osCommerce - PHP MySQL Bridge Connection Settings

Bridge is just another way to connect to your database. Normally program uses direct MySQL connection to remote database installed at website or some other web server. In some cases this type of connection does not work - your hosting provider may not allow direct connections or your LAN settings/firewall prevent connection from being established. Bridge allows you to work with remote database without direct MySQL connection established.

While working through bridge you must store your temporary data somewhere in local database. Bridge.php is used only for two major operations - get data from remote database and post data to that database. You must understand the difference between bridge connection and MySQL connection. Bridge.php is not a connection itself, actually this is just a way to transfer data between remote and local machine and nothing else.

To configure osCommerce PHP MySQL Bridge Connection, follow few steps:

1. Download the latest version of PHP MySQL Bridge here (recommended) or open your application main directory - usually it is "C:\Program Files\MagneticOne\Store Manager for ... " and find directory "Service" there. Inside this directory you can find bridge.php file.

2. Important. Edit bridge.php file - change default user name (default username is 1) and password (default password is 1) to keep your store protected.

Open bridge.php file (you can open it using NotePad or WordPad) and find the following lines there:

$username = "1";
$password = "1";

Put your own values instead of "1" in both lines. Also here you can find how you can make Bridge connection more secure.

You may keep all other settings as they are unless you have any errors.

3. Copy bridge to your online store root (catalog) directory. Bridge should be accessible as http://www.myonlinestore.com/bridge.php whereas your store link is http://www.myonlinestore.com.

Tip: Also it is recommended to run Bridge.php Self Test. It checks your website to make sure there are no problems in your hosting configuration. Your hosting support can solve all problems found there.

4. Open Store Manager for osComemrce -> Tools -> Preferences and enable PHP MySQL bridge connection check-box.

5. Specify the following PHP MySQL Bridge and Local Database Connection Settings:

• Bridge URL - Specify Bridge URL, it should look like http://www.myonlinestore.com/bridge.php whereas your store URL is http://www.myonlinestore.com.
• Username and Password - Specify those you used to define above (see step 2).
• Database Name - Specify local database name (type name manually) or select one from the drop-down using browse button .

Note: Local database and your store database are two different databases and their names may be different or may be the same, it doesn't matter. 

Tip: Use Test Connection button to verify if all settings are correct. 

Note: If you wish to create new local database you can type its name manually and use test connection button. You'll see the notification that local database with specified name does not exist and Store Manager may ask you to create one.

Note that it is not your live store database, it is your local database used to work with your data locally. In order to see your live store data you need to Get Data from Web either using Tools -> Database Bridge -> Get Data from Web or using the corresponding Action (see below for options).

Tip: Use Bridge.php Self Test Tool to check your website and to make sure there are no problems in your hosting configuration. Your hosting support can solve all problems found there.

6. Click Ok to save this entry, close Prefences and to connect to your database, or click cancel to discard this entry.

Also you can use Database Connection Wizard to setup your connection or make Database backup/Restore selecting the corresponding actions from the drop-down.

Please see our troubleshooter at support.magneticone.com under Troubleshooter >> Configure Database Connection to get a step-by-step assistance.

7. Now you have to retrieve data from your web store into your local database.In main application window select Tools -> Database Bridge -> Get Data from Web  or use the corresponding Action in Preferences.

Wait while data is transfered. Depending on database size and connection speed it may take from few seconds to several hours (large database + slow connection). Follow few steps of Backup/Restore wizard. Now you may work with your store - add/modify products, categories, import products etc. 

8. It is important to post all changes you have made to your online store. Select Tools -> Database Bridge -> Post Changes to Web or use the corresponding Action in Preferences. This action will post all commands stored in Pending Bridge Datasection to bridge.php installed on your store. When Bridge receives the file, it will execute all commands one by one in order as they were stored/made. After all commands executed successfully, your remote store will reflect all changes that you have made locally.

9. Check whether all changes you made were reflected on web store properly.

Also you can Clear all Changes (will clear all commands), but pay attention that you won't be able to undo this action.

Note: It is strongly recommended to create database backup before any mass operations which may be potentially unsafe.

If you have any suggestions on osCommerce - PHP MySQL Bridge Connection Settings, you're welcome to contact our support team.