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mssql_bind> <msql
Last updated: Wed, 09 Mar 2005

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LXXVII. Microsoft SQL Server Functions

Introduction

These functions allow you to access MS SQL Server database.

Requirements

Requirements for Win32 platforms.

The extension requires the MS SQL Client Tools to be installed on the system where PHP is installed. The Client Tools can be installed from the MS SQL Server CD or by copying ntwdblib.dll from \winnt\system32 on the server to \winnt\system32 on the PHP box. Copying ntwdblib.dll will only provide access. Configuration of the client will require installation of all the tools.

Requirements for Unix/Linux platforms.

To use the MSSQL extension on Unix/Linux, you first need to build and install the FreeTDS library. Source code and installation instructions are available at the FreeTDS home page: http://www.freetds.org/

Huomaa: In Windows, the DBLIB from Microsoft is used. Functions that return a column name are based on the dbcolname() function in DBLIB. DBLIB was developed for SQL Server 6.x where the max identifier length is 30. For this reason, the maximum column length is 30 characters. On platforms where FreeTDS is used (Linux), this is not a problem.

Installation

The MSSQL extension is enabled by adding extension=php_mssql.dll to php.ini.

To get these functions to work, you have to compile PHP with --with-mssql[=DIR], where DIR is the FreeTDS install prefix. And FreeTDS should be compiled using --enable-msdblib.

Runtime Configuration

The behaviour of these functions is affected by settings in php.ini.

Taulu 1. MS SQL Server configuration options

NameDefaultChangeableChangelog
mssql.allow_persistent"1"PHP_INI_SYSTEM 
mssql.max_persistent"-1"PHP_INI_SYSTEM 
mssql.max_links"-1"PHP_INI_SYSTEM 
mssql.min_error_severity"10"PHP_INI_ALL 
mssql.min_message_severity"10"PHP_INI_ALL 
mssql.compatability_mode"0"PHP_INI_ALL 
mssql.connect_timeout"5"PHP_INI_ALL 
mssql.timeout"60"PHP_INI_ALLAvailable since PHP 4.1.0.
mssql.textsize"-1"PHP_INI_ALL 
mssql.textlimit"-1"PHP_INI_ALL 
mssql.batchsize"0"PHP_INI_ALLAvailable since PHP 4.0.4.
mssql.datetimeconvert"1"PHP_INI_ALLAvailable since PHP 4.2.0.
mssql.secure_connection"0"PHP_INI_SYSTEMAvailable since PHP 4.3.0.
mssql.max_procs"25"PHP_INI_ALLAvailable since PHP 4.3.0.
For further details and definitions of the PHP_INI_* constants, see the Liite H.

Resource Types

Predefined Constants

The constants below are defined by this extension, and will only be available when the extension has either been compiled into PHP or dynamically loaded at runtime.

MSSQL_ASSOC (integer)

MSSQL_NUM (integer)

MSSQL_BOTH (integer)

SQLTEXT (integer)

SQLVARCHAR (integer)

SQLCHAR (integer)

SQLINT1 (integer)

SQLINT2 (integer)

SQLINT4 (integer)

SQLBIT (integer)

SQLFLT8 (integer)

Sisällys
mssql_bind --  Adds a parameter to a stored procedure or a remote stored procedure
mssql_close -- Close MS SQL Server connection
mssql_connect -- Open MS SQL server connection
mssql_data_seek -- Moves internal row pointer
mssql_execute --  Executes a stored procedure on a MS SQL server database
mssql_fetch_array --  Fetch a result row as an associative array, a numeric array, or both
mssql_fetch_assoc --  Returns an associative array of the current row in the result set specified by result_id
mssql_fetch_batch --  Returns the next batch of records
mssql_fetch_field -- Get field information
mssql_fetch_object -- Fetch row as object
mssql_fetch_row -- Get row as enumerated array
mssql_field_length -- Get the length of a field
mssql_field_name -- Get the name of a field
mssql_field_seek -- Seeks to the specified field offset
mssql_field_type -- Gets the type of a field
mssql_free_result -- Free result memory
mssql_free_statement -- Free statement memory
mssql_get_last_message --  Returns the last message from the server
mssql_guid_string --  Converts a 16 byte binary GUID to a string
mssql_init --  Initializes a stored procedure or a remote stored procedure
mssql_min_error_severity -- Sets the lower error severity
mssql_min_message_severity -- Sets the lower message severity
mssql_next_result -- Move the internal result pointer to the next result
mssql_num_fields -- Gets the number of fields in result
mssql_num_rows -- Gets the number of rows in result
mssql_pconnect -- Open persistent MS SQL connection
mssql_query -- Send MS SQL query
mssql_result -- Get result data
mssql_rows_affected --  Returns the number of records affected by the query
mssql_select_db -- Select MS SQL database


mssql_bind> <msql
Last updated: Wed, 09 Mar 2005
 
add a note add a note User Contributed Notes
Microsoft SQL Server Functions
chop_01 at yahoo dot com
29-Aug-2007 01:38
I tried all manner of things in order to cnnect to SQLExpress aka SQL Server 2005 and was just about to walk away and move across to MySQL when it just dawned on me that after following all of the instructions from numerous people I never restarted the Apache service.

