WHY am I getting this UNNECESSARY header error!???

[jdock1]

I ABSOLUTELY HATE header errors! I CAN NEVER use session_start() because I ALWAYS get this error. I have looked everywhere and still cannot find a solution to my problem.

 

All I am trying to do is add session_start(). Its on the VERY first line of the page, and there is no code before it at all.

 

Here is my code:

 

<?php
session_start();
  $txnid = session_id();

if(isset($_GET['email']))
{
   
   
    /*
     * include database connection page
     */
    include("db.php");
    /*
     * insert to db
     */
    $sql = "INSERT INTO `TRANSACTIONS_TAB` (PASSWORD,USER_EMAIL,PAY_STATUS) VALUES ('$txnid','$email',0)";

    if(mysql_query($link))
    {
        echo "Session stored!";
        $subject = "Your Cash Code From mysite";
        $message = "Hello, <br/> Your cash code is ".$txnid."<br/> Please do not share with anyone. This code can only be redeemed once. Once redeemed successfully, the PayPal transaction will be initiated and payment sent to the email address you provided. If you did not recieve the payment, please contact support.  ";
        $from = "[email protected]"; // include from email address
        $headers = "From:" . $from;
        mail($email,$subject,$message,$headers);
        echo "Your cash code has been sent to your email address!";
    }
    else
    {
       echo "An unknown error has occured. Please contact support and mention error ID CCF1.";
    }
}
?>

 

Here is the errors Im getting:

 

 

Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: Cannot send session cookie - headers already sent by (output started at /home/mydock/public_html/mysite/genCashCode.php:3) in /home/mydock/public_html/mysite/genCashCode.php on line 4

 

Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: Cannot send session cache limiter - headers already sent (output started at /home/mydock/public_html/mysite/genCashCode.php:3) in /home/mydock/public_html/mysite/genCashCode.php on line 4

An unknown error has occured. Please contact support and mention error ID CCF1.

 

I kind of now just realized it could be caused from sending the email. How can I make this work then if this is the case?

 

Thanks

[PFMaBiSmAd]

According to the error messages, the session_start statement is on line 4 in your file and you have something being sent as output on or before line 3.

 

What's in your file before the <?php tag?

[jdock1]

Absolutely nothing!

 

Thats why I dont get it. There is nothing at all before the php tag. Just whitespace. Could that cause this?!!

[jdock1]

Ok well I deleted the whitespace and now there are no header errors, but now Im getting the custom error message, basically meaning the database was unable to insert anything and the email was not able to be sent.

 

I added mysql_errno and got 1064. Now I cant find any where online what the error is for this code.

 

Does anybody know what the mysql error number 1064 is?

 

Thanks!

[PFMaBiSmAd]

mysql_error gives the textual error message.

[jdock1]

Thanks! I figured it out. For some reason I was putting the $link var in the mysql_query instead of the actual $sql variable.

 

I got it working. Thanks guys. And GOD php is such a little girl whining about some whitespace! They need to fix that!

[PFMaBiSmAd]

The problem is not php, its a requirement of the HTTP protocol. Headers must be output before any content is sent (white-space is content as far as the protocol is concerned.)

 

The error is not unnecessary. It tells you two things -

 

1) The session_start failed, so none of your $_SESSION variables will work,

 

2) That you are outputting something before a header and where it is being output at so that you can find it and eliminate it.

[jdock1]

Oh ok. Thanks for the info.

 

So now I have another question. I need to set a cookie after the database operations and the email has been sent. I cant do this because of that, I will get header errors.

So how can I do this?

 

Thanks!