it is not uncommon for folder permissions to be lost or changed on a server.. a lot of things can cause it

if it was working and now you can not edit or write new data to the database it is most likely permissions

I would triple check permissions... see my articles if there is any doubt on how permissions are set

http://support.cjwsoft.com/code/moreinfo136-1.htm

http://support.cjwsoft.com/code/moreinfo56-1.htm

MySQL Database Setup

Use of MySQL is 100% unsupported as you can see from the site.
http://www.aspbanner.com/mysql.htm

Even still I recently had an encouter with an extremely Jerky person (read the thread above for more on that) and because of him I am adding this tutorial showing one way to set things up on a windows server using the official MySQL tools available.

Let me just say as well that there are 100's of 3rd party tools to work with MySQL databases and many ways to create the database and apply the database creation script. In the past it had to be done via the command line, but now there are a lot of visual tools you can do it with. Furthermore all hosting companies set MySQL up differently and give you access to varius interfaces to manage it which are all different, and that is primarily why I do not support it. How the hell could I support all those different interfaces many of which are totally custom?

The fact is 99% of the people that purchased ASPBanner to use with MySQL have done so without issue and love how it runs. Regardless here is how I set up a working MySQL database on a windows server proving it does indeed run with a MySQL database.

1st of all if you are setting up the server you need to download some things from http://www.mysql.com/ 
(btw: you local developers can install this on XP Pro as well if you like.)

For this article we are going to download the current non beta windows version of MySQL which is 5.0. ALso known as the Windows Essentials (x86) download. It's about 17 meg.

Because ASPBanner uses the MyODBC drivers (now called Connector/ODBC) to connect to the MySQL database you need to download those as well. (Our site flat out says this is required for MySQL use)

So I download those from here. http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/odbc/3.51.html
Version 3.51 has been the current version for a couple years now.
You want the windows driver install which is about 2 meg.

The two downloads should look like this.



Now, on the webserver you run the version 5 setup (mysql-essential-5.0.19-win32.msi) I will guide you through it step by setp.



Hit Next



I am going to choose typical for the sake of this article.

Hit Next



Hit Next



Wait for a bit



I skipped this part.



Choose to configure the MySQL Now

Hit Finish

Hit Next

I am going to choose Detailed Configuration



Since I am on a development machine for this install I am going to choose Developer Machine. For a Real Server choose one of the server options.



For this article I am going to choose Multifunctional Database: You may want to pick one of the other options. That is up to you. ASPBanner will work under any of the scenarios.



I am going to leave the location at its default

Hit Next



Since this is a development machine these options are fine.

Hit Next



These options are fine as well.

Hit Next



Standard is fine for my development machine.

Hit Next



I am going to choose both of these options. The 1st one is Important and should be enabled on a real server so MySQL always runs. The 2nd is not so important.

Hit Next



Set the "root" password and do not forget it. You will need it to manage your MySQL server. I do not advise creating an anonymous account unless it is a development server and you just do not care. Whether you enable root access from remote machines or not is up to you so do some research on that. For this articles needs I am not choosing it.

Hit Next



Hit Execute and wait



If all goes well you will see this. (I actually got an error message about not being able to connect... I went to to Administrative tools/services and restarted the MySQL service and hit retry which cured that... it probably only did this to me since I have installed this before.. new installs probably will not have any trouble)

Hit Finish

Your done.. You just installed the MySQL Server (TIP: its usally a good idea to reboot and make sure the MySQL servce is running by default)

Now, moving on..

Lets install the MyODBC drivers.. (now called Connector/ODBC)

This one is a bit of a no-brainer so I am not going to go into detail.
Just run (mysql-connector-odbc-3.51.12-win32.msi) and run through all the defaults until it is done.. Choose typical when that comes up.

Your done setting up MyODBC on the server. If its not your server I guess you don't need to worry about installing all of this as its your hosts job to do that.

If you are using version 6 CDOSYS is not supported. That is one reason why version 7 came out. If you want to rewrite the code to work with CDOSYS in version 6 that is something you need to sort out on your own as I do not support custimization to the code.

Terribly sorry, but we are not software-technical.  So can you please tell us exactly which folder the database would be in.

Thanks in advance.