This meant that the new ntwdblib.dll was never called. I restarted the service and hey presto ... I can now connect to the SQL server.

The items that I did were as follows:

1. Installed the SQLServer in mixed auth mode
2. Checked that the mssql.secure_connection = Off was present in the php.ini
3. Copied the ntwdblib.dll file into
        o WINDOWS\SYSTEM32
        o program files\apache2\bin
        o php
4. Started the SQL Server Browser Service
5. Enabled all of the IPs in Protocols > TCP/IP
6. Restarted the following services:
       o Apache
       o SQL Service
       o SQL Browser Service

This allowed me to connect with no problems using the following parameters within my mssql_connect call

HOST=.\SQLEXPRESS
USERNAME=sa
PASSWORD=<MYPASS>
swaldester at gmail dot com
18-Jul-2007 08:03
For all of you connecting to MS SQL Server using freeTDS, having trouble to log on with a domain login:

Add the line:
putenv('TDSVER=70');

just before calling mssql_connect()

This worked for me with a MS SQL Server 2K Ent.

Thank you elmer !
post at wmm dot no
03-Jul-2007 11:48
Having trouble connecting to a MS SQL Server from Windows server with Apache + PHP, or some other server-configuration?

As Tom at mazzotta dot com wrote further down on this page; too old MDAC in Windows may be your problem.

Here is a summary for those working on Windows-plattform:

1. Update your Microsoft MDAC (search for Microsoft Data Access Components on www.microsoft.com). Some older Microsoft servers (or workstations) contain old and crappy MDAC-installations. This solved our problem after two days of work..

2. Make sure ntwdblib.dll (version 8.00.194) is in the correct place(s). I only placed it in Apache bin directory and it worked fine, but apparently some Microsoft installations need it in several locations.. this is indeed very confusing!

3. You may have to set mssql.secure_connection = off in your php.ini

4. Make sure needed ports are configured in your firewall.

Hope this helps - now, back to coffee!
nmax at libero dot it
26-Jun-2007 05:41
About the ntwdblib.dll, I can say that on Windows 2003 Server with Apache 2.2 and PHP 5.2.3 I have repalced the one present in PHP folder with the version 8.00.194 of the same.

Putting the dll only in PHP folder and configuring in php.ini the variable mssql.secure_connection = Off mssql_connect() works!
James at thetallfamily dot com
21-Jun-2007 12:36
MSSQL doesn't have a real_escape_string function like MYSQL does, which can lead to error when inserting or updating data that contains a ' (single quote).

To prevent this, replace all ' (single quotes) by TWO ' (single quotes) '' which SQL server will interpret as an escaped '.
Also you may want to remove any \' \" escape sequences that are translated from any FORM output into the PHP $_POST variables.

Hope this helps someone.
James
hector dot spencer at gmail dot com
17-Jun-2007 05:46
I'm really grateful for saving me hours, if not days in trying to make PHP work with SQLServer database, Thanks a lot and I'll make sure to make a not so overwhelming and friendly tutorial for spanish speakers. Thanks a lot mate!
Roy Maarssen
07-May-2007 01:47
My problem was that I've loaded the ntwdblib.dll (8.00.194) into the php directory, but it also have to be placed in the bin directory of Apache.

I hope this will save you some time searching for the solution, if you encounter the same problem.

I'm using SQL 2005 Express Edition on Windows Vista Enterprise with Apache.
lostaircryptic at hotmail dot co dot uk
30-Apr-2007 03:34
MAXIMUM COLUMN LENGTH OF 30 CHARACTERS....

This restriction was solved by using the following techniques.

First create a test which detects this to be the problem and then self correct it.

For the times that this is a problem rename the columns to an unique column name which is 30 characters exactly in length.  This column must be unique compares to the others, so use the MD5 Hashed value.  Since MD5 hashed values are 32 character HEX values, convert this to a toggle Hex value giving an exact maximum length of 31 characters.  Prepend a character to the start to ensure that it falls within Column naming regulations.

