Robert’s Rants & Rationalizations

The following is a generalization of how easy, fun, frustrating, rewarding and empowering to control your own space on the internet by using an ISP, DreamHost which I have used since 2004. This blog is hosted on DreamHost.

First, my tools are Safari and Firefox for browsing on the Mac. For the PC, I use Firefox and IE7.

Second, for text editing (mainly config files, etc.), I use TextMate and TextWrangler.

Third, for file transfers (FTP), I use Fetch on the Mac and FileZilla on the PC (I just found out that there is a Mac version! FileZilla is open-source while Fetch is a commercial application).

Next, I search for an open-source script, and in this case, I want it to be in the programming language of PHP. The database (not all scripts require a database!) is MySQL

Where do I find these scripts? I search through script respositories like Hotscripts. A good, small starter script could be a guestbook. A guestbook script is easy. Some need a database, and others don’t. You will have to determine which one will work on your hosted site based on the services in your hosted package.

While reviewing the script’s features, also look for the script’s requirements on the server it will reside! DreamHost is a co-hosting service which limits your ability to configure your environment! For security reasons, DreamHost doesn’t enable ‘allow_url_fopen‘ which can affect part or the entire function of the script. So, read the requirements.

I download the script to my download folder, and when the download is completed, Isimply double-click on the file to unzip the file (PC users need to ensure that PKUnZip is installed…the Mac has the utility already installed with the shipped OS.)

Now, I use my FTP software to log into my site and create a new directory within my domain’s web directory to store the script’s various files. I set the FTP software to ‘automatic’ transfer mode, a mode which will automatically detect the file type and use the ASCII or BINARY mode…THIS IS IMPORTANT!

Also, read the ‘readme.txt’ or similar file that is with the unziped, open-source software. It will tell you how to install the software package, or, at least, it will help you find out where things are so you can figure it out yourself!

Now, I have to create the database and account that can access the tables by the script. Dreamhost’s Web Panel makes this process VERY, VERY EASY! Log in and go to “Manage MySQL” and go to the bottom to “Create a new MySQL database.” I come up with information about the database (‘eticket’ for the database name; ID and password for the script to gain authorized access to the database and its tables; and, which domain, if you have more than one, to assign the database to or on.) that only I and the script knows.

There are other issues that you need to pay attention to like the requirements which includes the minimum requirements of the PHP and MySQL, etc. Dreamhost allows you to alter your domain for these items, which is convenience.

Once all the files are uploaded, the readme document will usually tell you which directory and file to direct your browser towards to start the install process. Usually, the installer will have you provide the database name, ID, password, and the database’s hostname, commonly called ‘the connection information.’ Some scripts require you to edit the configuration (‘config.php’) file with that information. There is no standard on how all these available scripts are installed.

When the installation is completed, the script is ready.

Now, you have to learn the program! I leave you to that!

If you are like me, one who loves open-source/GPL software, the internet is my playground. Yet, I’m not a programmer, so the hills are higher and tougher to conquer than the educated/experienced/skilled climber. I can a lot of things, but I’m not a master of any. It’s a paraphrase that describes me very well.

So, I got this idea to add the country and city labels to visitor info in some web reports I’m scripting. I can get and find country info via IP, but city information appears to be something you must buy for around $20US, the lowest I’ve see in one hour of googling.

I, instead, just go with one of the Country GEOIP dbs. But, I have a problem, I can’t read the entire list in Excel. So, I google for a script to import a ‘CSV file into MySQL’ and get a decent list. A free membership-only requirement to download a script ends up not working! So, I try more and find something in a forum at http://www.modwest.com/help/kb6-253.html, and IT WORKS! Checking the data via PHPMyAdmin (my fav) shows ‘success’!

Basically, copy the code, replace one or two items for your situation, add the database connection info before the clipped info and make the file a php doc. Now, call it via the web browser!

I am happy! Now, I’m putting it aside for now while I work on other things…I hope I get to it soon, but as you and I know, priorities change with every tock of the clock.

BTW, when I changed from Filemaker to MySQL, I paid something like $49US for a kludgy series of steps to convert the native FMPro data to get it into MySql. If I had any brain back then, I would have simply used a search engine and did what I did for this issue! Damn!

