Php theory and content system I'm working on.

[AlexB]

Hey guys/gals I have been a reader of this forum for a while now, I have read all the tutorials and I am still stuck I know there is a better way to do this but here is what I got so far. Keep in mind I'm pretty new to php. Anyhow here goes... Let's assume your trying to create a large site with a lot of content such as flash movies, stories ect..

Create your main page layout and then insert this coding where you'd like your main content to go.

<?
if (file_exists("$page.html")) {
include("$page.html");
} else {
// Page doesn't exist, so lets include the 404 error page or whatnot
include("main.html");
}
?>

So that starts your site off. For any additional pages you just create the text to be entered on an html file for example "contactinfo.html" and then point the link towards it.

Example http://www.yoursite.com/index.php?page=contactinfo

---------------------------------------------------------

Now for the content part since most pages that host the movies/stories would be the same layout you could try this. You would first need to create the main template and leave room for fields like author, movie, size ect... now for this example call the page template.php.

Now in this template you would layout everything the way you wanted it to look but then in the places you would want lets say the "author field" to show up you'd use $auth and then the file size you'd use $filesize ect...

So you template file might look like this.

This movie was submitted by $auth and is $filesize MB.

----------------------------------------------------------

Now you need to have those fields filled in so you add this coding into the template file

<?
if (file_exists("$content.txt")) {
include("$content.txt");
} else {
// Page doesn't exist, so lets include the 404 error page or whatnot
include("404.html");
}
?>

and then create the link, to lets say http://www.yuoursite.com/template.php?content=1

Now in the content 1.txt file all you would have are the required fields such as

<? $auth ="John"; ?>
<? $filesize =5; ?>

ect.... So when every you wanted to update your site with new content you would just have to enter a few fields and then upload the file, create the link and your done.

This is what I got done so far, I know I could make it alot better for example I think the "content.txt" files should be replaced with some sort of sql db so if you need to add more fields it would be easier. But I haven't found out how to do this yet with php. I know it's not too hard but I just haven't found out yet. I know there are a ton of professional php programmers that browse this board so if any of you would like to comment and possibly point me in the right direction that would be appreciated alot.

A friend told me that by using a db I could also use php to make the main page of the site automated by it showing the last 5 entries to the db. So sections could be automated. I could also divide and display them into different categories?

Anyone have some ideas to share on how I can make this little system better?

[Hartmann]

Definitely run it off of a database...
I would make sure there is a way for an administrator to control the files as a 'superuser'. Also, I would set some limitation to how large the file can be and where the file is placed. Other than that you have a great system started. Good luck

[Skunk]

In addition I'd suggest applying the basename() function to the filenames BEFORE you open the file. This will stop crackers from using your script to open any file on your web server (including those in password protected directories) by entering the full path to the page in the URL. Example:

if (file_exists(basename("$page.html"))) { 
include(basename("$page.html")); 
} 

[AlexB]

So what do I need to do in php to get all the fields from the database and still have the pages created on the fly? I haven't been able to figure it out, even after much reading on the subject.

[timnz]

Not sure if you want help in designing the SQL queries or what. But what you would be wanting to do would be this:

Query the database and select your fields.
Set them up as variables.
And for a basic system just have <?=$variable?> in your template type page where you want those variables to go.

At a later stage when you know a bit more it would be advisable to get rid of most if not all PHP code in that template page. So that it automatically scans the file and puts in the correct values.

If you aren't familiar with classes, don't try this, but phplib could be what you are after for, if you want a prebuilt function of the above.

To get it, go here:
http://phplib.netuse.de/

To get the jist of how the template class works, try these tutorials:
http://www.devshed.com/Server_Side/P...Lib/print.html
AND
http://www.phpbuilder.com/columns/da...4&print_mode=1

I recommend the phpbuilder.com one first, as I found it slightly easier to understand. After that move onto the devshed.com one, as the concepts in it are easier, even though they are the same, after reading the phpbuilder.com one.

