Pig forever. Long story, and not very interesting I'm afraid. Have to have root eh? I'll get back with the admin, and bash some heads... or something.

Thanks for clarifying that. I'll check back later to see if anyone else has an idea. I dunno ihow well the cgi bin would work, since I'm working with a prebuilt program. I can probably find where it lists the path though, and modify it.

Thanks for the help