Welcome
This is the online documentation for ExeOutput for PHP.
Description¶
ExeOutput for PHP™ is software that lets you create Windows desktop and console applications from PHP scripts and websites.
With ExeOutput for PHP
Convert PHP scripts, websites, JavaScript, HTML, and databases into stand-alone apps for Windows (single EXE files) that do not require a web server or PHP distribution. Create fully-customizable applications for the desktop with PHP, HTML, and JavaScript, without additional skills.
- Create a single EXE for Windows: ExeOutput for PHP combines the PHP runtime and all PHP, HTML, JavaScript, assets, XML, PDF, and other files into one single EXE. Files are compressed and protected: they cannot be unpacked later with a decompiler or an archive tool like 7-Zip.
- The executable is stand-alone: the PHP runtime is embedded inside the EXE and is never unpacked to the hard disk.
- You can choose the version of PHP you want to execute: from PHP 7.3 to PHP 8.3.
- PHP scripts are never unpacked to the hard disk and are executed directly in memory.
- Console (no GUI) and command-line only applications can be built from PHP scripts (PHP to EXE). PHP will work in PHP CLI mode.
- Applications are rendered either with the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) v3 engine. No third-party software is needed: the applications you build are stand-alone.
- Basic PHP extensions are supported and may be embedded inside the EXE too. Database engines such as SQLite are successfully handled by the PHP engine. You may also have your applications connect to remote database servers such as MySQL.
- PHP pages and websites are displayed in a custom secure web browser. Standard navigation tools and menu commands are available and can be customized according to your needs.
- You can design unique GUIs for your applications: skins, ribbons, toolbars (custom buttons), menubars, tray icons, alpha-blended splash screens (32-bit PNG), and much more.
- Use existing PHP functions and extensions in your applications: cURL, graphics, XML, PDF, Zip, databases, and much more.
- AJAX, secondary windows, and pop-up windows work as expected.
- Let end users optionally access your application through their normal web browser (localhost:port) thanks to a built-in HTTP server.
- HTML5 and CSS3 are supported.
- Debug tools: CEF Developer tools and XDebug are available.
- Open audio and video formats, WebRTC are supported.
- Support for high DPI and 4k screens, and multi-monitor displays.
- Print, kiosk printing, and exporting to PDF files are possible.
- No server is required! No port and firewall conflicts.
- If necessary, you can include an external HTTP server to enable your application to be accessed from external web browsers using http://localhost:port URLs.
- Can include a portable MySQL server (MariaDB) with your PHP application and start/stop it automatically when your application is started/stopped.
- Support for several database servers.
- EXE customization is allowed with your own icon and version info.
- Applications can be digitally signed with a code signing certificate (Authenticode with SHA256 to SHA512) to avoid the security warning displayed by Windows 11, Windows 10, and lower editions.
- ExeOutput features its own scripting engine (HEScript) that can be combined with PHP and JavaScript.
- Portable applications can be created.
- Optional licensing features may be added to sell licenses for your PHP apps thanks to Obsidium.
- Can disable the printing functionality across the entire application: users will be unable to print any content, including HTML pages and PDF documents.
- Full Unicode support (for the application only: PHP is not Unicode compatible).
- Support for various PHP frameworks.
- Settings are saved in projects and managed with a GUI featuring a Windows Ribbon-style interface.
- Deploy applications easily thanks to integrated Zip archive or installer creation.
- Compatible with Windows 11, Windows 10, and previous Windows versions down to Windows 7.
How to use this documentation¶
Three approaches:
Browse through the different topics with the help contents tree on the left side to discover ExeOutput for PHP's features.
Press F1 in the software program; it will open the topic related to the current page for you.
Use the documentation's search engine to find a specific issue.
If you have questions, feedback, or bugs to report, you can visit our forum at https://www.gdgsoft.info or contact us by e-mail: [email protected].