It might be a good idea to read up on classes at php.net first though:
http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop.php

[AlexB]

I'm just looking for the php coding I need, I know how to use sql a bit I just don't know anything about php

[AlexB]

Anyone?

[exbabylon]

here is a lengthy example of how to use SQL and PHP together.

<?php
if($action == "browse"){
// Set number to show per page
    if(!$results){
        $results = 15;
    }
    // Set order type
    if(!$order){
        $order="update";
    }
    if(!$page){
        $start = 0;
        $end = $results;
    } else {
        $start = "20 * ($page - 1)";
        $end = $start + $results;
    }
    $sql = "SELECT id, username, date, update, email, display_email, title, description FROM $user_table WHERE display_public=1 ORDER BY $order LIMIT $start, $end";
    $result = mysql_query($sql);
    if(!$result){
        echo("Database Error");
    } else {
        // create variable to determine number
        $i="1";
        while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)){
            extract($row);
            // print out HTML
            ?>
            <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1">
                            <tr>
                                <td><font face="verdana,arial" size="2"><?=$i?>. <?php if($display_email){
                                                                                echo('<a href=\"mailto:$email\">");
                                                                                }
                                                                            ?><b>
                                                                            <?=$username?></b><?php if($display_email){
                                                                            echo("</a>");
                                                                            }?>- <a href="<?=$PHP_SELF?>?action=user&id=<?=$id?>"><?=$title?></a></font></td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr>
                                <td align="right"><font face="verdana,arial" size="1">Created <?=$date?> | Modified <?=$update?></td>
                            </tr>
                            <tr>
                                <td><blockquote><font face="verdana,arial" size="1"><?=change($description)?><br>
                                </td>
                            </tr>
            </table>
            <?php
            // Return to WHILE Statement.
            $i++;
        } // End WHILE statement
        
        // Find Number of Total Results and display pages
        $total_results = mysql_num_rows(mysql_query(SELECT id FROM $user_table WHERE display_public=1));
        echo("Showing results $start - $end or $total_results<br>");
        echo("<a href="$PHP_SELF?order=$order&results=$results&browse=users&page=". $r-- ."\">Pervious Page >></a>");
        echo("<a href="$PHP_SELF?order=$order&results=$results&browse=users&page=". $r++ ."\">Next Page >></a> |");
        $r = "1";
        while($total_results > ($r * $results)){
            if($page != $r){
                echo("<a href=\"$PHP_SELF?order=$order&results=$results&browse=users&page=$r\">$r</a> ");
            } else {
                echo( $r );
            }
            $r++;
        }
            
    }
}
?>

Hope this helps, it's fairly long, but a good example I think. Hopefully it works, but no quarantees.

[AlexB]

Thanks a ton I will have to play around with that tonight.

In your example is there a way to create a headlines type section were let's say the last 5 entires last made to the db get shown up as links?

News Headlines:
Link1
Link2
Link3 ect...

Last Reviews:
Movie1
Movie2
Movie3 ect...

I have the db set up like this

articles
----------
id
author
date
headline
synopsis
content
categoryid
title
size
homepage


categories
-------------
id
name
//

[exbabylon]

Not a problem: here is an example.

<?php
// top.php

// Number of results
$show = 5;
// Table Name
$table = table;
if(isset($category)){

    $sql = "SELECT * FROM $table WHERE (date + 0) > (CURDATE() - 5) && (categoryid='$catagory') ORDER BY date DESC";
    $result = mysql_query($sql);
    while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)){
        extract($row);
        ?>
        document.write("<a href=\"display.php?articleid=<?=$id?>\"><?=$title?></a><br>");
        <?php
    }
} else {
    echo("No Category Selected");
}

Now you can use this anywhere on your site! Just use it as a JavaScript. You obviously don't have to, this concept can be used for anything, but it might be some insight into using PHP with other things.

<!-- example -->
<html>
<head>
<title>My Newest Five</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="white">
My Top Five List
<script src="/top.php?category=1"></script>
</body>
</html>

God Bless

[AlexB]

That's what I was looking for thanks a ton