Can PHP output html during program execution?

Anon

Can PHP output text 'during' program execution?

Example: the following code will not output a line to a web browser every three seconds as you would think...instead, it waits until the 'entire program has executed' and then outputs all the lines at once.

<?
print "start program<br>\n";
sleep(3);

print "three seconds past...still going<br>\n";
sleep(3);

print "three seconds past...end program<br>\n";
?>

The reason I ask is that I have an application that requres several minutes to complete it's tasks. It takes so long that my browser times out before the program can finish. It is a broadcast email program that basically does...

while (still emails to process) {
mail(address, subject, etc);
}

Even at 1/2 second per email, the program takes more time than my browser will wait. I have tried outputing status messages during the process but...as you will see if you try the snippet above...'nothing' gets sent to the browser until the 'entire' program completes.

Is there a way in PHP to send output 'during' program execution? If not, has anyone seen any work arounds for a problem like this?

Any help would be appreciated.
chuckc

Anon

Put a "flush();" after each line you want to output. Also, for browser compatibility, enclose each output line in a hard container tag such as <P>text</P> or <TABLE>text</TABLE> or else it won't work in IE4+

-- rich --

Anon

A work around I heard in Perl groups was to output to a file, point the browser to that file, and have it refresh every 15 seconds or whatever using a meta tag.

Anon

read the php manual, it tells you how to do just what you want to and it is easy.

Anon

You couldn't just answer the guy?

Anon

You have to understand the question to answer it and I am still unclear if I do understand it. What concern is it of yours! If you comment is to just put in your two cents then I think you should go elsewhere, I have gotten many an answers and given a few answers back here. Asking/inquiring about someones question or having good discussions about a question someone has asked is the point, what is your point?

cya

Anon

You're lame. Why hang out just to berate people asking for assistance. If every "helpful" person were like you, no one would ever ask for help or get anywhere. Attempt to answer the question or just piss off.

Anon

I have no idea what message to which you thought you were replying, but my response in this thread was an attempt to help. Perhaps you could offer a suggestion instead of "berating" me, if you think you have something constructive to contribute.

Anon

Christ this is soo long ago i forgot responding. After rereading all the threads, Ill respond to Mr. Steve Yates. NO i was not replying to you. I thought It was clear in whom I was responding to. NO point in even clearing up who I was responding to. YES your advice appeared to be clear and helpful. As for noway?? What the hell are you talking about. You need a reading comprehension course. My statement was in response to someone who answered by telling them to read the manual. This can be assumed by the reader, has been attempted. Just offer an answer, dont offer an answer thru riddles. If that is "berating" to you your way too sensitive for life. Ignoring the fact that you need to look up the definition of berate because I certainly did NOT by definition berate anyone.

good luck.

Peter

Ps if your going to comment have a name, someone who hides behind an alias is undeserving of help/response.