How To Run PHP From Windows Command Line in WAMPServer

Question

I'm new to php and wanted to run php from command line. I have installed WAMP and set the "System Variables" to my php folder ( which is C:wampinphpphp5.4.3).

When i go to Run -> CMD -> Type php -a and hit enter, it says interactive mode enabled. But when I write echo 'Hi'; it shows nothing.

I even don't see anything like 'php >" when i type php -a and hit enter.

Answer 1

The PHP CLI as its called ( php for the Command Line Interface ) is called php.exe It lives in c:wampinphpphp5.x.yphp.exe ( where x and y are the version numbers of php that you have installed )

If you want to create php scrips to run from the command line then great its easy and very useful.

Create yourself a batch file like this, lets call it phppath.cmd :

PATH=%PATH%;c:wampinphpphpx.y.z
php -v

Change x.y.z to a valid folder name for a version of PHP that you have installed within WAMPServer

Save this into one of your folders that is already on your PATH, so you can run it from anywhere.

Now from a command window, cd into your source folder and run >phppath.

Then run

php your_script.php

It should work like a dream.

Here is an example that configures PHP Composer and PEAR if required and they exist

@echo off

REM **************************************************************
REM * PLACE This file in a folder that is already on your PATH
REM * Or just put it in your C:Windows folder as that is on the
REM * Search path by default
REM * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
REM * EDIT THE NEXT 3 Parameters to fit your installed WAMPServer
REM **************************************************************


set baseWamp=D:wamp
set defaultPHPver=7.4.3
set composerInstalled=%baseWamp%composer
set phpFolder=inphpphp

if %1.==. (
    set phpver=%baseWamp%%phpFolder%%defaultPHPver%
) else (
    set phpver=%baseWamp%%phpFolder%%1
)

PATH=%PATH%;%phpver%
php -v
echo ---------------------------------------------------------------


REM IF PEAR IS INSTALLED IN THIS VERSION OF PHP

IF exist %phpver%pear (
    set PHP_PEAR_SYSCONF_DIR=%baseWamp%%phpFolder%%phpver%
    set PHP_PEAR_INSTALL_DIR=%baseWamp%%phpFolder%%phpver%pear
    set PHP_PEAR_DOC_DIR=%baseWamp%%phpFolder%%phpver%docs
    set PHP_PEAR_BIN_DIR=%baseWamp%%phpFolder%%phpver%
    set PHP_PEAR_DATA_DIR=%baseWamp%%phpFolder%%phpver%data
    set PHP_PEAR_PHP_BIN=%baseWamp%%phpFolder%%phpver%php.exe
    set PHP_PEAR_TEST_DIR=%baseWamp%%phpFolder%%phpver%ests

    echo PEAR INCLUDED IN THIS CONFIG
    echo ---------------------------------------------------------------
) else (
    echo PEAR DOES NOT EXIST IN THIS VERSION OF php
    echo ---------------------------------------------------------------
)

REM IF A GLOBAL COMPOSER EXISTS ADD THAT TOO
REM **************************************************************
REM * IF A GLOBAL COMPOSER EXISTS ADD THAT TOO
REM *
REM * This assumes that composer is installed in /wamp/composer
REM *
REM **************************************************************
IF EXIST %composerInstalled% (
    ECHO COMPOSER INCLUDED IN THIS CONFIG
    echo ---------------------------------------------------------------
    set COMPOSER_HOME=%baseWamp%composer
    set COMPOSER_CACHE_DIR=%baseWamp%composer

    PATH=%PATH%;%baseWamp%composer

    rem echo TO UPDATE COMPOSER do > composer self-update
    echo ---------------------------------------------------------------
) else (
    echo ---------------------------------------------------------------
    echo COMPOSER IS NOT INSTALLED
    echo ---------------------------------------------------------------
)

set baseWamp=
set defaultPHPver=
set composerInstalled=
set phpFolder=

Call this command file like this to use the default version of PHP

> phppath

Or to get a specific version of PHP like this

> phppath 5.6.30