MAMP Pro has a lot of nice features. However, this means it changes things up a bit. How you make a connection with Navicat is one such example. So here is a quick helper post get Navicat up and running with MAMP PRo.

1) Add your information to the “Connection Properties” Pane as you normally would.

2) Click on the “Advanced” pane and check the box next to “Use socket for localhost connection.”

3) Then for the “Socket File Path” field type the following path.

/Applications/MAMP/tmp/mysql/mysql.sock

The “Advanced” Pane should now look like this:

Click “OK” and you should be all set.

I hope this helps. Please feel free to make comments.

Tags: Drupal 6, MAMP, MySQL by admin
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I have been working on a project on the Drupal 6 platform that requires the web application to recognize dynamically created sub-domains so the functionality of the database can be adjusted according to what sub-domain is in the current URL.

To get Drupal 6 to do this, I am creating a custom module. One of the things I have learned about creating a custom module in Drupal 6 is the implementation of the module’s “install” file.

If you create a module named say,  my_module.module then the module’s install file name would be  my_module.install and will reside in the directory named my_module located at….

my_site/sites/all/modules/my_module

Drupal 6 Module Install File Documentation

The  .install file will be run by Drupal 6 the 1st time my_module has been enabled. The my_module.install file will then be used to run setup procedures as stipulated by your module. The most common task for the my_module.install file to perform is creating database tables and fields. There is no special syntax for the install file. It is simply a PHP file with a .install extension to properly identify it to the Drupal 6 platform.

There is special function used in the .install file called hook_schema(). Where hook would be replaced by the name of your module. For example, if  the module you create is named my_module, then you would create a PHP file and name it my_module.install. Inside that file you will create a function named  my_module_schema(). The my_module_schema() function is used to create arrays representingthe database tables you wish the module to create in the Drupal database. You can see how this works here.

Why do it this way?

Once you build the Drupal API Schema there is no more need for  separate CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE statements on each database. As a module developer, you only need to create a schema structure and/or use the Drupal Schema API functions, and Drupal takes care of the rest. This greatly simplifies  writing install and update functions.

This way of creating the module install files also allows for support in multiple database platforms.

According to Drupal’s Blog this also allows for “Several advanced capabilities, such as incremental database updates, a simple and consistent CRUD API, form scaffolding, simpler CCK and Views, schema and data validation, become much easier to implement in future enhancements.”

Schema Data Structure Documentation by Drupal

Tags: Drupal 6, MySQL, PHP, Web Design by admin
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I havn’t posted in few weeks because I have been very busy with several projects. One of the projects I am particularly excited about the CPI panel. The Cpi panel is new “back end” for LoveFineArt.com. IT used to be that each and every product would take about 20 minuets to enter. With this new panel (incorperating secure AJAX), The products can be entered as fast as the site owner can type!

Here is a screen shot of the new back end.

I have also been busy learning the Drupal platform. AS I become more knowledgeable there will be posts and perhaps a special section on this blog devoted to cool new drupalistic methods and problem solving.

AS always, I invite you to leave a coment or sugestion or critisizm.

Tags: AJAX, CSS, MySQL, Web Design by admin
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One of the most common web security problems is SQL Injection. As the name implies, SQL injections works by introducing malicious SQL code where it doesn’t belong. Since it is SQL code you could probably guess that the attacker “injects” his poison via database queries. Web developers often pass some sort of variable to their database queries. Very common are variables that are influenced by user input. User input, to variable, then to query,- get it? So, there is a need for a way of eliminating the user’s ability to manipulate the variable in any way that could effect the query.

What Happens With SQL Injection

By passing an unexpected string of code into a user input, such a form, an attacker send damaging code that causes an otherwise good query to go haywire. For example: [Read more →]

Tags: AJAX, MySQL, PHP, Web Security by admin
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