Invoking PHP remotely

Anon

I have written a small PHP script which runs well on my server. A friend wants a copy on his server, but he has no PHP support at his ISP. Is there a way to include a PHP script on a non-PHP server? That way anyone can add a chunk of code to their pages which will call the PHP script (using HTTP) which will format the output and pass it back to the calling page, much like many people do with JavaScript includes and Java applets. This would enable me to write the code and not worry (too much) about where the webiste is hosted and if it has PHP support enabled.

Your brainstorming appreciated.

kparker

This isn't quite what you're asking, but your friend could certainly link to a php script on your site, and that script could point the user back (or even do a redirect) to the original site by using $HTTP_REFERER.

kparker

I wonder if it's safe to mention the f-word here? Much as I hate frames, using them might allow your friend to embed a page from your site in his.

Anon

Wash your mouth out! Frames is the easy (nasty) way out. Not keen on using frames at all, not even a little bit, no sir!

Kirk Parker wrote:

I wonder if it's safe to mention the f-word here? Much as I hate frames, using them might allow your friend to embed a page from your site in his.

Anon

That's what we do at present, but it means they can't template their site. A change on their page means a manual change on the PHP page hosted on my server. Not very user friendly.

You can include a Java Applet, why not a PHP applet?

Kirk Parker wrote:

Anon

You can include a Java Applet, why not a
PHP applet?

PHP is not an applet, it's server-side programming.

Anon

Kirk Parker wrote:

PHP is not an applet, it's server-side programming.

I know I know, I was being figurative. What I'm trying to say is that we can add Java and Javascript and ActiveX and Shockwave and all sorts of other external entities and streaming media to our pages, why can't I add a chunk or remotely-executed PHP to a non-PHP page without resorting to frames? I just want to have a HTML page on a non-PHP enabled server include a chunk of standard HTML which will pull some PHP code using HTTP so it is executed and returns the formatted data. I'm thinking only frames will do this. bugger bugger bugger!

kparker

But every thing you mention is either client-side stuff (Java .. Shockwave) or else is a link to a complete separate mime-type that has special support in the browser itself or via a browser plugin (streaming media.) PHP can handle the presentation of all that stuff too, but your question really isn't different from saying "Why can't I include a plain html page from you site in my plain html document?" The answer that does work is something I won't mention again (we both agree it's the f-word.)

jc94062

I had to use em once, and much as I DO hate them, its actually not THAT bad in terms of code, just strip of pretty much everything and do...

I had to use this when my old hoster (didn't take me long to move away) decided on a good idea, it went along the lines of the fact that my php files would only work in the cgi-bin directory, but this wasn't www.mysite.com/cgi-bin/

this was cgi.myothersite.com/cgi-bin/

where myothersite was the same site, but under a different name, because its a freeby they gave me when I moved to them as an ISP, basically a hideously complicated system (their clocks also moved to BST 2 months early, their support was a 72 hour feedback service etc...)

Anyways, hope you sort something.