I need a way to open a URL from PHP code

fabiuz

Hi,

is there any php function that could open a web address ?

I have made a form where users can type search words and then they can select which search engine to use.

I want that when they submit the form, the data is passed to an url I give...

Thanks for any help about!

Fabio

Anon

If you open a URL you will also have to parse the incoming data so all of the image references and links still work. It can be done but you'll have to do some significant work. Two alternatives to what you want to do is have your php redirect based on which search engine they try, or to use frames. Take a look at
http://www.audiblefaith.com/rIEsearch.html

This page is designed to replace the IE search bar, but it does exactly what you are trying to do. (you gotta edit the windows registry to change that, if you are interested in that info let me know)

fabiuz

Yes!

This is what I want to get: looking at your page, the first roow is what I want: type words, select engine and than go for that...

All this should be done by the program located at your address: http://www.audiblefaith.com/multisrcr

I already made the additional code: you can see it at www.sistema-ufficio.com, at the end of the page there is a yellow input box.

At the moment, as you press "cerca" it will open a new page ready to search on that engine... I don't know how to call the redirect to who pass that link and that words...

Could you help ?

Fabio

Anon

Ok, what you need to do is examine the engines you want to use so you can find out what variables it needs for the search to work. Once you find these variables you create if then situations with a meta refresh. My box uses a var called engine that is a two letter code identifying the engine. So in the multisrcr script I have
(replace [] with proper HTML tag brackets)

if (engine=="av") {
echo "[META HTTP-EQUIV=\"Refresh\" CONTENT=\"1; URL=sitescriptURL?var1=value&var2=value....\"\n";
}
elseif (engine=="....

Then it goes on from there for the other engines, and there is an else clause in case the engine var is incorrect or not sent.

I have search strings for AltaVista, Google, 4anything, GoTo, and DealTime. (Though my Google line is going to have to change as of Feb 1. I can send you an email with this stuff if you are interested.

jolly

i'll have a look at them urls u got if i may.
jolly@acreate.co.uk
cheers

fabiuz

Thank you for the answer, I don't exactly understand the syntax you have send to me:

if (engine=="av") {
echo "[META HTTP-EQUIV=\"Refresh\" CONTENT=\"1;
URL=sitescriptURL?var1=value&var2=value....\"\n";
}
elseif (engine=="....

I am using a switch function, but I don't understand the use of " and ; on the above code lines.

Should be something like:

echo "[META HTTP-EQUIV=\"Refresh\" CONTENT=\"1\";
URL=\"http://www.virgilio.it/gw/psearch01?op=and&qs=$testo_ricerca\"\n";

But in this case is a "echo" missed ?

Thank again

Anon

Hrm, I'll have to look into syntax on the META refresh. I haven't had any trouble with what I am using. Not sure which is "more" correct. The " and ; in the middle are for the meta refresh not PHP. PHP delivers the following

[META HTTP-EQUIV="Refresh" CONTENT="1; URL=http://engineurul?vars"]

Sorry I had left out the closing bracket

fabiuz

I think to have found a easy way to redirect to the right url:

thanks to your suggestions about url query string, I have make a piece of code like this:

switch ($engine) {
case 'virgilio':

header ("Location: http://www.virgilio.it/gw/psearch01?op=and&qs=$testo_ricerca");
break;

case 'yahoo':

header ("Location: http://it.search.yahoo.com/search/it?p=$testo_ricerca");

("</form>");

break;

...

and so on.

It seems to work fine and also you have not to wait redirection !

What do you think about ?

I would like anyway which is the right syntax in order to make work your code...

Fabio

Anon

Actually yes, the header is a much better way. I'm going to look into implementation for my own stuff. Thanks.

fabiuz

Ok, thanks, I have tryed it out and it works !

It will help me in the next piece of code!

Why you have used [ and ] ?

To work I need to use < and >

Fabio

Anon

I wasn't sure how this message board script dealt with HTML tags so I just used [] to be sure the message wouldn't cause a redirect.