Hi guys..
since ever those tow messages appears in my setup progress, ive searched about them and found that the first one is no big deal which is this one:
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PHP magic_quotes_gpc [is enabled]
Warning!
You should consider disabling magic_quotes_gpc. For more information click here.
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the second one is the following, i did not find any further information how to fix this because i believe its the reason behind Arabic words don't appear correctly in the gallery.. anyone can help to fix and remove this warring??

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PHP mbstring package [is not present]
Warning!
Strings generated internally by PHP may not display correctly. (e.g. dates)
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[i] PHP magic_quotes_gpc [is enabled][/i]
If you have access to your php.ini you can try to disable it there. You may alternatively be able to disable that via htaccess. If you don't know anything about that please ask your host.

[i]PHP mbstring package [is not present][/i]
You need to ask your host to install or enable that package on your server.

ill check if the host can do anything i am on godaddy.com

If you are using English only, the mbstring warning can be ignored. The magic quotes can also be ignored although things are better with it reset.

the technical support replied by:
Please note that you can enable this through the php.ini file that you create and upload to the server.

can u let me know what to write into that file and where to upload?

You will have to ask them that. It depends on what they have implemented. For instance on my ISP, there is an admin tool that lets me edit this file.

ok I'll check

What isn't obvious if you aren't overly familiar with installing things to hosting is you can hit the "go" button at the bottom to bypass those warnings and set it up anyway.

I almost just deleted the whole thing and went with one of the quick installs godaddy has available.

I hope using the program is easier than installing it, or I shall be extremely grumpy when I uninstall it.

I'm going to say the same thing I say to the programmers at work "Damn it Jim, I'm an artist, not a programmer! If it has to be done then it has to be in the directions." And yeah I get away with that because I'm the one who has to explain it to the EU.

One can spend eons explaining complex things to the uninitiated. We expect that people will take the effort to do some research/learning. If not, we probably don't have the time to make them satisfied users.

Welcome to my hell... day in... day out... mediating a world of user and programmers...

If you want people to use the program, when you write the directions you have to remember that what seems really obvious to a programmer or someone involved in the day to day of running things may or may not be obvious to those who want to use the program.

If the average 6th grader can't figure out what to do from your documentation, your documentation needs work... btw it actually much easier to get a 6th grader to try something unfamiliar and read the directions than it is an adult...

None of the issues I encountered were very complicated, I realize that "PHP magic_quotes_gpc" seems self explanatory to a developer, but it is not self explanatory to the average user.

In the long run you save yourself a whole of work and frustration with good documentation. With good documentation you never hear from people like me, I'd rather not be bothered with forums, too much work and too much crap in the chitchat to find what I'm looking for.

If the programmers can't disassociate themselves enough to see the program from the user's point of view find a tech writer. I assume you don't do this for your health and you want people using the product?

I gather you are volunteering for the job of tech writer? In case you did not notice, this project is being done by just two people. In the past we have had people complaining about the lack of documentation--certainly an issue--but no one who cares enough to add his effort to the project.

"Hire a tech writer"--so, how much did you pay for this software? I venture not enough pay any salaries.

Please note that we are a very small team in comparison with other projects and that we do this all in our spare time and provide the result for free! Don't expect us to do everything for you. Things on the net require some learning. This is technical by nature and sometimes not avoidable.

If you are not able or willing to learn a few things you should maybe consider to get someone who knows about it. Of course that probably will not be for free.

Regarding magic quotes and such there is a note on the setup program. One search on Google or else would have brought up info.

Anyway, Zenphoto is a community project and contributions are always welcome. If you feel that our documention lacks something in some parts you are invited to help out with that.