Ignoring transparent.gif spacers 1

[smiffy47]

Since recently installing the latest WAMP5 server group, which runs PHP 5.2.5, as my local testing server I have discovered that both Firefox 2.0.0.9 and Netscape9 (but not on IE7) fail to render the transparent.gifs that I have occasionally used as spacers in my text. The problem does not present itself when I view the pages via my remote server which use an older version of PHP.
The error arises when I use text ssi's with occasional .gif spacers.
Is it an issue with this version of PHP, or is there some other explanation?
Steve

Life...It's difficult not to take it personally.

http://www.crab.org.uk

http://www.hostinthepost.co.uk

 

[jpadie]

it's not a php issue. php does not typically serve gif files.

it _might_ be an issue with the apache build within MAMP, but i doubt it.

most likely the issue is that the previous installation of apache you used (or your remote server) was more forgiving about the naming of the file and found the right file to serve you notwithstanding that you had not perfectly named the file in your html. So i'd look to see whether the file is truly accessible from your webserver via the img tags you use in your code. if in doubt, use absolute url's and assume case sensitivity.

 

[smiffy47]

So you think it is likely to be related to the tolerance of the older Apache.
But I have tried your advice to no effect
In this particular case the relevant code of the ssi required is:

<h4 style="margin-top: 0;">Mental Health Information Service</h4>
<p><img src="/tormented/Images/transparent.gif" width="250" height="1"><span class="telnos">tel.
552175</span><br />
<img src="../../../Images/transparent.gif" alt=" " width="250" height="1" /><span class="telnos">fax.
556060<br />
<img src="../../Images/transparent.gif" alt=" " width="250" height="1" /></span> <a href="mailto:mental.health@torbay.gov.uk">mental.health@torbay.gov.uk </a> <br />
The Abbey Resource Centre,
87 Abbey Road,
Torquay TQ2 5NN<br></p>

As you can see I have changed the format of the first trans.gif to root-related, and left the other two as file-related. The result is the same; they are no longer rendered in Netscape or Ff, but are still rendered in IE7.
Any further suggestions?
Steve


Life...It's difficult not to take it personally.

http://www.crab.org.uk

http://www.hostinthepost.co.uk

 

[Foamcow]

Seems a little obvious but have you changed the case of any of the folders in the path?

for instance, 'images' is not the same as 'Images'

Just a thought.

--
Tek-Tips Forums is Member Supported. Click Here to donate

<honk>*:O)</honk>

Tyres: Mine's a pint of the black stuff.
Mike: You can't drink a pint of Bovril.

 

[smiffy47]

No, the folder names are consistent.
Thanks.

Life...It's difficult not to take it personally.

http://www.crab.org.uk

http://www.hostinthepost.co.uk

 

[jpadie]

try replacing this

<img src="/tormented/Images/transparent.gif"

with an absolute url for the http protocol.

http://somedomain.sometld/path/to/Images/transparent.gif

 

[smiffy47]

Yes, that does the trick. Thanks jpadie.
I had not really taken in what you had explained in your first post. Sorry.
Something that, as a self-taught nerd, I hadn't realised is that I could use the "

http://localhost"

url on the remote server. I had been thinking that "localhost" only referred to my own server. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that I when I used the localhost url the page still functioned when accessed remotely, if you catch my meaning.
Anyway,I've learnt something useful and solved my particular problem.
Many thanks.
Steve

Life...It's difficult not to take it personally.

http://www.crab.org.uk

http://www.hostinthepost.co.uk

 

[jpadie]

umm. i think you were right the first time. if you use localhost in a webpage it will point to the host of the browser. so if this is working, it is doing so because you happen to have the images mapped locally to the same address - not unrealistic if you are developing locally.

i had intended you to use something like

http://remotedomain.com/path/to/Image/something.gif

however it may be that, because you are including this as an SSI, apache is doing some on the fly translation for you. have a look at the sourcecode of the page as you receive it to see whether the browser is being pointed at your localhost or the remote server.

 

[smiffy47]

Hmmm. I see what you mean.
Find the code for the page at

http://www.hopeless.me.uk/advice.pdf

I've coloured the relevant .gif section blue.
Steve

Life...It's difficult not to take it personally.

http://www.crab.org.uk

http://www.hostinthepost.co.uk