Uploading my site from XAMPP to Apache public host - php

Question

This is a general question.
I`ve compliled site in xampp and it is properly running, because lack of experience I used mysql functions rather than the improved mysqli.
Uploading my site on ecowebhost the site does not work, I have changed paths so that, apparently, no connection error happens. but still I cannot interact with my database.
From the site seems that php4 version are supported, am I required to recompile my web site because of that?
this is a little sample code of what I am trying to do...
<?php
function connectto($tablename){
$db_host = "xxx";
$db_username = "xxx";
$db_pass = "xxx";
$link = mysqli_connect("$db_host","$db_username","$db_pass","$tablename") or die ("Could not connect to MySQL");
// #mysql_connect("$db_host","$db_username","$db_pass") or die ("Could not connect to MySQL");
// #mysql_select_db("$tablename") or die ("No database");
}
?>
Thanks
if I run the following
<?php
// connection to database
// include_once "connectto.php";
// connectto('test');
$tablename = "test";
$db_host = "xxx";
$db_username = "xxx";
$db_pass = "xxx";
$link =mysqli_connect("$db_host","$db_username","$db_pass","$tablename")
or die ("Could not connect to MySQL");
if (mysqli_connect_errno()) { die("Failed to connect to MySQL: " . mysqli_connect_error());}
else { echo " <br /><br />connection established! <br />";}
?>
the only error message that comes out is
Could not connect to MySQL
update....
I got a bit of my code working but I am struggling with finding a way to insert some values in the database...
<?php
$db_host = "xxxx";
$db_username = "xxxx";
$db_pass = "xxxx";
// $link = mysqli_connect("$db_host","$db_username","$db_pass","cl45-members-7b5") or die ("Could not connect to MySQL");
#mysql_connect("$db_host","$db_username","$db_pass") or die ("Could not connect to MySQL");
#mysql_select_db("cl45-members-7b5") or die ("No database");
$sql ="INSERT INTO members (username, email, gps_lat, gps_long, password, skill, skill_rate,) VALUES ('a','2','3','4','5','5','6')";
print '<br /><br /> Great! now you are registered; now update your profile <br />';
mysql_query ("$sql");
print '<br /><br />tutto ok;<br /><br />';
?>
Is there anything that strikes being wrong? I got no error like database not found...

Answer 1

Your question is confusing me slightly but you can connect using MySQLi using the following:
$link = new mysqli($db_host,$db_username,$db_pass,$tablename);
In your code you have
or die ("Could not connect to MySQL");
Which says if you can not connect for whatever reason just print out this. You're not going to get any more information because you need to include $conn->connect_error e.g.
if ($link->connect_error) {die ("Failed: " . $link->connect_error);}
You should end up with something like
$tablename = "test";
$db_host = "xxx";
$db_username = "xxx";
$db_pass = "xxx";
$link = new mysqli($db_host,$db_username,$db_pass,$tablename);
if ($link->connect_error) {
die ("Failed: " . $link->connect_error);
} else {
echo " <br /><br />connection established! <br />";
}

Answer 2

After some wondering around and splitting the problem in little subtasks, i believe I managed to understand that that little stupid extra comma in the list was preventig me to run the program, I copy pasted a syntax shared on-line and now everything seems to work...
outcome:
- check the spelling
- Isolate problems one by one...