When the data is obtained, check for the hashed values against a check array and replace where neccessary.

Although complex it may sound, the method has been tried and successfully works, thus allowing columns of greater length than that of 30 characters.

I had this situation within Linux as well as Windows (XAMPP), so this solution was ultimate in solving the problem.

You can run the detection as a constant or automatically.  However it is best to use a constant for efficiency reasons.

Any questions, just email me.
vbchris at gmail dot com
24-Apr-2007 01:22
My previous post although seemed to solve the problem of the connection randomly refusing to connect, it didn't. This however did. I created a loop to create a few connections and noticed it was always the first connection that failed. So I wrote this to keep trying to connect until it eventually does.

<?php
while(!$connection){
    @$connection = mssql_connect($cfg['server'],$cfg['username'],$cfg['password']);
}
$db = mssql_select_db($cfg['database'],$connection) or die("Error selecting the database");
?>
Jason {at} RoundtopRiders {dot} com
10-Apr-2007 11:54
I struggled with this for a few days and finally got it figured out. I'm running Windows 2003 Server, PHP 5.2, Apache 2.2 and MSSQL Server 2005.

(1) Set 'msssql.secure_connection = On' in the PHP.ini file
(2) Download the correct ntwdblib.dll file (version 8.00.194)

Copy this to:

C:/Windows/System32
<server root>/php
<server root>/apache/bin

(I would just do a search for this file and replace it anywhere you find it...)

(3) Make sure TCP/IP and Named Pipes are enabled in the SQL Configuration tool.

Hope this saves somebody a few hours.
deyura at gmail dot com
10-Apr-2007 03:06
FreeTDS is work!!!

But after install you shoul add in config file
1. Add in freetds.conf client cahrset:
[TDS_NAME_TO_CONNECT]
host = 192.168.0.1
port = 1433
tds version = 8.0
client charset = CP1251

2. For datetime add in locales.conf in [default]:
date format = %Y-%m-%d %I:%M:%S.%z

3. restart apache

4. In your php-script you should connect to [TDS_NAME_TO_CONNECT]
mssql_connect('TDS_NAME_TO_CONNECT', 'php', '123');
deyura at gmail dot com
10-Apr-2007 03:05
FreeTDS is work!!!

But after install you shoul add in config file
1. Add in freetds.conf client cahrset:
[TDS_NAME_TO_CONNECT]
host = 192.168.0.1
port = 1433
tds version = 8.0
client charset = CP1251

2. For datetime add in locales.conf in [default]:
date format = %Y-%m-%d %I:%M:%S.%z

3. restart apache

4. In your php-script you should connect to [TDS_NAME_TO_CONNECT]
mssql_connect('TDS_NAME_TO_CONNECT', 'php', '123');
vbchris at gmail dot com
06-Apr-2007 08:56
If your having problems with  your script at random times refusing to connect to the database. Try editing php.ini and uncommenting this line.

mssql.max_procs = -1

This solved the problem for me after 3 days of pulling my hair out wondering why it kept refusing to connect!
ziggurism at gmail dot com
30-Jan-2007 10:53
On *nix, of course you need to add extension=mssql.so to your php.ini.  Obvious, but it took me a while to figure that out.
tom at mazzotta dot com
18-Jan-2007 03:38
FINNALLY got PHP to connect to MS SQL Server. Even though I read through the multitue of comments about ntwdblib.dll, etc., I still couldn't get it to work. The key was to load the Microsoft MDAC (2.8) on my IIS/PHP server. If your environement does not use the web server to host SQL as well, you will probably need to install the MDAC. My guess is that an installation of SQL Server (and/or just the client tools) on the webserver will automatically include the MDAC and you would not experience this problem.
phpnet at pginet dot com
08-Jan-2007 12:35
This took me a while to figure out, so I may as well pass it along to save somebody time.

If you are having trouble connecting with a DSNless connection using unixodbc with freetds, don't forget to specify the TDS_Version in your connection string.

Example (8.0 is for SQL Server 2000 exclusively):

$dsn = "DRIVER=FreeTDS;TDS_Version=8.0; TRACE=No; SERVER=someserver; PORT=someport; DATABASE=somedb; UID=somelogin; PWD=somepassword";
be_misc_01 at flowbuzz dot com
20-Dec-2006 01:06
Couple of notes:
When setting this up, you might notice that the unixODBC isql command likes the password wrapped in single quotes:
isql -v MyDSN MyUserID 'MyPa$$W0rd'

Additionally, if you happen to have a dollar-sign in your password (or username, or DSN) -- you must avoid using double quotes.  This is a normal PHP gotcha, but worth mentioning.
Won't work:
$con = mssql_connect ("MyDSN", "MyUserID", "MyPa$$W0rd");

