Text File Data to HTML Table

AlpineZone

Hello all - First post here. Hope someone can help. A PHP "Newbie" describes me pretty well. I can edit the HTML component in pre-existing scripts to get things to look the way I want, but when faced with writing a script from scratch as I am now, I'm lost. My needs here are pretty simple. Anyway, here goes:

The primary goal is to use PHP to access a tab-delimited text file of ski resort snow conditions and display this data in a table. One of the "fields" in the text file is a state postal code (NY, CT, VT, MA, etc...). I would like the ability to initially display a list of state links, and when the visitor clicks on a state the data from the text file for that state only, is displayed. Below is an abbreviated example of the text file. It actually contains many more fields than shown here, but this should do for demonstration purposes:

Mohawk Mountain                         |CT|WETGR     |30   |
Mt Southington                          |CT|WETSN     |33   |
Jay Peak                                |VT|PP        |46   |
Killington                              |VT|WETPS     |55   |
Mad River Glen                          |VT|PP        |36   |

So if the user clicks on a a link to Connecticut, data for Mohawk Mountain and Mt Southington should be displayed in an HTML table. Similary, if Vermont is clicked, only the snow conditions for Jay Peak, Killington, and Mad River Glen should be displayed in the table.

Again, there is much more data in this text file than shown here, but if I can get an approach going to display the above, I'm sure I can replicate it to display all the fields I need. If it would help anyone to see the complete text file, PM me or Email me. Thanks!

dotbob

Before I attempt an answer, I'm just curious.

Why don't you store the data within a database?

As I said, just for curiosity!

Norman_Graham

You should be able to use some fread commands to read the file, but, as DotBob says, you'd make your life a lot easier if you stuck the info in a MySQL database. Btw, you can learn the most basic MySQL commands in half an hour, so don't be put off.

For fread commands, consult the experts. I'm still learning some of the basics of PHP.

Norman

AlpineZone

Hi dotbob. Valid question. It's a constantly updated data feed that I will be receiving from another source. They automatically upload it to my site via FTP 2-3 times a day.

Also, the text file doesn't appear to be tab-delimited as I stated above, but rather each field is delimited by a "|".

Thanks!

dotbob

fair enough.

I'm quite glad that the file is not in the original format that you supplied in your first post.

| is not a problem.

If you send me a 'private message' with your email address, i'll write a script that will do what you need and send it to you.

Gimme half an hour.

AlpineZone

Thanks dotbob! I sent you a PM. I really ppreciate it. Hopefully this will get me started on the road to better understanding PHP.

😃

edwardsbc

Here are some hints:

1) put the text file into an array with [man]file[/man].

2) loop through the text file array to build your table rows.

3) get the individual elements for each cell by using [man]explode[/man] on current file array element.