Header Banner module fails to launch

[John Robi]

Hello,

What do they say about great minds? I just read your reply and smiled because I did most of what you recommend. And yes I agree I'll use the other support forum.

Before I leave this forum, an update. I installed a new 3.3.11 and all works as expected. Board Setting goes to Board Settings screen and I installed a new Header Banner I downloaded. And the Header Banner button works as expected.

So far I have not been successful in importing database tables from the old database to the new 3.3.11.

I am working on permissions to allow a third party to have access to the forum software for diagnostic help.

To the administrator, final thank you. Your input allowed me to expand my knowledge about many aspects not only of the Header Banner but, the phpBB3 software as well. I would not be as far along as I am without your input.

Yours,
John

[John Robi]

What does Arnold Schwarzenegger say... I'll be back.

Well here I am, back again.

Bottom line: I was able to create a new install of 3.3.11. Imported the old database* and the forum works. Then, downloaded headerbanner_3_2_4 and extracted it on my PC. Up loaded the folder hifikabin to the ext folder on the server. In ACP Customize tab Manage extensions I found Header Banner and executed install with no errors. Then, I selected enable and got the following error:




Here are the details of the module in ACP Customize:


Any ideas as where to look or how to correct?

Yours,

John


* I upgraded the old database using the 3.3.11 upgrade path then, exported it and imported it to a new database I had created while installing 3.3.11.

[John Robi]

Update,

Doing better though Header Banner still does not launch.

I went back to an earlier backup and retraced my steps. The database was the major issue and now I have it resolved. With my new (not an upgrade) freshly working 3.3.11 running with its database I no longer get the error messages above. I uploaded the extensions one at a time, then enabled and all except one extension enabled without error. The only extension causing an error is Header Banner with this error:
General Error
Module not accessible

BACKTRACE

FILE: (not given by php)
LINE: (not given by php)
CALL: msg_handler()

FILE: [ROOT]/includes/functions_module.php
LINE: 565
CALL: trigger_error()

FILE: [ROOT]/adm/index.php
LINE: 81
CALL: p_master->load_active()

This is the same error I received running phpBB3 3.4.5. Just to ensure the extension did not incur corruption at some point I downloaded a fresh 3.2.4 copy, extracted it on the PC then, uploaded the folder hifikabin to the server ext folder. In checking the permissions of the file I found it is 755 which is in keeping with other extensions,

As a side note there is an improvement from my phpBB3 3.4.5 in that the Board Settings button does access Board Settings screen though the Header Banner button gives the above error as it did in phpBB3 3.4.5.

Has anyone encountered this?

The first few lines of the error message give me concern:

Module not accessible

FILE: (not given by php)
LINE: (not given by php)

Could it be the php version on the server which is 7.2.34 is not high enough? The download page for the extension does not specify a php version level compliance.

Looking for help,

John

[Administrator]

This extension works correctly with your php version.

If the module is not available on a fresh board that indicates that the extension has not installed correctly. From the screenshots provided I assume you are using the download from phpBB. Try downloading the one from here and use that.

Disable the extension > Delete its data > Delete the extensions files from the server

Unzip the freshly downloaded extension on your computer and check that it contains all of the files and directories as per the screenshot, then upload them to the server.

screenshot_433.jpg

{Please remember not to unzip on the server as that can corrupt the file and directory structure.)

You mention other extensions install OK on the new board. Which ones are they and have you tried only installing Header Banner?

EDIT:- plus what do you see in your ACP when you go here

screenshot_435.jpg

[John Robi]

Update:

What would be helpful is to find where the index.php page draws its variable values to populate the section of HTML code in the Attachment Settings area.

In trying to overcome the Header Banner button in ACP going to a General Error, I've taken the following actions:

Step:
1. Created a new clean phpBB3 3.3.11 install with a new clean database that was used as part of the install.
A. Verified the database had the proper tables to support phpBB3.
B. Accessed ACP and verified in the Customize tab the only extension listed was vgilink.
C. Downloaded Header Banner 3.2.4 zip file from the Header Banner support site instead of phpBB3.
D. Extracted the zip file on my PC and uploaded folder hifikabin to the ext folder on the server.
E. Accessed ACP and verified in the Customize tab Header Banner was available to enable and enabled it without
error.
F. Accessed the General tab and clicked the button Header Banner, Header Banner configuration screen came up, no
General Error.