Has anyone used the aspmail function to send and recieve emails from within your forms? If so what string did you use in the aspmail_host field in the connections database.

thank you
adam

Really, only you or your hosting company would know that information...

It is usally installed in the "_database" folder but the physical path including the drive letter  to that can only be known by asking your hosting company or by using server mappath to learn the path on you own.
http://www.powerasp.com/content/hintstips/physical-path.asp

That folder also needs special permissions. The permissions it needs are covered in the documentation for the software and generally only your hosting compnay can set those permissions.

The online support forums here are full of information and resources on correctly setting up data connections. It is ASP 101 and something you really need to have an understanding of.

I am happy to answer questions and try to help, but if you dont want to deal with it or can't we do offer installation services.

http://www.cjwsoft.com/installation_service.asp

Just as an FYI, I found the problem.  FP2003 has an "Optimize" feature that removes so called not needed spaces and comments from the pages.  It also completely screws up .ASP code.

I turned off the optimization feature and all the pages I was having problems with worked.  However, I would still recommend not using it too!

This is what "John Evans" of CJWSoft has to say on the matter...

"I think that’s pretty much impossible. If the server sees a .JPG or .JPEG extension why in the world would it go and try to read it or do anything with it.

I believe there may have been some issues with Outlook and Outlook express that made it look like a vbs script sent as an attachment was actually a JPG because someone found an exploit in those programs and it would appear as if double extension files were one thing when in fact they were not.

Having a real time virus scanner on the server (which any good host will) should also catch anything infected being built on the server drives as the file uploads. Always worked for me and I had a lot of people uploading ZIP files on winxptheme.com at one point. Many had viruses in them although I suspect it was totally innocent on the end users part. Some people didn’t even know they had a virus on their rig. 

Fact is anything is possible but I think chances of getting a virus or being hacked in some way from this sort of upload are really slim."

I have one file called asplistings.sql but I have license for ASPListings_auto and ASPListings_real_estate.  I really want to use the SQL server for both.  Please advise how?

Thank you.
Lance

Ok I used the following for the sql string.. is this correct?

SELECT COUNT(Album_ID) AS Alb_Count FROM " & tbl_label_albums & " WHERE (User_ID = " & CmdListUsers("User_ID") & " AND Album_Active = '-1'" & ")"

it is an email server/setting issue most likely

your email server probably requires outgoing authentication or something like that and that is why internal emails can be sent to but nothing else

its something along those lines

this will help you see the real error instead of the generic 500
http://support.cjwsoft.com/code/moreinfo11-1.htm

Now that I think about you may very well be able to use the existing login_form_inc.asp page

the header and footer files for the users area may be ok as well.

probably the smart thing to do is try your old ones and compare them to the new and see if everything you need is there. If not add it by looking at the source html and comparing.

All other files should definetly be replaced with the new.

If you bought ASPBanner Unlimited Version 7.3 Before August/10/2004 this file needs to be updated.

It fixes a bug where the JavaScript method is not properlly closing an html Image tag. It can cause other hyperlinks on your web page to link to the same place the banner links to. This does not always happen but this fix is the way the code should be so it is best to update it.

Copy this file into your ASPBanner folder over the existing file of the same name.

2004-08-10_125304_injectbanner.zip

Dear Christofer

I already have send you the details you asked me for. Please let me know if you have received

((TITLE EDITED BY ADMIN))


it would be nice if there was an option for login abuse, where a login account would be flagged if it logged in from x number of different IPs over a period of time. I know many have dynamic IPs, but there's got to be a balance between legitimate logins and logins that are 'shared' for the sake of saving money (I sell subscriptions), in the end costing me.

Maybe searching the first two number groups in the IP (example, 209.168.*.*), and if finding more than an admin specified number of logins per week from IPs with different first two groups, the record would be flagged or locked...

ahhh ok.. I was going to wait till morning to answer this one..

glad ya figured it out

Our knowledge base which is hosted at a remote location is protected by ASPProtect Full Version 6. I would like to allow our employee to access the knowledge base from within our internal network unchallenged. Is there a way which I can modify the code "check_user_inc.asp" to allow any one coming from say 10.1.X.X to access the site unchallenged?

Thanks,

Mo

The ASPProtect v7.x Documentation is now available as a download in windows ".chm" format. (needs to be viewed on a windows based machine that can read it) If you are using XP with Service Pack 2 follow the instructions below or you will not be able to view the help file.

