Windows XP. I have PHP 5 installed in the default location (C:\Program Files\PHP\) which of course uses its own php.ini file for control.

The PHPED suite installs its own copy of PHP (C:\Program Files\nusphere\phped\php5) It has its own copy of php.ini.

I have several packages and other stuff installed in the default location (#1 above). This includes several extensions, PEAR, Phing, Propel, Creole, and others. The default install works great.

HOWEVER, when I start to bring code into PHPED, its as though I am working from a clean PHP install with none of my extensions, packages, etc. Nothing links becuase it cannot see the files (of course not - they are not in the C:\Program Files\nusphere\phped\php5 location) nor does it even try to load the extensions because the php.ini file it uses is NuSphere's.

OK - so I have found in "Tools > Settings > External Tools" the place to change the "Path to php.ini". However - it doesnt seem to do what I expected. Doing some quick tests, when I run a script in the debugger - it doesnt even seem to try and load it. What is this for?

Help me out here please. What I would really like is:

1) A single installation of PHP with all my extensions, etc - in one place.
2) PHP when run from my local regular web-server and PHP when run from inside the NuSphere debugger is the exact same.

OR - at the very least - a solid understanding of how to control the two side by side installations (without a hassle of doing everything twice).

Thanks.
Zack.

You may want to check this in the FAQ: http://forum.nusphere.com/howto-setup-phped-with-local-apache-or-iis-t647.html