Will work (single quotes):
$con = mssql_connect ("MyDSN", "MyUserID", 'MyPa$$W0rd');
davinel_lu_linvega at hotmail dot com
07-Dec-2006 03:38
About using the MSSQL XML field-type, for Win32 users,  :

1. The most simple way would be to

"SELECT [xmlfield] FROM [table]"

But this triggers the following error :

"Unicode data in a Unicode-only collation or ntext data cannot be sent to clients using DB-Library (such as ISQL) or ODBC version 3.7 or earlier. (severity 16)"

2. Well, let's just read [xmlfield] as a VARCHAR.

"SELECT CAST([xmlfield] AS VARCHAR(8000)) FROM [table]"

will truncate to the 255 first characters, due to the API limitation. (see the marc at NOSPAM dot durdin dot net note)

3. So woud not that be appropriate to use the TEXT field-type ?

"SELECT CAST([xmlfield] AS TEXT) FROM [table]"

triggers :

"Explicit conversion from data type xml to text is not allowed. (severity 16)"

4. So you cannot read the VARCHAR nor the XML, and you cannot transform the XML into TEXT. In order to finally read that XML field-type, you may use this trick :

"SELECT CAST(CAST([xmlfield] AS VARCHAR(8000)) AS TEXT) FROM [table]"
KamiKazie at comcast dot net
21-Nov-2006 07:01
I have found that a Windows Webserver cannot connect to a Microsoft SQL Database if the webserver is running Microsoft SQL Server Agent.  It gives connection and undefined function errors.  Hope this helps some people.
JinXy at skylinetop dot com
15-Nov-2006 08:37
I had major problems trying to get the msssql extension loaded.  The following fixed it for me: 

1. Make sure the ntwdblib.dll file located in system32/ on the Database server is copied to system32 on the PHP serving server.
2. Uncomment the extension in the php.ini file.
3. Add the following to the registry: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PHP]
"IniFilePath"="C:\\PHP"
This tells PHP where to find the php.ini
(This is what my resolution to my problem was - only after some time did I find some reference to it).
4. Restart IIS
anders jenbo(located)pc denmark
03-Nov-2006 12:32
The 3 major headaicks I had while setting up MS SQL 2005, php 5.1.6 (apache 2.2 server) on Vista RC1 and getting them to comunicate.

TCP/IP and "Named Pipes Protocol" had to be enabled in the MS SQL Server. You do this in the Surface Area Configuration tool.

MS SQL 2005 should be set to mix mode login. Unless you use NT authentication in php.ini.
You can do this in duing install if you select advanced options.
If it's already installed you will have to use the SQL management Studio (properties->securety).

At first the php_mssql.dll didn't load properly (wan't showing up under phpinfo()) and gave no error message at startup, the cause of this was the ntwdblib.dll that came with php (273KB) replacing it with the one that came with MS SQL 2005 (269KB) fixed the issuse, incase you haven't installed MS SQL on your machine you can also find it on the net.
php at scrunch dot net
19-Sep-2006 09:36
With WinXP client, connecting to SQL Server 2005, via PHP on the command line (CLI).

If the serverr was installed with support for multiple instances, you can not connect to it, even when attempting to connect to the default instance.

Replace the ntwdblib.dll (7.00.839) provided by PHP with the one from SQL Server 2000 (8.00.194).

Otherwise you will see this message, which is not very helpful:
Warning: mssql_connect(): Unable to connect to server: ...
jorrit at ncode dot nl
20-Jul-2006 06:14
To connect to SQL Server 2005 you can download ntwdblib.dll from http://www.webzila.com/?wz=dll. Pick the smallest file there, the other one is French.
antoinehurkmans at hotmail dot com
11-Jul-2006 05:40
"if you are looking for the equivalent of  mysql_list_tables for mssql, try this..."

Please use the INFORMATION_SCHEMA views for this. Using the system tables for anything other than the occasional ad-hoc query is not recommended. See MSDN for more details.
Bart
22-May-2006 09:46
Another helpful hint in regards to SQL Server 2005 Express:

Make sure your SQL Server is set to  "SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode". By default it is NOT.

