Weird session bug?

[jasonc]

I'm integrating the chat into an existing website, and I have a weird issue.

WAMP server, php 5.3.4, Apache 2.2.17, windows server 2003. the chat works great, in the demo and standalone scripts ive tested it with. However, when integrating it via an include file, I'm having a problem setting the nick parameter.

This doesn't work, it just sits at the loading div:

$unamearry = explode(" ",$_SESSION["displayname"]);
$firstname = $unamearry[0];
$params["nick"] = iconv("ISO-8859-1", "UTF-8", $firstname);

However, if i call session_start() again, even though it has already been started and errors out, everything works great. So, if i disable the error showing, it all technically works:

ini_set("display_errors",'off');
session_start();
ini_set("display_errors",'on');
$unamearry = explode(" ",$_SESSION["displayname"]);
$firstname = $unamearry[0];
$params["nick"] = iconv("ISO-8859-1", "UTF-8", $firstname);

The question is Why?

[re*s.t.a.r.s.*2]

Hi,

Where in your index you already started the session? (We need to see the index.php code)

You need to start the session at index.php because the session is not initialized at that point, and isn't started by reference..

Whats the error you are suppressing ?

regards.

[jasonc]

It's a custom CMS. session_start() is called very early on in my main index.php. the error (Actually a warning) is "session_start has already been called".

Because it's just a warning the page continues to load, and the chat works fine. So, as you can see, its not a problem of the session not loading, or accessing the session vars because it does technically work. However, if I don't have it call session_start() a second time, even though it really doesn't "do" anything productive, the chat doesn't finish loading.

[re*s.t.a.r.s.*2]

Hi,

Can you put your second session call wrapped in if statement?

if the session is started somewhere in your required file then it wont fire and the session should be set.

Have you var_dump the session array without calling the session again?

Does the session is set?

Would be important to see your code..

regards.

[jasonc]

most of the code is spread over a dozen class/include files. my session is set, and vars can be accessed throughout.
the include "chat.php" is extremely simple:

<?php


if(!isset($_SESSION)) {session_start(); }

$unamearry = explode(" ",$_SESSION["displayname"]);
$firstname = $unamearry[0];
$channels = array("Main");

require_once dirname(__FILE__)."/mod/chat/src/phpfreechat.class.php";
$params = array();
$params["title"] = "TWH";
$params["channels"] = $channels;
$params["nick"] = iconv("ISO-8859-1", "UTF-8", $firstname);
$params['firstisadmin'] = true;
$params["serverid"] = md5(__FILE__); // calculate a unique id for this chat
$params["debug"] = false;
$params["theme"] = "zilveer";
$params["height"] = "230px";
$chat = new phpFreeChat( $params );
?>

<div class="content">
<?php $chat->printChat(); ?>
</div>

I did wrap the session_start in an if, and it works, BUT if i do this:

var_dump($_SESSION);
if(!isset($_SESSION)) { session_start();}

the session var is dumped, but the chat never loads (Chat Loading...). So the session is obviously loaded before I even test for it, as i can dump it. but the chat doesn't seem to like output before being called.

If I output *anything* before calling the chat, it doesn't load, but if i don't make that irrelevant check for the session, it also doesn't load.

so, this works:

if(!isset($_SESSION)) {session_start(); }

this doesnt:

echo "fartknocker";
if(!isset($_SESSION)) {session_start(); }


Weird.

[re*s.t.a.r.s.*2]

this doesnt:

Code: Select all

echo "fartknocker";
if(!isset($_SESSION)) {session_start(); }

That above wont work because you are echoing something before starting the session..

so, this works:

Code: Select all

if(!isset($_SESSION)) {session_start(); }

If was started because the session wasn't set, then the session wasn't set...
Is very implicit either is not or is, so check your requires ...

try this at the very top of the page after just your requires

Code: Select all

if (isset($_SESSION)){
var_dump($_SESSION);
exit();
}

I'll keep checking

regards.

[jasonc]

You're missing the part where the session is actually already set and used constantly before the include('chat.php');

I can call:

var_dump($_SESSION);

and it dumps the session and all its var goodness, which then prevents the chat from working.

let me put it this way...this doesn't work.. (the array is dumped successfully, but chat never loads):

if(!isset($_SESSION)) {session_start();}
var_dump($_SESSION);

And also this doesn't work (the array is dumped successfully, but chat never loads):

var_dump($_SESSION);
if(!isset($_SESSION)) {session_start();}

And also this doesn't work (the array isn't dumped because it is actually set, chat never loads):

if(!isset($_SESSION)) {session_start(); var_dump($_SESSION); }

yet somehow this does:

if(!isset($_SESSION)) {session_start();}


Its like there are 2 issues here.
1. the unnecessary check on the session makes the chat work
2. output before calling $chat = new phpFreeChat( $params ); causes the chat not to load.

[re*s.t.a.r.s.*2]

Ok,

Do you have a public URL, you seen any javascript error?

You 've got a very weird issue with your session..

regards.