Maybe the last entry of this situation…maybe.

The CEO, Claude desjardins wrote:
On 4/11/07 11:23 PM, “Claude Desjardins” wrote:

> Dear Robert
>
> I have sent a reply to your previous request which obviously didn’t got
> through. I hope this one will find its way.
>
> As stated in my previous answer, I’m sorry about the delay in my replies
> – I assume you know my role which is the reasons behind the delay.
>
> Concerning your “situation” with the PHPizabi support system, I can only
> say that peoples who are in charge of answering mails are generally good
> helpers and only rare cases escalates up to this level. Please bare in
> mind that the PHPizabi support team is constituted of a very small group
> of volunteers and that the time they spend on the support activity is
> shaved off their own spare time and that they have numerous requests to
> cover every day. At this point, you may reiterate your support request
> through the same system – you will be assigned another helper.
>
> As for your refund request, providing the licensing structure and
> e.u.l.a., PHPizabi licenses and modules are not refundable unless 1. The
> refund concerns a module (not a hack, nor a license), and 2. The module
> is found to be defective or fraudulent. – Please refer to the PHPizabi
> Online (PIO) EULA & Terms for more details on this matter.
>
> Please feel free to contact me if you have more questions.
>
> Kind regards
> Claude Desjardins
> CEO – Real!ty Medias

Read the whole story, below.

The internet now gives us an avenue to let others know what’s happening out here! -rkim

As of March 23, 2007, I have dropped the Phpizabi.net (Claude Desjardins) software due to a BAD attitude support person (Rubberduck, aka “Dave”) and absolutely NO RESPONSE from Phpizabi Support, and to compound that, THEY WILL NOT REFUND MY DEBRANDING MONEY!!! I highly recommend osDATE from Tufat.com.-rkim

I found, downloaded and installed PHPizabi’s dating app (PHP/MySQL backend). I was so impressed that I paid for the removal of the copyrights on the output pages (keeping the copyrights in the code).

Then, I wanted a few more features. I round an RSS module and paid a very, very reasonable fee of around $5.00US. In the readme, the author doesn’t support it, but PHPizabi Support does. I contacted them when it wasn’t working.

I sent the first email to support@phpizabi.net on 2/19/07, and received a reply the next day, 2/20…

On 2/20/07 3:36 AM, “support@phpizabi.net” wrote:

Dear Robert A. Kim
Thank you for your interest in PHPizabi

can you please set me up an account with access to admin so i can check your settings ?

Kind regards
RubberDuck
PHPizabi, Real!ty Medias

I replied the same day with a new account with admin rights…

RubberDuck,

URL: http://www.oneononeconnection.com
ID: RubberDuck
PWD: **********

…with admin rights

Also, can you check the “ghost” option within the Users Control. I get error “Unable to load users/theme/default/templates/GLOBALS/swap_mode.tpl”

Also, to check my environment… http://www.oneononeconnection.com/phpinfo.php

Thanks,
Robert A. Kim
San Jose, CA

Days past without an update. I checked the last time the account was used. It was 2/21, the day after sending the login information. I thought it was curious that nothing was sent to me after a few days had past after RubberDuck had visited the site. So, I send a follow-up email on 2/22…

Any ideas what the problem is?

Robert

I hear nothing by 2/25, so I sent another email to support@phpizabi.net.

Any suggestions where I should look?

Any response would be welcome.

Robert
Oneononeconnection.com

And, I resent the previous email on 2/26. I heard nothing, so I thought I’d send the next message from one of my other addresses with the thought that they aren’t going to support me and they are just avoiding any email with my regular email address. I sent the email from my everynowandthen.com domain…

Subject: Given up on a paying customer at http://www.oneononeconnection.com/?

RubberDuck, et al,

What is the status on my situation?

My account on PHPizabi Online is ‘#####’ which is also the account I paid for a license of one mod and the “Interface Branding Removal License”.  RubberDuck was given an admin account on my site to investigate the rssi mod that s/he wrote.  One visit and no response since 2/21/07.

Please update me with your status.

Robert Kim

Check out what happened next! Three…two…one! BLAST OFF!!!