1) Open "SQL Server Management Studio Express"
2) Right-click server ("machinename\sqlexpress") and select "Properties".
3) Select "Security"
4) Select "SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode"
5) Restart SQL Server.
phil at hilands dot c-spam-om
19-May-2006 02:13
mssql.datetimeconvert

using freebsd and freetds I ran into the dates month being rolled back
01 jan would be 00
12 dec would be 11 nov

removed
ini_set('mssql.datetimeconvert',false);
default setting is to 1 or true on the servers config
and the date issue I ran into was resolved

I don't know how the mssql.datetimeconvert setting works but if you're getting a roll back in dates might be worth making sure its on.

using ini_get when dealing with scripts that like to modify ini settings will save a headache if you use phpinfo() like me

*side note with the same settings in freetds php apache etc on a debian load I didn't have this issue even with mssql.datetimeconvert off
thnkloud9 at aol dot com
02-Mar-2006 01:54
I had major latency problems with DB connections using php_mssql.dll without the client tools.  I found that by default it was using TCP/IP as the default connection method.   Installing the SQL Server client tools and using the Client Network Utility to change my settings to use named pipes resolved this issue.  You can use the Client Utility to set up a named pipes server alias and reference that in your connect string.
jimmy dot cartrette at gmail dot com
22-Feb-2006 07:56
"Note: DBLib is obsolete and only supports SQL Server 4.x, 6.5, 7.0 and 8.x. "

Well, ntwdblib.dll is not distributed with SQL Native Client 2005 versions anymore, but it is what you need to use the mssql family functions with php. The distributed 7.x version with php does not work, but if you download the 8.x version distributed with SQL 2000 versions and replace it in your php directory, you can suddenly use mssql functions with no problems.
support at realone dot com
08-Dec-2005 08:04
Actually, it's xtype, not type. So the the correct query would be something like:

SELECT name FROM sysobjects WHERE xtype = 'u' [ORDER BY whatever]
info at pkcom do t co dot uk
01-Nov-2005 03:47
if you are looking for the equivalent of  mysql_list_tables for mssql, try this:

######## Listing table names
$query=mssql_query ( "select * from SYSOBJECTS where TYPE='U' order by NAME" , [connection resource]);
while ($row=mssql_fetch_row ( $query )){
    echo "$row[0]<br>";
}
#########################
erwin_nospam_moller at xs4all dot nl
06-Oct-2005 04:43
php5isapi / w2000 / ISS5

If you use the above configuration (isapi) and follow the suggestion to deselect 'cache isapi application' to avoid 100% processor usage, you might end up with an oocasional error:

The remote procedure call failed and did not execute.

It happened to me every third visit to the same page.
RE-enabling caching resolved the issue.

M$ has an article about this in their knowledgebase, stating that this option should always be selected and is only there for developmentpurposes. (undocumented feature. :P)

Deselecting this option forces IIS to reload ALL relevant dll's every time a request is received in memory, also VB/ASP.
Erick Robertson
20-Aug-2005 06:58
Some helpful functions.  Pretty simple, but very useful.

function mssql_begin_transaction() {
  mssql_query("BEGIN TRANSACTION");
}

function mssql_commit() {
  mssql_query("COMMIT");
}

function mssql_rollback() {
  mssql_query("ROLLBACK");
}

function mssql_insert_id() {
  $id = "";

  $rs = mssql_query("SELECT @@identity AS id");
  if ($row = mssql_fetch_row($rs)) {
    $id = trim($row[0]);
  }
  mssql_free_result($rs);

  return $id;
}
vangoethem at hotmail.com
10-Aug-2005 05:47
I had problems related to VARCHAR limitation to 255 characters (INSERT/UPDATE works, SELECT was truncated) using freetds driver (Linux platform).

By upgrading the TDS protocol to 8.0 (see freetds config file), I fixed the problem.
hbzxc at 126 dot com
27-Jun-2005 02:14
I am trying to connect to SQL Server 2000 from PHP
I bumped to following warning:
Warning: mssql_connect(): Unable to connect to server: SERVER\Portal
....... on line 5

on line 5 there is:
$db_connect = mssql_connect('SERVER\Portal', 'sa', 'my_passwd');

I did the following
1.enabled php_mssql.dll extension in PHP.ini
2.every dll is in proper place(System32 or PHP folder),including ntwdblib.dll

I search lots of profile throught web ,but no one give me proper answer to resolve it.

after a few hour ,I found the problem was caused by
ntwdblib.dll ,which version is 7.00.839 ,when I replaced old ntwdblib.dll with the new ntwdblib.dll ,which version is 8.00.194 ,all problem are solved.
cmeerbeek[at]ymor[.]nl
13-May-2005 01:32
We had some, read A LOT, of problems with MSSQL under Windows 2003.
We had 2 the same windows, php, php-ini, everything machines but only one could connect. Unable to connect was the error message.

