Hi OST Friends,

BACKGROUND:
I am back working on my website to update Joomla [new site in test folder now with Joomla 2.5.4] and add E-commerce. I am working with a template [hotjoomla templates - Great Support] that I did a hot install because this template has the new Virtue Mart. Install went fine and can see VM shop perfectly. I however, have decided to go with HikaShop as I am more comfortable with their support as well. HikaShop is installed and I have been messing around to get back into Joomla [couple of years since i build original site] as well as start to learn HS.

PROBLEM:
I created one product page [with one uploaded photo 300kb] tied to my top menu to start learning HS. First thing I noticed is that this page takes forever to load. Note that I did add a large number of characteristic choices to this product which results in over 2000 variants. [don't know if this is related to slow load time or not].

CRASH #1:
Crashed website when added second watermarked image to ballerina product page. Don't know if water mark had anything to do with it, but when I removed second image, page was back online. Error message:
<br />
<b>Fatal error</b>: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 22234071 bytes) in <b>/home/xxxxx/public_html/xxxxx/plugins/system/sef/sef.php</b> on line <b>34</b><br />

CRASH #2:
Second time crash same page with one watermarked image plus after adding product dimensions.. Also this product page is still very slow to open up. When remove dimensions page opens ok. Plus if I leave dimensions on product page but turn off "dimensions display" on HS Config/Display... page opens ok. Error Message: <br />
<b>Fatal error</b>: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 19249249 bytes) in <b>/home/xxxxx/public_html/xxxxx/plugins/system/sef/sef.php</b> on line <b>39</b><br />

CRASH #3:
Third Crash after installing Modules Anywhere Plugin. I created a new article and inserted a banner module into it. Then I created a menu item on my Main Menu

Hi Scott,

Do not worry, there is a way to fix this, and the one fix should fix all 3 reasons why your site crashed.

You can increase the limit of your allowed memory size by editing the php.ini file.

Do you have access to FTP? Do you see a PHP.INI file? Who do you host with?

We will work with you until these errors stop! :-D

Hi Tessa

Thanks for Quick response. I use Filezilla for uploads is that what you meant by FTP? I host with Rochen and have Cpanel. Where would I find this PHP.INI file?

Could these memory size issues be a result of multiple test sites on my domain? I was messing around with a test site that I used SP Upgrade to upgrade my 1.5 site to 1.7, but I never got the formatting worked out and I was keeping it around for no good reason other than in case I wanted some of my original database which I understand could be upgraded to 2.5 . So I have live 1.5 site, offline upgraded 1.7 test site, and new offline 2.5.4 test site.

Thanks
Scott

Hi Scott, yes, filezilla is your FTP program. (File Transfer Protocol).

You can locate the php.ini in the root directory of your server.

If you do not see one, you can create one, depending on your hosting server. Some hosting servers do not allow you to create a php.ini file, but some servers, such as GoDaddy will allow you to create the php.ini file and add values to it, which will overwrite their default php.ini.

In your php.ini you should find this section, or create this section:

memory_limit = 2M; // and change the number to 64M or a higher number.

Hi again Tessa

I searched my server: public_html [is this my root directory?] using the search tool and found no file PHP.INI. I have posted on the Rochen forum to clarify if I have this file or not and I will get back to you when I hear from them. Thanks again

Scott

Hi Scott,

With Rochen, the maximum memory_limit you are able to have is 128MB.

You can locate your php.ini file by going to the following path:

(administrator) -> help -> system info -> PHP Information Tab -> 6th block down -> Configuration File (php.ini) Path

If you do not see one you are able to create one, but with Rochen it won't allow for overwriting their current settings.

You should cancel your Rochen post on the forum and send in a support ticket to increase your memory.

Your maximum memory at the moment is 128 MB, and your server is trying to look for 21.2 MB more to do this.

Also if you prefer a server that will never give you issues such as this, go with CloudAccess.net. It has been my favorite hosting server and the support has been very responsive and quick. :-)

Thanks for info Tessa,

I will check with Rochen to investigate this further

Regards

Scott

Scott,

In case you need it, we have some information on changing your php.ini files. Sounds like you need Rochen, but this may help you.

www.ostraining.com/blog/wordpress/wordpr...allowed-memory-size/
www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/installation-problems/

Good Luck,
Ed

Thanks Ed I will check them out. I am speaking with Rochen on whether they will allow an increase of memory or not.

Meanwhile, I have been in contact with HikaShop and given that my site is very small, I have learned that these crashes are most likely due to my lack of ecommerce skills... as in my initial post, i mentioned that on that my product page I had entered 4 characteristics [one having over 20 colors] and the result was over 2000 variants. Nicolas at HikaShop pointed out that this is the reason for the draw on memory - having to load those 2000 variants each time. I am now rethinking my design to reduce the number of variants down to a few hundred max.

Regards

Scott

Hi Scott,

Glad you got some help from their support. They would know best about the 2000 variants. Let us know if you run into other problems

Cheers,
ed

Thanks Ed, Nick, & Tessa,

Yes HikaShop support has been great. I also got confirmation from Rochen that their max is 128MB, however, given the news from HikaShop, I am holding off from worrying about the memory issue and focusing on fixing my products in HikaShop first.

Thanks again

Scott

You're welcome, Scott! We're glad to be of help! :)

Kind regards,
Nick