Error runing fmencoder

[matty]

Hi,

I am getting this error when submitting the form configured to use the encoder:

The form has an internal error - cannot execute filter 'd:/inetpub/cgi-bin/fmencoder -kcert.txt > D:/Temp/FMF1D2820 2>&1'


I'm running this on a Windows 2000 server with IIS5. I can confirm that the cgi-bin has execute permission set, and that the Temp folder is writable. Any ideas what the problem is?

Thanks

Marcus

[russellr]

Hi,

We've just found a bug that might happen on Windows servers.

First, please upgrade to version 4.10 of FormMail, using the Upgrade Wizard here: http://www.tectite.com/wizards/fmupg.php

If that doesn't resolve the problem, you should get an alert message from FormMail with more information. In particular, the actual reason why it couldn't execute the command.

Also check your PHP config with this script:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Look for "disable_functions" and tell me its value.

[matty]

The alert message is:

filter_not_found

The disable_functions value is "no value"

I'll try the upgrade as soon as I can,

Thanks.

[russellr]

Hi,

The disable_functions value is "no value"

That's GOOD news.

Is there any error message after a bunch of '***********'?

An internal error message is shown there which will help diagnose the problem. If there isn't an error message there, then it's probably the bug I mentioned, which should fix after the upgrade.

[matty]

Hi,

The error after the *********** is as below. I've just noticed that this gives the incorrect location of the temporary folder, which I've actually defined as D:/Temp/ (as you can see this in the orginal web page error I posted).

Error=The form has an internal error - cannot execute filter 'D:inetpub/cgi-bin/fmencoder -konlineorders-pub.txt > C:\WINNT\TEMP\FMF9A.tmp 2>&1'

[russellr]

Hi,

The missing "/" after the D: is a worry too.

FormMail asks the system for a temporary file. Some servers aren't configured correctly and give the wrong value.

You can force FormMail to use your temporary directory by setting the $SCRATCH_PAD configuration. It's around line 1840.

But, this probably will not work on Windows servers.

If you can create a temporary directory where Windows is saying it wants it (C:\WINNT\TEMP), then that should work.

Otherwise, you'll need to use $SCRATCH_PAD and we'll need to provide a fix for you for Windows.

[matty]

Hi,

Yes, I have already defined the $scratch_pad to D:\Temp. Sorry, but just realised that I sent you an earlier alert message before I configured $scratch_pad and correct the error of the missing "/". It's late here and I'm doing this from home thus the confusion!

So the actually current error is:

Error=The form has an internal error - cannot execute filter 'd:/inetpub/cgi-bin/fmencoder.exe -konlineorders.txt > D:/Temp/FMFA14EE0 2>&1'

[russellr]

Hi,

Yes, the "D:/Temp/FMFA14EE0" is the problem - the / need to be \ on Windows.

We'll need to provide that fix for you if you want to use $SCRATCH_PAD. If you're happy to use the temp directory supplied by Windows, then it won't be a problem because Windows will put the right slashes in.

The / in "'d:/inetpub/cgi-bin/fmencoder" may also be a problem on Windows. However, you can resolve those in the $FILTERS setting, like this (you need a double \\ to translate to a single \):

$FILTERS = "d:\\inetpub\\cgi-bin\\fmencoder ..."; 

[matty]

I'll try various alternatives tomorrow and see if I can resolve the problem. Will let you know!

[russellr]

Hi,

OK. Forget most of what I've said previously.

We've done some extensive testing on Windows and / will work!

This doesn't work on Windows 98 but does on Windows 2000 (and probably XP, 2003, etc.)

So, you can define your filters like this:

$FILTERS = "d:/inetpub/cgi-bin/fmencoder ..."; 

and you can define your temp directory like this:

$SCRATCH_PAD = "d:/temp"; 

Provided the paths are correct, this should all work.

Make sure you've uploaded the correct FMEncoder program (not a linux version, but the windows version)

If you drop into a CMD prompt you can type this to prove it:

c:\>d:/inetpub/cgi-bin/fmencoder

You'll get a sensible usage message from fmencoder. If you get an error message, then you'll know what's wrong.