Download Documentation

You should save this file and then open it.
Just opening it from download may not work and you will not be able to read it correctly.

Please continue to check the support forum threads for the most up to date documentation.


IMPORTANT
If your are using xp with service pack 2 there are some new security features that can block the access of help files you download. So as far as the ".chm" file goes.. you have to download it... right click on it...go to properties... then  choose unblock down in the lower right corner ...then you can open and view the file correctly

YES.. you need to edit your SWF file to link to the aspbanner system...

example.. the link may look something like this
http://banserver.powerasp.com/aspbanner/banner_redirect.asp? Banner_ID=60

of course you need to put in the right information for your site and whatever banner ID it is in your system

Like it says above.. if you save the new banner at least once and then come back to edit that link will be generated for you at the bottom of the edit page.

then when your flash banner is clicked on it will go track the click and then send them to the "link_url" specified for that banner when you edited it.
(you need to enter the final destination url there if you want that to work)

hi,

no.., not unless you come up with some clever way to handle it on your own
http://support.cjwsoft.com/code/code_info.asp?TID=369&KW =https
read 2nd to last post

The way ASPProtect ships it is designed to either be in http:// the whole time or https:// the whole time.... (there curently is no solution from me allowing going from one to the other)

sorry

Hi,

I am using the upload_post_VBSCRIPT.asp to upload the pictures. My concern is the security of this. For instance I've seen some sites get hacked by a user uploading a file (going through the same process) and ending up crashing the entire server.

I tried adding .jpeg to the end of a text file (filename.vbs.jpeg) and then uploading it, and the file was actually uploaded. Is this a potential problem?

Thanks

S

Hi

I have purchased the Standard version about a week ago. Its a great script.

I have been able to select  uploaded banners from day one... but just now i dont seem to be able to select...

i know its hard for you to trouble shoot with such little information.. but i had to ask..

Should i maybe upload the site again ( but same the database first)?

regards

Domenic

Sydney, Australia

sorry, I am guilty of being very tired and didnt read your message fully.

I know this forum area is called "database connection issues" but it is only meant for generic issues.

Issues specific to a particular application need to go in that applications area in the forum. It keeps the forums more organized and helps other people fnd help later on.

So please post in the correct area.
I will answer this question soon. I have to do something 1st though.

so, on control_pics.asp where you see

<% =TempDesc %>

you could try doing this instead

<% =Replace(TempDesc,"&nbsp","") %>

Chris,

Another question on V7.  I set up all the paths as required for the extras like user pics and exports on my site.  They were working fine.  I created an export, then as you recommend, deleted the file on the site to ensure it doesn't get in the wrong hands.  I did this a few times to test it after a number of people logged in.

About 2 days later, I went to do it again and the system came back with an error saying the directory didn't exist.  I know it did because I created it and it worked fine.  I then created the directory again thinking I was losing it.

Then today, I went to do another export and the directory is gone again!  Can you help me understand why this might be happening?  I am the only one with FTP access to the site so there is no way that it could be someone else doing it.  The error I get is:

Microsoft VBScript runtime error '800a004c'

Path not found

/password_admin/export.asp, line 78

Thanks,
Dave

Hi,

I have just one quick question, I know this works with Paypal but does this work with Merchant Account?

How difficult it is to make it workable with Merchant account? I appreciate your answer.

Thanks.

Using "Email Authentication" as a registration option you cannot do that. There is no possible way I know of to have a delay on the authentication email like that. Also that method is not intended to involve any sort of manual registration like what you are doing.

Because you want to review people manually you need to change to registration process to "manual" and then send the email out manually from the users screen after making a user active.

no, that only applies to random pictures and stats..

The issues you are talking about usually relate to issues created by switching back and forth between a local install and a live server install and not being careful about changing the paths in the settings depending on where you are running it from.

For example.. it trying to use a url at the server level that is only valid when you are running it locally

I would highly suggest setting up a DSN-LESS connection.

That system dsn is most likely the source of your trouble It is probably that or permissions are still not correct.

I can't tell you how many people have had trouble with system dsn's and finally set up a dsn-less connection and everything then worked as it should.

The location of your database is fine as long as permissions are truly set correctly like I mentioned.

