Error connecting to database…

Hey p-rposters,

Strange… I tested it extensively with 3.8.1, 3.8.2 and 3.8.3 and it works fine for all three versions.

For database access it just uses the standard WP connection ($wpdb).

So, my guess is something else changed like:
– maybe your provider changed some php and / or mySQL settings
– maybe it’s clashing with another plugin you recently installed

Can you try to deactivate all other plugins and try again?

Keep me posted!

peace,
Rolf

Hi Rolf,

I did try deactivating my plugins, but the problem was still there.

I also decided to see if it was something with your plugin or with my database, so I installed a competitor’s plugin (no way near as good as yours). The database connection error still happened after a long time trying to connect.

So, my guess is that it is something in my config file or something.

Do you have any ideas of places I can go and check. Or a way to get debug information.

I really like the idea of being able to clean and optimize my large database. I will appreciate your help.

Thanks

Hey p-rposters,

I’m happy to hear it was not my plugin ??
Sorry, I know, that doesn’t solve your problem…

Did you change your theme recently?

Are you sure it happened exactly after upgrading to 3.8.1 (in other words 3.8.1 caused the problem?)

Are all the other plugins working correctly?

It looks like ‘something’ messes up the $wpdb connection variable. That’s why I thought another plugin would be the problem.

About debugging:
change the following line in your wp-config.php file (in the root)
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false);
to
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
Maybe that will show you some serious errors.

Other suggestion: upgrade to WP 3.8.3 and see if the problem still exists.

Good luck and keep me posted!

Rolf

Hello again Rolf,

I sincerely appreciate your superior plugin support. You are truly one of the “good guys” that really care about the programs you create – that they are usable for the masses. Thank you, and Thank you once again.

In going back to try to figure out where the conflict was, I discovered the problem – the conflicting plugin… just like you suspected.

Anyway, the popular plugin that is causing the conflict is:

NextGen Gallery – Version 2.0.61 | By Photocrati Media

Because it is a very popular plugin, you may want to have a look.

But for me, the answer is simple – simply deactivate that plugin before I optimize my database. No muss – no fuss.

Anyway, this support thread may help others in the future.

Thanks again. Keep up the excellent work – we REALLY do appreciate it!

Hey p-rposters,

Thanks for all the kudos and the very good review!

I suddenly realized one of my own websites is also using the NextGen Gallery, same version as you:

NextGen Gallery – Version 2.0.61 | By Photocrati Media

On that website NextGen and my plugin run together without any connection (or other) problems…

So, it must be something more than just the NextGen gallery…
(Do you perhaps use other plugins, based on / working with NextGen, like NextGEN Gallery Optimizer for instance?)

peace,
Rolf

Wow, that’s interesting.

It doesn’t seem to be in connection to any other plugin.

I deactivated all plugins, then activated one at a time until I came to the conflict – which was NextGen.

I then deactivated NextGen, and activated the remaining plugins one by one without any conflicts (testing Optimize database after each plugin was activated).

I went back and activated NextGen again and the conflict happened again.

Would it be helpful if I added the debug code you previously provided and see what debug info I get?

Thanks again Rolf.

Hey p-rposters,

Did you also try to only activate NextGen and my plugin (all the rest deactivated)?

Won’t hurt to switch on debugging for a moment. Maybe it will give us a clue about what’s going on.

You are the first and (so far) only one who came up with this issue.

It’s all very weird ??

peace,
Rolf

Hi Rolf,

I turned on debug so I have all that information. I didn’t know if you wanted it posted here, so I am just posting what I did and what happened:

—————-
I deactivated all plugins beside NextGen

I then activated Optimize Database

Optimize Database did NOT activate (at least it looked that way)

I activated NextGen and then it showed that Optimize Database was also activated

I then tried Optimize Database – it would not connect to the database

I went back to my plugins page and got an error

I refreshed my plugin page (got the plugins back), then activated all my plugins except NextGen

I then used Optimize Database and it worked fine.
—————-

So, it does seem that something on my installation makes those two plugins not play nice. But, like I said, it’s not a big deal to me. Now that I know it’s the NextGen plugin I’ll simply deactivate it when I choose to optimize my database.

Thanks again for all your help. If you would like the debug info let me know how you want me to get it to you.

Hey p-rposters,

Thanks for testing!

If you want you can mail the debug info to me.
i_n_f_o at c_a_g_e_w_e_b_d_e_v dot c_o_m

peace,
Rolf