Finnaly we checked the version of ntwdblib.dll and the one distributed with PHP was 7.00.... and the version of the one on the SQL Server install was 8.00.... so we copied this one in the php and apache dir and it worked.
diegobandeira at ibest dot com dot br
08-Apr-2005 08:42
Hello!

This code appears work fine and fast to me, like mysql or msaccess.
The server is working for an Intranet home page.

<?php
  $db = new COM("ADODB.Connection");
  $dsn = "Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=sa;Initial Catalog=tsos;Data Source=(local);Application Name=SellCar";
  $db->Open($dsn);
  $rs = $db->Execute("SELECT * FROM states order by name asc");

  while (!$rs->EOF)
  {
     echo $rs->Fields['name']->Value."<BR>";
     $rs->MoveNext();
  }
?>

Diego Bandeira.
boonkit at gmail dot com
29-Mar-2005 01:29
If you are having problems with freeTDS when trying to get access to unicode data from mssql, set 'tds version =7.0' at etc/freetds.conf
tony
23-Mar-2005 07:51
With PHP 5 on a Windows 2000/IIS platform:

I have integrated authentication enabled in IIS.  I kept getting CGI timeouts on PHP pages for everyone but local administrators of the box.  The event log showed that PHP could not load php_mssql.dll, php_oci8.dll, and php_oracle.dll - 'Access Denied.' 

These extensions were executable by everyone, but the DLLs they depend on were not.  Had to add exec permissions for everyone to c:\winnt\system32\ntwdblib.dll as well as the oracle bin directory.
marcel at fluidleb dot com
30-Jan-2005 10:24
I've spent the last three days wild guessing why I could not connect to MS SQLServer 2000 and so I hope this might help someone else. Microsoft has purposefully closed the 1433 tcp port and others (maybe only to external ips) of the server. You can easily check if this is the case by looking at the Event Monitor. You should see an error produced by MSSQL SERVER/MSDE that basically says what I said. It suggests downloading and installing a security patch to open up the ports (but doesn't even say which update - remember this is Microsoft).

Do download Service Pack 3a (SP3a). It does indeed fix the problem.
Salman Majid
25-Jan-2005 09:36
Sorry, previous message was incomplete. I used odbc functions to connect to Ms-SQL server. I was on a work station and server was not accessible for unknow reasons. mssql functions did not work there so I had to use odbc.
Salman Majid
25-Jan-2005 09:15
I was having problem in connecting Ms-SQL server with mssql_connect(srvr,uid,pwd). I simply created a DSN to my Database and replaced it with "server_name". i.e.

mssql_connect(dsn,uid,pwd);

it worked well
craig at _NO_SPAM_deconstructor dot net
13-Jan-2005 12:22
Just a quick note pertaining marcos1979ar (10/06/04) definitive installation of FreeTDS above.

When you run the following to test the installation:
===============================================================
/usr/local/freetds/bin/tsql -S <ip of the server> -U <User SQL>
===============================================================

And it results in the following error:
=================================================================
locale is "C"
locale charset is "ANSI_X3.4-1968"
Password:
src/tds/login.c: tds_connect: xx.xx.x.xx:1443: Connection refused
Msg 20009, Level 9, State 0, Server OpenClient, Line 0
Server is unavailable or does not exist.
There was a problem connecting to the server
=================================================================

All I found that needed to be changed was for the configure --prefix from:

=======================================
./configure --prefix=/usr/local/freetds
=======================================
         to
=======================================
./configure --prefix=/usr/local
=======================================

Small but worth noting.
hbinduni at hslprpol dot com
20-Dec-2004 12:15
i found http://odbtp.sourceforge.net working fast, easy to use and to configure, and yes, it's multiplatform.
marc at NOSPAM dot durdin dot net
18-Nov-2004 08:19
Buried away in the mssql_field_length documentation is an important limitation that it is certainly worth knowing about *BEFORE* you do any database design:

Note to Win32 Users: Due to a limitation in the underlying API used by PHP (MS DbLib C API), the length of VARCHAR fields is limited to 255. If you need to store more data, use a TEXT field instead.

SQL Server natively supports VARCHAR up to 8000 characters.  Note that TEXT fields have substantially poorer performance (and are much more limited) than VARCHAR so you may want to design your databases accordingly...

You can also work around this limitation with the following:

   -- for example, with MyVarCharField VARCHAR(1000)
   SELECT CAST(MyVarCharField AS TEXT) FROM MyTable
ASWL
28-Oct-2004 05:55
This note is for mssql under a Windows environment.

If you are having problems connecting to MS SQL using the mssql PHP extension then I would suggest that you get a copy of the latest NTWDBLIB.DLL. Copy it to the directory where PHP expects to find it's dll files.

