Setting Up the PHP Interpreter for PHPStorm

 In setting up the interpreter you will need to ensure that you have the file php.exe in your system.  When setting up PHPStorm you will discover that there is no such file.  The only exe file that  is similar is phpstorm64.exe.  When you try to use that as an interpreter file it doesn't work.  It is looking for php.exe.  Go to www.PHP.net.  

There you find the downloadable version of PHP.  I selected php-8.0.10-Win32-vs16-x64.zip.  

After that you will need to add a php.ini file to the file location of the php.exe file.  However, the php.ini file doesn't exist.  Create the file in the following manner.  

Look for the file called php-ini.production in the php.exe folder.  Copy this file and paste it in the same location.  Now rename this file php.ini.

Afterwards add the php interpreter following the directions in the following location: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/phpstorm/configuring-local-interpreter.html

Reference for installing PHP  

Reference for INI files