What can i do when my web hosting plan does not include a database?

[Neon Tetras]

My web hosting plan does not include a database. Is there a way i can get around this? Like upload a .sql file or ms access db into my server and connect to it using php?

[cereal]

Hi,

starting from PHP 5.3, SQLite3 is enabled by default, this would allow you to create an sqlite file and connect to it:

• http://php.net/manual/en/book.sqlite3.php
• using PDO: http://php.net/manual/en/ref.pdo-sqlite.php

In both cases it requires that on compilation the hosting didn't disabled the support. Looking at phpinfo() you should be able to find if is supported or not.

Before implementing SQLite read these pages carefully:

• https://www.sqlite.org/whentouse.html
• https://www.sqlite.org/howtocorrupt.html

Otherwise, if allowed, use an external database service.

[daniel160wong]

Thanks for Cereal, it works.

[diafol]

Also check out pritaeas' code snippet on DW: https://www.daniweb.com/web-development/php/code/442441/using-phpsqlite3-with-error-checking

[Neon Tetras]

Thanks a lot. it worked like magic. its good cos I don't have to pay extra money for a database

[cereal]

Ok, now don't forget to apply an .htaccess rule to avoid remote downloads of the sqlite file:

<FilesMatch ".+\.(db|sqlite)$">
Order Deny, Allow
Deny from all
</FilesMatch>

This will match any file with extension .db or .sqlite and deny remote access.

Docs:

• http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/core.html#filesmatch
• http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/mod_access_compat.html#order

Then, if we are finished, please mark the thread as solved. Bye! :)