I had an issuse whereby I was unable to connect to a MS SQL Cluster and this resolved my problem.
Dimitri Tarassenko (mitka at mitka.us)
24-Oct-2004 12:37
To enable MS SQL functions in PHP on Fedora Core or RHEL3 without recompiling PHP and replacing the distribution PHP packages, download and install php-mssql and freetds RPMS from

http://phprpms.sf.net/mssql
effeese at gmail dot com
15-Oct-2004 06:28
in relation to the "unicode problem" mentioned by andrej at dairyweb dot com dot au I suggest use andrew at power-grid dot com's solution:

if you get a "Unicode data in Unicode-only collation or ntext data cannot be sent to clients using DB-Library (such as ISQL) or ODBC version 3.7 or earlier" error you can use this kind of code (in an MS environment, of course):
<?
$db = new COM("ADODB.Connection");
$dsn = "DRIVER={SQL Server}; SERVER={SERVER};UID={USER};PWD={PASS}; DATABASE={DB}";
$db->Open($dsn);
$rs = $db->Execute("SELECT * FROM table");

while (!$rs->EOF)
{
   echo $rs->Fields['column']->Value."<BR>";
   $rs->MoveNext();
}
?>

hope it helps.
mworku at yahoo dot com
02-Oct-2004 09:49
If you want to utilize the freetds.conf file db parameters within
mssql_connect() function

<?
    putenv('FREETDSCONF=/etc/freetds.conf');

     /*
        mssql_connect('MSSQL_8.0' , 'user' , 'pwd');
        ....
        ....
    */
?>

FreeTDS conf file

 [MSSQL_8.0]
    host = 10.254.254.10
    port = 1433
    tds version = 8.0
08-Aug-2004 03:11
For phpBB if you are having a problem with user cannot connect to database I found that gentiboard's comments were the answer.

You have to change sql secure connection to on in php.ini
marcos1979ar at yahoo dot com dot ar
10-Jun-2004 03:07
Red Hat 9.0   Freetds 0.62.3   Apache 2.0.49   PHP 5.0.ORC3

Instucction, that premit connect a server Linux with a server Windows 2000 Server with SQL Server.

INSTALLING FREETDS
 
1-.  Download freetds -> www.freetds.org
2-.  tar -zxvf freetds-stable-tgz
3-.  cd freetds-0.62.3
4-.  ./configure --prefix=/usr/local/freetds --with-tdsver=8.0 --enable-msdblib --enable-dbmfix --with-gnu-ld

Note:  tdsver=8.0 if you use SQL 2000, tdsver=7.0 if you use SQL 7.0

5-.  make
6-.  make install
7-.  /usr/local/freetds/bin/tsql -S <ip of the server> -U <User SQL>

Note: For default User SQL is    sa     and the it have not password
For example: /usr/local/freetds/bin/tsql -S 198.168.100.2 -U sa

8-.  Add the next text in freetds.conf ( /usr/local/freetds/etc )
[TDS]
host = <ip of the Server with Sql>
port = 1433
tds version = 8.0

Note: If you use SQL 2000 then tds version = 8.0
if you use SQL 7.0 then tds version = 7.0

9-.  Add the next text in the file /etc/ld.so.conf
/usr/local/freetds/lib

INSTALLING  APACHE

1-.  Download apache  www.apache.org
2-.  tar -zxvf httpd-2.0.49.tar.gz
3-.  cd httpd-2.0.49
4-.  ./configure --prefix=/etc/httpd --enable-so
5-.  make
6-.  make install
7-.  Configure the file  -> httpd.conf ( /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf )
8-.  Probe the apache: /etc/httpd/bin/apachectl start
/etc/httpd/bin/apachectl stop

INSTALLING  PHP

1-.  Download the PHP in this site (www.php.net)
2-.  tar -zxvf php-5.0-ORC3.tar.gz
3-.  cd php-5.0-ORC3
4-.  ./configure --with-apxs2=/etc/httpd/bin/apxs --enable-versioning --with-mssql=/usr/local/freetds --disable-libxml
5-.  make
6-.  make install
7-.  cp php.ini-DIST /usr/local/lib
8-.  Add the next line in /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

TESTING

<html>
<body>
<?php
$con = mssql_connect ("<ip of the server SQL>", "sa", "");
mssql_select_db ("<Data Base>", $con);
$sql= "SELECT * FROM <Table>";
$rs= mssql_query ($sql, $con);
echo "The field number one is: ";
echo mssql_result ($rs, 0, 0);
mssql_close ($con);
?>
</body>
</html>
Asad Moin
28-May-2004 07:48
I took the following steps to make PHP talk to SQL2000:

- Copy ntwdblib.dll file from your SQL server's  \winnt\system32 folder to the \winnt\system32 folder on the PHP box.

