phpNuke - undefined function: message_die

There have been several messages on newsgroups about problems with
phpNUKE related to a post-installation error of:

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: message_die() in
/<serverpath-to-phpnuke>/db/db.php on line 88

Well, I figured out the problem, so I'm posting it here.

ANSWER: You don't have your database configured correctly is the short
answer, and I can't help you there except that it is most likely one
or more of the variables $dbhost, $dbuname, $dbpass, or $dbtype in the
config.php file. Once you get the database configured correctly, the
message goes away.

The message_die function is a phpNuke function and is included in the
<nukefiles>/html/includes/functions.php file. However, the function
only appears to be called from .../modules/Forums/common.php. I'm not
a phpNuke author/developer, but I spent a few minutes glancing through
code. Since this function is used all over the place, then it needs to
be called from either mainfiles.php or something similar so if this
error occurs, the function is actually loaded and ready to work. I'm
assuming the test/qa team didn't have a check like this in their
validation process.

I had this same problem myself (I hope that's obvious), but couldn't
find an answer in Google groups (where I go for answers all the time).
Thus I include it here, trying to give back to the community. I'm also
submitting it to the phpNuke team.

Good luck...

Mark