Unable to install tar files

[TheListener]

Went to install a mod which was a tar file.

All I got was a white screen.

Any ideas?

[Wynna]

Can you please give more information? It may or not be related to it being a .tar file, as it stands.

Like, are there errors in the forum error log for this operation?
Also, a white page is sometimes associated to a PHP engine crashing or otherwise stopping short, and that should be logged in the server logs. Check them and post what you may find.
Also, what package is it?

[TheListener]

Error log is empty.

By package I presume you mean which mod: Ajax instant reply.

[Wynna]

Error log is empty.

Which one is empty? Please check the server error log as well.

By package I presume you mean which mod: Ajax instant reply.

Actually, I meant package, in case the mod had more than one.
It only has one on the mod site, though: a .tar.gz file. Of course, it should work, but it's not a .tar, simply. Please note that a .tar is not always .gzipped too, and a .gz is not always a .tar as well. If there is indeed a problem with the format and not something else, then we need to be specific about the format.

Also, what version of SMF are you using?

[TheListener]

Considering this is the 2.0 support topic I should imagine I am using 2.0 RC 1.2

[Wynna]

Considering this is the 2.0 support topic I should imagine I am using 2.0 RC 1.2

You'd be surprised how many times that is not the case. Specifying the version you are using is very helpful to cut support time and not need additional questions.

Please confirm about the server error log, if possible, as well.

Then, does this happen with any other mod (another .tar.gz package perhaps?), or only this?

[TheListener]

No errors in server error log.

[Wynna]

The mod appears to be compatible with RC1 only (in its declarative xml). How exactly did you try to install it and at which step do you get the white page?

Also, it might be useful to know:

does this happen with any other mod (another .tar.gz package perhaps?), or only this?

It could be a problem with your host's PHP module for .gz files, that is, zlib. Though that should appear in the logs.
A phpinfo() file might also help seeing if that might be the case. (What is a phpinfo() file?)

[TheListener]

The mod appears to be compatible with RC1 only

That's what manual edits are for.

[Wynna]

The mod appears to be compatible with RC1 only

That's what manual edits are for.

Went to install a mod which was a tar file.

All I got was a white screen.

Are you installing a .tar.gz file or manually making the edits of the mod?
Or another alternative?

Please consider explaining what you do and when you get a white page.

[TheListener]

All I get when I try and install the mod which has a .tar is a white screen.

[Wynna]

The mod appears to be compatible with RC1 only (in its declarative xml). How exactly did you try to install it and at which step do you get the white page?

The mod appears to be compatible with RC1 only

That's what manual edits are for.

Please tell also what manual edits you did, to install it on RC1.2. The only (practical) way is to un-archive the package, and edit the .xml file. But did you un-archive the package? You seem to say that you still have a .tar.gz file.

[TheListener]

I didn't say I manually installed it.

The attached file is the mod in question.

[Wynna]

The mod appears to be compatible with RC1 only

That's what manual edits are for.

So you didn't do any, but were going to? Then I'm afraid you misread the question:

The mod appears to be compatible with RC1 only (in its declarative xml). How exactly did you try to install it and at which step do you get the white page?

[TheListener]

All I get when I try and install the mod which has a .tar is a white screen.

This was the answer.

How do you usually try and install a mod?

[Wynna]

All I get when I try and install the mod which has a .tar is a white screen.

This was the answer.

How do you usually try and install a mod?

One: I usually upload it in Packages, and try installing it from Admin > Packages. This one wouldn't work, because Package Manager would not let it appear in the list of mods, knowing it's incompatible.

Two: You seemed to say you were ready to install it manually, but apparently that didn't happen.

Three: It could be "convinced" to try installing on another version, i.e., on RC1.2, if you use "Advanced" link in Packages page, and set SMF package manager to emulate another version. But if you did that, you could simply say so.

Four: Perhaps you try downloading it and installing immediately on the fly. Due to the potential incompatibilities (see point one and three), personally I never do that.
Was that what you did?

[TheListener]

The answer to number 4 was no.

Considering i have 3 forums and have used smf since April this year I believe I know how to install a mod.

[Wynna]

Whether you know how to install a mod or not was not the issue. And time does not say anything in itself, I know people administering sites for years and still don't know how to install a mod.
HOW you went about installing it this time, was the question. You still did not answer that question, as well as other questions that were asked above.

Please consider that this is not going to help anyone here. On the contrary, what may help is to try answering the questions that were asked.

[Norv]

@TheListener:
Please consider answering the questions that were asked, as they may help advance with this issue:

does this happen with any other mod (another .tar.gz package perhaps?), or only this?

The mod appears to be compatible with RC1 only (in its declarative xml). How exactly did you try to install it and at which step do you get the white page?

It could be a problem with your host's PHP module for .gz files, that is, zlib. Though that should appear in the logs.
A phpinfo() file might also help seeing if that might be the case. (What is a phpinfo() file?)

On another note, could you please attach your server error log for the day when you try installing (like today)? I know you said it's empty, but if it's really empty it's a little unexpected, some hosts could set their servers to not log PHP errors, and that would practically tie our hands if that was the case.

[TheListener]

@TheListener:
Please consider answering the questions that were asked, as they may help advance with this issue:

does this happen with any other mod (another .tar.gz package perhaps?), or only this?

Not happened before.

The mod appears to be compatible with RC1 only (in its declarative xml). How exactly did you try to install it and at which step do you get the white page?

Went to install in the usual way.

It could be a problem with your host's PHP module for .gz files, that is, zlib. Though that should appear in the logs.
A phpinfo() file might also help seeing if that might be the case. (What is a phpinfo() file?)

On another note, could you please attach your server error log for the day when you try installing (like today)? I know you said it's empty, but if it's really empty it's a little unexpected, some hosts could set their servers to not log PHP errors, and that would practically tie our hands if that was the case.

Nothing in error log. Only the access log.