- Copy the php_mssql.dll from the 'dlls/' directory in distribution package to your windows/system (Win9.x) or winnt/system32 (WinNT, Win2000, XP) directory.

- Add or uncomment the following line under Windows Extentions in your php.ini file (\winnt\php.ini): extension=php_mssql.dll

Hope that helps.
andrew at power-grid dot com
26-May-2004 12:11
Ok, this took me a few days to get right but for those of you out there having a hard time with getting PHP to talk to SQL 2000 this is for you!  Personally for me the mssql plugin barely worked with sql 2000 and was VERY slow, here's your solution and also some good code to connect securely and quickly through ADO. I was having the worst time getting ADO to work as well, most sites do the driver part a different way.. for me the code below is the only thing that worked.
<?
$db = new COM("ADODB.Connection");
$dsn = "DRIVER={SQL Server}; SERVER={SERVER};UID={USER};PWD={PASS}; DATABASE={DB}";
$db->Open($dsn);
$rs = $db->Execute("SELECT * FROM table");

while (!$rs->EOF)
{
    echo $rs->Fields['column']->Value."<BR>";
    $rs->MoveNext();
}
?>
Arthur W Rudd
26-May-2004 11:37
I'm running apache 1.3.26 and php 4.3.6 on a linux server (debian), and connecting to SQL Server 2000 via php4-mssql and Freetds.

I managed to get a connection to the SQL server, but found that when I used the function mssql_query() to pass in a Select statement containing datetime columns, I would get the following message in Internet Explorer - "The page cannot be displayed".  When I removed the datetime column from the query, it worked fine, and returned a resultset.
Looked in the apache error.log file, and found the error "child pid xxxxxx exit signal segmentation fault".

After a lot of searching on the internet I stumbled upon an entry which was missing from my php.ini.  I added the line "mssql.datetimeconvert = Off" to the MSSQL section of pphp.ini, restarted Apache, and the problem went away.  Now I can select dates in SQL queries
jasenko at get2net dot dk
05-May-2004 11:46
If you get a crash trying to get currency from database with smallmoney datatype and big value (in my case it was 15000..), change datatype to money instead. The error is gone.

I'm using php 4.2.3 and MSSQL 7.0 on windows.
andrej at dairyweb dot com dot au
28-Apr-2004 01:49
if you are having problems with freeTDS, or like me you are trying to get access to unicode data from mssql.

try http://odbtp.sourceforge.net it is cross platform and (reportedly) faster than freeTDS. it is very stable and easy to configure.

i was originally trying to solve an error message of "Unicode data in Unicode-only collation or ntext data cannot be sent to clients using DB-Library (such as ISQL) or ODBC version 3.7 or earlier" and found this solution.

hope it helps someone.
elmer at web-axis dot net
27-Apr-2004 09:52
Here's something that could save you 2-3 days research trying to figure out:

<?php
putenv('TDSDUMP=/tmp/tds.log');
putenv('SYBASE=/usr/lib/freetds');
putenv('TDSVER=70');
?>

If you have problems getting the mssql functions to work try these varibles. MSSQL/PHP has problems dealing with different tds versions. 7.0 seems to work well with our server version, maybe a different version would work better with yours.
pmfa at versenet dot com
27-Apr-2004 09:26
If you're going to use freeTDS just to access mssql databases, supply the "--enable-msdblib" switch to the freeTDS configure script when building the library. This will fix some obscure problems, like the month in a date not being displayed correctly, more information in http://www.freetds.org/userguide/config.htm.
gentiboard2002 at yahoo dot de
19-Apr-2004 06:55
there's no documentation of the php.ini option mssql.secure_connection.

so i have here a MS SQL 2000 Server with Windows Authentication and a Windows 2003 Server with IIS 6. So it is clear that i cannot use the usual handling of a mssql_connect.
I turned the mssql.secure_connection on.
I let the Windows IIS to run under an Service Account(normal user account without any special rights) in a Windows Domain, so i do have a authenticated connection to the SQL Server...

Everything works fine without any rewrite of the code...
19-Mar-2004 12:42
Note: DBLib is obsolete and only supports SQL Server 4.x, 6.5, 7.0 and 8.x.
jholland at cs dot selu dot edu
10-Dec-2003 01:37
To enable mssql in php 4.3.3 and above on linux/unix boxes, you must put this line in php.ini

extension=mssql.so
add a note add a note

mssql_bind> <msql
Last updated: Wed, 09 Mar 2005
 
 
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