Also, be sure you are setting the database type correctly in the dataconn_inc.asp file. That can cause problems as well as some people have been known to delete that line.

See my articles...

http://support.cjwsoft.com/code/moreinfo9-1.htm

http://support.cjwsoft.com/code/moreinfo136-1.htm

http://support.cjwsoft.com/code/code_info.asp?TID=40&KW= system+dsn

Hi Chris

I've just recently purchased ASPBanner and have been testing out serving multiple Tradedoubler code using the IFRAME method. I have four types of banner on the same page refreshing every 15 seconds. (this will change on the live site) 

I've been leaving the IE page up for x hours and coming back to find between 1-3 of the banners has stopped and in place is an "internal error".

BannerZone=3&Refresh=15|40|800a0046|Permission_denied 80

I thought it may have been the SQL permissions from one of your other messages so I gave the banner user the DataReader and DataWriter permissions.

Its still happening and around the same time in the logs theres a couple of file not found errors.

BannerZone=2&Refresh=15|23|800a0035|File_not_found 80 - 80.65.240.159

BannerZone=4&Refresh=15|25|800a0035|File_not_found 80 - 80.65.240.159

BannerZone=1&Refresh=15|25|800a0035|File_not_found 80 - 80.65.240.159

Any ideas? I'm hoping its not the server as there is currently only 2 sites on it and this is pretty much the only traffic.

Thanks

Colin

Please Note : ASPProtect v7.x has a new feature called groups that is much more powerful than access levels. Access Levels were left in the product primarily for existing customers that upgrade to the new version so they do not need to make a lot of changes to their site if they were using Access Levels.


More On Access Levels

Again, Examples of managing Access Levels are provided in the "multiple_access_levels" folder included in the root of the Password System. Look at the source code of the ASP pages in that folder with a text editor to see the working code.

Access Levels and how they work can be re-coded to work in many different ways. However, you have to be a good ASP developer to make changes to it. Here is some information on how they work by default.

In the "check_user_inc.asp" that comes in the root of this system Access Levels work as follows.

Level 1 has Access to - Level 1
Level 2 has Access to - Level 1,2
Level 3 has Access to - Level 1,2,3
Level 4 has Access to - Level 1,2,3,4
Level 5 has Access to - Level 1,2,3,4,5
Level 6 has Access to - Level 1,2,3,4,5,6
Level 7 has Access to - Level 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Level 8 has Access to - Level 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
ADMIN has Access to - Level 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,ADMIN

Here is some additional info..

If the access levels are too restrictive you can ignore them all together and create your own totally custom solutions.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the things you can do.

Ok... so if you want to be really specific about what each user can see and
can't .. here's an example of what you can do

Don't use the access levels before the include file..
Don't worry about what you set a user to in the admin area since the access levels won't be used.

Do something like this..

Every time a user logs in session variables are set that you can access at
any time.. thus allowing you to know who they are.

So you could do something like this...


<%@ LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" %>

<!--#INCLUDE FILE="check_user_inc.asp"-->

<%
If Session("USERNAME") = "bob1267" or Session("USERNAME") = "carl45" or Session("ADMIN") = "True" Then
Session("PASSWORDACCESS") = "Yes"
Else
Session("PASSWORDACCESS") = "No"
Response.Redirect(Request.ServerVariables("script_name"))
End If
%>

The following URL explains what Redirects are.
http://www.powerasp.com/content/code-snippets/redirects.asp

That would in effect create totally custom access levels.. but you would
have to do it manually for each user.

You can also do things like this after a person logs in

Show custom html to any specific user based on either their username or
access level ... like so

say there was a menu and a certain link should only show up to username
"paully67"

you could do something like this


<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>


<br>
<a href="main.asp">Home Page</a>
<%
If Session("USERNAME") = "paully67" Then
%>
<br>
<a href="paullys_page.asp">Pauls Stats Page</a>
<%
End If
%>
<br>
<a href="links.asp">Links Page</a>

</BODY>
</HTML>

Or you can show custom HTML or links based on Access Levels or any other info.

You can do just about anything with if-then statements and
using the built in vbscript functions..

Hopefully this info will help to give you some ideas...

Bottom line is you have to do some work within your site to make the Access Level system really come alive.