For some time there have been problems with deleting uploaded images. The bug seems to be still present in AppGini version 5.97. In this article I show a small help function to fix this problem.

In the AppGini Forum a solution is shown which requires the modification of the files TABLENAME_dml.php. However, changes in these files are overwritten the next time they are generated. Here I show a solution that uses only hooks, which remain in place the next time they are generated.

Problem

In the past, uploaded images could be deleted by clicking the Remove image checkbox and then saving the record. Due to a bug in AppGini generated code this still does not work in latest version 5.97, as you can see here:

The image remains. This affects both, the database table and the file system.

Solution

Step 1

Copy & Paste the following function in a central place, for example in hooks/__global.php:

// file: hooks/__global.php
function remove_image_hack($tn, $field, &$data)
{
  $pk = $data["selectedID"] ?? $data[getPKFieldName($tn)] ?? null;
  $key = "{$field}_remove";
  if (isset($_REQUEST[$key]) && $_REQUEST[$key] == "1" && $pk) {
    $fn = existing_value($tn, $field, $pk);
    if ($fn) {
      $dir = getUploadDir('');
      $ft = pathinfo($fn, PATHINFO_FILENAME);
      $fe = pathinfo($fn, PATHINFO_EXTENSION);
      foreach (["", "_tv", "_dv"] as $key => $suffix) @unlink("{$dir}{$ft}{$suffix}.{$fe}");
      $data[$field] = null;
    }
  }
  return TRUE;
}

$pk = $data["selectedID"] ? $data["selectedID"] : ($data[getPKFieldName($tn)] ? $data[getPKFieldName($tn)] : null);

Step 2

For each table containing images, open the PHP hook file, find the TABLENAME_before_update(...) function and add the following line of code per image-field:

function TABLENAME_before_update(&$data, $memberInfo, &$args) {
    return remove_image_hack("TABLENAME", "FIELDNAME", $data);
}

Example

In my case, tablename is employees and fieldname is image. So, my code looks like this:

function employees_before_update(&$data, $memberInfo, &$args)
{
    return remove_image_hack("employees", "image", $data);
}

That's it. Repeat this line for every problematic image field, if you have more than one in that table.

Result

Here is the result, it works as expected, now:

Summary

I'm pretty sure the bug will be fixed with one of the next versions. Anyway, if you, like me and my customers, need a soIution immediately, this function should help you.

Have you also noticed that the database backup feature built into AppGini web applications does not work on Windows? The solution is quite simple, as I found out today. Read this post to see how we can solve this problem.

Database Backup

Maybe you have already seen the database backup function in the admin area of your AppGini application:

Click the Create Backup File button, confirm the prompt and check if it works for you:

Problem

I don't get any backup but I get the following error message:

(mysqldump --no-tablespaces -u"root" -p**** -h"localhost" "..." -r "C:/xampp/htdocs/...../admin"/backups/....sql) 2>&1
Der Befehl "mysqldump" ist entweder falsch geschrieben oder
konnte nicht gefunden werden.

This is not only the case on your Windows development computer, but also when your application is installed on a Windows server at the customer's site. Database backup is even more important in customer's productive environment.

Reason

The Apache webserver tries to execute a program called mysqldump on the server, but this program is not found.

Solution

The solution to this is actually quite simple. The easiest way is: we have to tell our Webserver (Apache) where to look for this program. For this we can use the environment variable Path of the Windows system environment.

tl;dr

1. Add the following directory name to your Windows Systemenvironment PATH variable (XAMPP):
   C:\xampp\mysql\bin
2. Restart your webserver

Step by step

Locate the local mysql/bin directory (on your machine or on the server) and copy the full directory name to the clipboard.

Note: The screenshot above shows the installation directory of my XAMPP environment. This directory will be different when using a different webserver like WAMP.

Open System environment editor

Click button for Environment Variables

At the bottom part, find Path variable and edit the row

Create new entry...

...paste directory name and close all open dialogs using OK button.

Although you have added the mysql/bin directory, your Apache process does not know about this, yet. By default it "reads" environment variables on process start. So we have to restart our webserver. This will force Apache to read the (modified) environment variables including Path variable.

Please note that your web-applications running on that webserver will not be available for a few seconds. If this is critical for your users, you should postpone restart to maintenance times.

Restart Apache webserver
by using services management console

Restart your (Apache) webserver in service management console (services.msc).

or
by using XAMPP Control Panel

You can also use XAMPP-Control Panel for this, if you are more familiar with that.

Then you have to stop Apache first, confirm Admin-prompt, then start Apache and confirm Admin prompt again.

Test backup function

Test backup function again:

That's it. Apache was able to find mysqldump program and created a backup file of our database. Restore works as well, now.

Summary

Finding the reason and solution was much easier than expected. I hope this blog post will help you in the future!

In a project, I wanted to make users clearly aware that there are notes on a record. This is possible with a very simple CSS animation.

You probably already know the so-called badges for the children tabs, in which the number of records is displayed. Instructions for this are available in the AppGini Udemy course, which many of us have booked and attended to get started. Our AppGini Helper Javascript Library has a function for this (included in compact function), which is described here.

Those badges show the number or records. Anyway, if you want to draw a user's attention to it, the small grey circles might be a little too discreet.

In another project I once worked with CSS animations, and I wanted to apply that here too.

CSS Code

This is the CSS code for especially this notes-tab:

#tab_notes-item_id > .badge {
  animation: blinker 2s linear infinite;
  background-color: darkorange;
}

@keyframes blinker {
  50% { opacity: 0.1; }
}

Result

Play video and watch the middle section which contains children tabs.

Well, maybe it's still too discrete, but better than before. I'm thinking of modifying my CSS a bit more so that it can't be missed

Did you notice that those children tabs are hidden in the beginning and fade in on mouse hover? Have a look at this post here.

Customize

Using very little CSS you can customize colors and animation as you like. Change the selector according to your tablename and fieldname:

Syntax: #tab_ + YOUR_TABLENAME + - + YOUR_COLUMNNAME

Hope you like it!

Extra Tipp

Did you know you can colourize the whole tab-caption?

#tab_tasks-item_id {
        background-color: darkslateblue;
        color: white !important;
    }