DW CS5 with PHP: no "register_long_arrays" in php.ini

[WSBMD]

Mr. Powers:  I bought your book, “Adobe DW CS5 with PHP: Training from the Source.” I am running MAMP Pro 1.9.6 on a Mac Pro Intel, OS 10.6.8. Following your instructions in Chapter 2, I have changed ALL the settings per Table 2.1, EXCEPT “register_long_arrays” which I cannot find (searched every permutation in BBEdit) in either of the php.ini files listed. The php info v. 5.2.17 shows:

Configuration File (php.ini) Path: /Applications/MAMP/conf/php5.2

Loaded Configuration File: /Library/Application Support/appsolute/MAMP Pro/conf/php.ini

and the “PHP Core” section shows “register_long_arrays” = On.

Why can’t I find the setting in either php.ini file? Also, I have read that this setting has been deprecated in PHP 5.3; what does that mean to my configuration?

You recommend matching certain settings to the host’s server configuration; it would be very useful in avoiding potential problems to have a complete list of these configuration/parameter recommendations for a prospective host, don’t you think?

[Ben M]

I'm not David, but I can help out.  The "register_long_arrays" is a feature that was deprecated in PHP 5.3.  Even though you are running 5.2 I suspect that MAMP removed it from their installation as the preferred way of getting data from forms, sessions, etc. is to use the super globals $_GET, $_POST, $_SESSION, etc.  Before you had to use $HTTP_GET_VARS instead of $_GET.  So does it make a difference, no it shouldn't.  But if you see any older tutorials referencing the $HTTP_*_VARS then you just need to be aware that you should be using the newer superglobal in its place.

http://php.net/manual/en/language.variables.superglobals.php

[WSBMD]

Thank you, SnakEyez02. At this point, I haven't gotten far enough to understand super-globals but I'm grateful for your help. After much head-banging, I believe the solution to my problem lies on this forum [ Re: Snow Leopard, MAMP php.ini Question ]. Though Mr. Powers recommends using MAMP Pro in the book, he doesn’t mention that changes made to settings in /Library/Application Support/appsolute/MAMP Pro/conf/php.ini are NOT LOADED and not reflected in the phpinfo.php file at subsequent server startups as they would be if I were using MAMP (not PRO).  In order for the settings changes to be loaded by MAMP Pro, editing must be done through the MAMP Pro interface menu /File/Edit Template/PHP 5.2.13 php.ini.

Having opened that template, I'm now faced with a another unforeseen question:  what to do with

[setting]  =  MAMP_error_reporting_MAMP

when the book says that setting should be either “= On” or “= Off.”  If you can help me with this one, you’ll make my week!