Can PHP convert text to a graphic?

[alanb]

Hi

I am a total newbie to PHP and struggling a bit. What I would like to achieve is to have a php script that would allow me to login from any browser (i.e. no need to ftp) where I could update a flatfile (.txt) with numbers or text (either 1,2,3 or 1.gif,2.gif,3.gif) and save to the server.

Then when a php page is called it should read the .txt file and build a path to the appropriate graphic file and display the graphics across the screen.

Is this at all possible or am I totally going up the wrong path?

Many thanks

[Anon]

You can do it with the gd library functions, assuming you've got GD-Lib installed; you'll have trouble with GIFs though, because of legal restrictions on the use of the format. I'd recommend PNG for the described task.

I'd also recommend creating the graphic files when the text is uploaded, rather than doing it for each request - since it's a task that involves a noticeable bit of work, it makes sense to do it as few times as possible, i.e. only when necessary.