PHP and C#

[Dave]

Hi all,

I have a C# program which downloads data files from a database via a PHP
webpage. Currently I'm uploading the data into the database manually using
phpMyAdmin but it is time for an upgrade. I would like to use a C#
application to send info via a HTTP web form which can include text boxes
and files on a PHP server. I've tried doing some Google searches and have
not found much... any ideas anyone?

Dave

 

[John Timney \(MVP\)]

C# can connect to most databases and can make use of PHP web services. What
database are you using?

Regards

John Timney (MVP)
http://www.johntimney.com
http://www.johntimney.com/blog

 

[Dave]

It's a MySQL database and I can create a publicly accessible login for it
but isn't that a bit dangerous? I'd prefer to pipe it through PHP as well
for the added layer of locks and so forth. If it's done through MySQL
directly people could, if they wanted, find the username and password and
then they have update, delete, and insert access into the DB. At least if
it's done through PHP I can force them to only delete a single record at a
time for example.

Then again, if I don't store the username and password to the MySQL DB in
the C# app and ask the user at runtime it could be just as secure really.
Would also allow better control over who is allowed in and when...

Dave

 

[T]

You send raw HTTP via the POST method. But you will have to handle
cookies all by yourself. Use the Fiddler tool (http://
www.fiddlertool.com/fiddler/) to reverse engineer the PHP application.

 

[John Timney \(MVP\)]

Then you should just use an asp.net webservice, and have that connect to
mySQL from your client - tyat way your username and password isn't exposed
if you use a central one for access as it will reside within your web
service app. You can eliminate the PHP aspect completely and still have the
levels of sceurity you require for update and build a totally new interface
for adding data either from a client or from an asp.net app, talking through
the webservice.

Regards

John Timney (MVP)
http://www.johntimney.com
http://www.johntimney.com/blog

 

[Dave]

In theory a nice clean ASP.NET web would be nice, allowing much more
integration with the application in general. Unfortunatly however it has to
be this machine running MySQL and PHP, At this point I'm thinking direct
MySQL access with custom logons. It should only be trusted people with this
level of access anyway so it should be okay, especially with frequent
backups.

Thanks for helping me look at this from a new perspective.

Dave