2. Created a second new clean phpBB3 3.3.11 install with a second new clean database that was used as part of the
install.
A. Verified the database had the proper tables to support phpBB3.
B. Deleted all database tables to allow for the import of the working database used with the upgraded phpBB3
(upgrade path from 3.4.5 to 3.3.11. This is a working phpBB3 3.3.11 with all users and posts intact plus extensions
disabled, extension data deleted plus extension folders deleted from the ext folder etc..).
C. Accessed ACP and verified in the Customize tab the extension list was empty.
D. Downloaded Header Banner 3.2.4 zip file from the Header Banner support site instead of phpBB3.
E. Extracted the zip file on my PC and uploaded folder hifikabin to the ext folder on the server.
F. Accessed ACP and verified in the Customize tab Header Banner was available to enable and enabled it without
error.
G. Accessed the General tab and clicked the button Header Banner, a General Error appeared. This is the exact same
error as with other phpBB3's.
H. I reviewed and compared the table ext both in the first phpBB3 (in step 1 above) with the table ext in the database
used in line step 2 above and found the data entries are the exact same.

Conclusion:
Using a new install without importing the old database* the Header Banner works nominally.
There is a fault in the database used in Step 2. And this fault effects only Header Banner from properly enabling.
Every other aspect of the phpBB3 with all elected extensions installed and enabled works nominally. I have spent hours of testing all with nominal results except with the aforementioned Header Banner.

As I had elucidated in prior posts, I am convinced one of the prior administrators of the phpBB3 upon finding the Header Banner not enabling properly when installed took it upon themselves to modify the code to change the Board Settings button to launch the Header Banner screen. This code change, wherever it is located must be found and returned to factory specs.

I have spent a lot of time examining the ACP related tables in the database to no avail. What would be helpful is to find where the index.php page draws its variable values to populate the section of HTML code in the Attachment Settings area.

I will be contacting phpBB3 to explore this issue.

Continued thanks to all for the help and guidance provided.

John

* The old database was updated to be 3.3.11 compliant during the upgrade 3.3.11 process.

[Administrator]

As we mentioned a few days ago, and you have now confirmed, the error you are getting is due to a previous Admin making some unknown edits to the database.

As such your issue is beyond the scope of this board which is for support of my extensions. Your best course of action is seeking specialist support on phpBB.com as both Mick and I have said.

[John Robi]

To all,

Problem resolved, see detail. I've been on a long journey to get to this point. I received an education on phpBB3. The first person who began my education was the administrator of this forum. He provided valuable links to support documentation allowing me to better understand phpBB3.

Detail:
It turns out there was no corruption causing the button behavior nor other behaviors in the ACP. The database had no issues either. This whole saga began when a prior administrator installed the extension Header Banner. And, when in the ACP, the button used to launch Header Banner caused a general error message the administrator made a work around. The button used for Board Settings was repurchased to launch Header Banner. Further, I found the extension Header Banner software itself was solid and not the cause.

Since no one could explain why the issue was happening it was assumed there was some type of corruption in phpBB3 and/or the database. It turns out phpBB created Module Management to effect behaviors and allows the Administrator to change every button's target* on the General tab in the category Board Configuration. This is where the button Board Settings was set to access Header Banner. And, the button Header Banner was improperly executed causing the General Error message. Entering the appropriate information the buttons returned to the expected behavior and work well.

Conclusion:
The prior administrator could not resolve the failure of the button used for Header Banner so instead used the button for accessing Board Settings to access Header Banner. The prior administrator used a standard feature in phpBB3 to effect the change. Though, no notes were made to document the changes nor were incoming new administrators advised.

One can find Module Management at: ACP; System; Administration Control Panel; General; Board Configuration; Module Management.

I am grateful to the Administer of this forum and everybody else who gave me direction to bring my issue to a successful resolution,

John

* In other words the anchor link <a href:"..."