counting the words and split text

[raffael3d]

I want to fetch a long text from my database. Now I would like to split that page into two columns and also several pages.
Does anybody have a script/tutorial how I can count the words of that text and split them up into columns?

thanks a lot.

[pnoeric]

well, there's lots of ways to approach what you want to do.

I'd start with trying to get the text into two columns, then worry about multiple pages.

first write the HTML to put the text into two columns and test it with dummy text so you know the layout is correct. then change it so instead of drawing dummy text, it draws $col1 in column 1 and $col2 in the other column.

then you want to write a PHP script that fills $col1 and $col2.

I'd suggest taking your source text (you're reading it from a text file, did you say?), using the explode() command on spaces, count the number of words you get as a result (use sizeof()) then use array_split and implode() to assemble $col1 and $col2.

that should get you started in the right direction. If this is over your head, go back through my message and try writing out a little flowchart of what you're going to code. also be sure to look at each of the php commands I mentioned so you understand what they do.

best,
Eric

[raffael3d]

thanks!
I looked up a few things and found strlen
and now fetch a text from the database. then I display it in the first column:

print substr($row["text"],1,100);
and in the second column:
print substr($row["text"],200,300);
but what can I do so that not in the middle of a word the text is split? and if I split before or after the word (let's assume the space is before word 100, how can I make that the word 100 is then displayed in the next column?

[pnoeric]

raffael, look up explode() and see if that gives you an idea. substr is not going to do the trick easily.

[raffael3d]

allright, I understand now hw explode works, but don't I have now to combine explode and substr or not?
I mean somehow I have to tell how much is displayed and also where it is cut.

[pnoeric]

hey, let HTML do your word-wrapping for you. do you know how to write tables in HTML?

did you see my original reply to you with all the details? trust me, it's the best way to do this. substr is not the answer because you don't really need to write your own word-wrap algorithm since HTML can handle it for you.

-E

[raffael3d]

allright I tied this:

$result = mysql_query("select text from news  order by id desc limit 1")

$split = $row["text"];
$pieces = explode (" ", $split)

sizeof($pieces)

and now I would appreciate a bit more quidance.

[pnoeric]

excellent, so now you have an array called $pieces which has every word in it from your query.

find the size of pieces:

$g = sizeof($pieces);

and put the first half into $col1 and the second half into $col2. something like....

$half = $g / 2;
$part1 = array_slice($pieces, 0, $g);
$part2 = array_slice($pieces, $g+1);
$col1 = implode(' ', $part1);
$col2 = implode(' ', $part1);

and finally draw $col1 and $col2 in a two-column table.

you could get fancy and make the number of columns variable, etc. but that's pretty quick and dirty and I'll bet it works.

best
Eric

[raffael3d]

thnanks a lot so far Eric!

I tried this. however now everything is shown in the first column ( I just wrote e col: for now, I will have no problems making the table)
What is wrong?

	$split = $row["text"];
	$pieces = explode (" ", $split);
	$g = sizeof($pieces);

$half = $g / 2;
$part1 = array_slice($pieces, 0, $g);
$part2 = array_slice($pieces, $g+1);
$col1 = implode(' ', $part1);
$col2 = implode(' ', $part2);
print "col1";
print "$col1";
print "<br><br><br>";
print "col 2";
print "$col2";

[raffael3d]

andbody?

[PyroX]

Research the error.

These may help:

Go here: http://www.zend.com/manual/function.array-slice.php
and here: http://www.zend.com/manual/function.explode.php
and this: http://www.zend.com/manual/function.implode.php

The sizeof() function is an alias for count(). Count has is better.

See: http://www.zend.com/manual/function.count.php

[pnoeric]

yeah, what Pyro said. in this case, you need to verify that your variables are correct. is the sizeof() function working? how can you test it? (hint: do you know the value of $g ? can you echo it to the screen to double-check it?)

also, start with canned text, don't pull it from the db yet. get the algorhithm working with easy, controllable data, THEN introduce the 'real' data.

(it's funny how almost every answer I post is about coding and debugging style, not about the exact problem... but that's good, right? the idea is to help you learn how to debug the problem and other future problems.)

best
Eric

[pnoeric]

yeah, what Pyro said. in this case, you need to verify that your variables are correct. is the sizeof() function working? how can you test it? (hint: do you know the value of $g ? can you echo it to the screen to double-check it?)

also, start with canned text, don't pull it from the db yet. get the algorhithm working with easy, controllable data, THEN introduce the 'real' data.

(it's funny how almost every answer I post is about coding and debugging style, not about the exact problem... but that's good, right? the idea is to help you learn how to debug the problem and other future problems.)

best
Eric