style question

[ghornet]

Hello being fairly new to php I was wondering what a better way to code was, echo out html code or put <? ?> all over the place?

Thanks, trying to be a better coder

Damian

[toma42]

neither. Use Templates. There are several articles on this site explaining how to use them.

[[deleted]]

It depends entirely on how much of HTML and PHP you have.

If you have a page of HTML with one piece of PHP, it makes sense to use <? ?> tags.
If you have 2 pages of PHP code that prints database-data, then echoing HTML is better.

Just use the method that is easiest for you.

Templates are also nice, but not if you are just using one or two scripts.

[Anon]

What templates do you like? I use FastTemplate but have started checking out others.

[toma42]

I use phplib templates but have found the Integrated Template (HTML/IT.php) is a little faster to develop with but doesn't have all the power that phplib templates do (hense HTML/ITX.php). I haven't studied the ITX to really understand what its funcitonality can add of IT.

Another template many people like is Smarty (http://www.phpinsider.com/php/code/Smarty/docs/)

[Anon]

Is there a homepage for HTML/IT.php?

[toma42]

Nope, but there are a lot of notes in the source.

[Anon]

Where can that be downloaded from? I couldn't find it with a quick search. One post I found gave the impression it's in phplib, but I don't see it.

[toma42]

pear is included with php. Search the machine you installed php on for 'PEAR.php' to find it.