auto generated config file

Hi, During the installation of the application I developp [http://www.phpwebgallery.net] I write a configuration file (database connection informations) like this : > <?php > $var = 'value'; > ?> There must be no character before "<?php" and after "?>" for making work redirections (you all know the famous "Cannot write header... already sent in config.php line 3...). Sometimes the configuration file cannot be writable during the install so I ask the user to write directly in this file and sometimes they add characters before "<?php" or after "?>" ! So they come to ask me what is the problem, and the problem is always the same. I'm looking for another idea for this configuration file which would allowed extra characters... First I made an xml file : > <mysql var="value" /> ... but this file will be readable by anyone, I don't want this. Do you have an idea on how I could do this. Thanks -- Pierrick LE GALL | http://www.z0rglub.com <pierrick@z0rglub.com> | http://www.phpwebgallery.net