1.6. PHP MySQL Bridge Connection

This section describes how to set up a Bridge connection in Store Manager for WooCommerce.

The bridge is just another way to connect to your WooCommerce database. Normally program uses the direct MySQL connection to a remote database installed on a website or some other web server. In some cases this type of connection does not work - your hosting provider may not allow direct connections or your LAN settings/firewall prevent the connection from being established. The bridge allows you to work with a remote database without a direct MySQL connection established.

While working through the bridge, you must store your temporary data somewhere in a local database. Bridge.php is used only for two major operations - get data from a remote database and post data to that database. You must understand the difference between a bridge connection and a direct MySQL connection. Bridge.php is not a connection itself, actually, this is just a way to transfer data between remote and local machines and nothing else.

To configure the PHP MySQL bridge connection, follow a few steps:

1. Download the latest version of PHP MySQL Bridge here (recommended) or open your application main directory. Usually, it is C:\Program Files(x86)\eMagicOne\Store Manager for WooCommerce\Service

Inside this directory, you can find the bridge.php file.

2. Edit bridge .php file

Important!

We strongly recommended to change default username (default username is 1) and password (default password is 1) to keep your store protected.

Open bridge.php file (you can open it with NotePad or WordPad) and find the following lines there:

$username = "1"

$password = "1"

Put your own values instead of "1" in both lines and do not forget to save the changes.

Also, there you can find how you can make Bridge connection more secure.

You may keep all other settings as they are, unless you have any errors.

3. Copy bridge to your online store root (catalog) directory. Bridge should be accessible as http://www.onlinestore.com/bridge.php, whereas your store link is http://www.onlinestore.com.

4. Open Store Manager -> Settings tab -> Preferences (F12) and enable PHP MySQL bridge connection checkbox.

5. Specify the following PHP MySQL Bridge and Local Database Connection Settings:

• "Bridge URL". Specify Bridge URL, it should look like http://www.onlinestore.com/bridge.php, whereas your store URL is http://www.onlinestore.com.

• "Username" and "Password". Specify those you used to specify in bridge.php file (see step 2).

• "Database Name". Specify a local database name (type name manually) or select one from the drop-down using the [Select Database] button. If you do not know what is your local database name, simply specify local_database and hit [OK] to create a new one.

• Note: A local database and your store database are two different databases and their names may be different or may be the same, it doesn't matter.

• Note: If you wish to create a new local database you can type its name manually and use the [Test Connection] button. You may receive the notification that local database with specified name does not exist and Store Manager may ask you to create one.

Tip: Use the [Bridge Self Test] tool to check your website and to make sure there are no issues in your hosting configuration. Your hosting support can solve all problems found there.

Tip: Use the [Test Connection] button to verify if all settings are correct.

6. Click [OK] to save this entry, close "Preferences" and connect to your local database, or click [Cancel] to discard this entry.

Also, you can use Database Connection wizard to set up your connection, as well.

7. Now you have to retrieve data from your web store into your local database.

Go to Tools -> PHP MySQL Bridge -> Get Data from Web (CTRL + G). Wait while data is transferred.

Depending on database size and connection speed it may take from a few seconds to several hours (large database + slow connection). Follow a few steps of Backup/Restore wizard. Now you may work with your data - add/modify products, categories, import products etc.

This action will post all commands stored in the [Pending Bridge Data] section to bridge.php installed at your store.