Dear Help Desk
Thank you for your interest in PHPizabi

I have no idea what you’re talking about. and your accusation that you gave ME directly your admin information and i didnt help you with my RSS mod bothers me. I DIDNT write an RSS mod! I then searched my email to make sure i didnt just miss your email, and i have no email from you in my records. You may have emailed this email here, which goes to many people to handle, not just Myself. You can contact me directly at ******@phpizabi.net and kindly fill me in on whats your problem.

Kind regards
RubberDuck
PHPizabi, Real!ty Medias

What would you do, now?

What I did was reply in a very calm mannered email like have been trained to do (I spent five years in a level 2 help desk environment). I replied with all my previous emails as attachments. After a few minutes, I had a strong feeling to state where he was adamantly incorrect in his statements.

I sent the following…

1. I did not give you direct access to my admin information. Correct! I GAVE you an account with admin privileges. WHERE did I state you were given ‘direct’ access to my admin account? (see the email below!)
2. Okay, You did NOT write the mod…give me a break and state so in a calm and prejudiced tone! The support by PHPizabi supports it, and you responded with your name, so confusion from that regarding the software support can be expected. In a court of law, your statement would end up meaning nothing…no point to you or a point to me…nothing.
3. Since you stated that many people provide support (and probably access the support email address) is fine, but you don’t provide “support” any justice by providing the number one rule of customer support, provide support by being positive, honest, and never say ‘no’ (the latter doesn’t apply, but it is often forgotten and causes many bad feelings toward (tech) support personnel. As a support person, you should provide support. For me, you are not.

• You respond unprofessionally.
• You “accuse” me of incorrect actions.
• You don’t read the email, which I sent, correctly by having your emotions overcome yourself and start to fog your judgement.
• You don’t provide me any support.
• And, you didn’t properly (obviously) research your issue tracker (or do you just use email archiving?) on the item…
• Oh, and you didn’t (obviously) talk to all, repeat, all the other support personnel.
• You made another mistake by trying to intimate me.

And, it’s March 3, and no response from PHPizabi Support or anyone at that place…

http://ww2.phpizabi.net/index.php?L=community.adminboard

I am leaning to remove the software, try, repeat, try to get a refund for the debranding license, and spread my experience throughout the ‘net.

Update:
On March 11, I emailed support@phpizabi.net requesting a refund of the Branding Removal License of $46.47US. With no reponse in 18 hours, auto-reply or anything, I sent another email to the same and cc’d Claude Desjardins, CEO…

Reality Medias
Claude Desjardins (feedback@realitymedias.com)
+1.8196927897
Fax: +1.8196927897
100 rue Montplaisir
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec G8T 2Z6
CA

So, I wait…

robert

BTW, check out Tufat’s osDate GPL software!

UPDATE:
(not really, and that’s due to Claude Desjardins’ Reality Medias and PHPizabi.net/com/whatever…)

March 21, 2007: With no response to this date(!), I resent the previous emails to “support@phpizabi.net” and “feedback@realitymedias.com” .

This is a sad tell of a person and those he hires or collaborates with. Definitely a flag is raised when a company is incapable of responding in an appropriate manner.

On March 21, 2007, I found this blogger by the name of Chris Rutherford (I can only vouch for what I say, not what others say): http://chris.instantspot.com/blog/index.cfm/2006/12/15/PHPizabi-got-jacked

March 23, 2007, I have retired the phpizabi software. At this point, I can’t recommend or trust anyone that works for or with Claude Desjardins.

Brim-Project (http://www.brim-project.org/) is a self-described as…

“Brim (formerly known as Booby) is an application suite that allows you to manage your personal items online.

Brim is written in PHP and is an opensource Webbased Information Manager, with support for bookmarks, calendar, contacts, notes, news, passwords and tasks and more.”

The version I was trying was v1.3 when I really thought I was downloading 2.x beta.

After installing it, it worked very well. And, the next day, I load it up in Safari, and I find I can’t get the bookmarks to display. I try Firefox (both using Mac OS X), and it responds the same. I have little patience for these problems. It’s coming off the server and I’ll try SideBar, if I can remember where it is!

Robert