File Editing

gundamnit

I'm trying to figure out now to edit only certain parts of a constantly changing file.

Sample template candids.txt.:
#id name yes/no poll status
1 bob 0/2 O
2 joe 3/9 O
3 grr 9/9 C

this is basically a list of people that are being voted on
and below is the list of members who are the only ones that can vote upon the above people.

and another sample template members.txt:

members pos/stat cand.#:vote;

1 appleseed n 2:0;3:1;
2 ayden n 2:1;3:1;
3 beatbox n 1:0;2:0;4:1;

When a member logs in and votes on a candidate, it should only edit one smalle part of the other txt file. How would I go about doing this? K THANKS

epimeth

you'll need to create a temp file that reads the original up to the point you want to edit, adds the stuff you want changed, and then reads the rest of the original, then deletes the original and renames the temp to the original's name.

I think you are much better off using a database...

gundamnit

is there any other way, other than database and what you just mentioned?

epimeth

look mate... to edit files you need to use the file functions... and really, what you want to do should be done on a database.

so no, as far as I know there is no other way... but I could be wrong...

JDcrack

gundamnit: is there any other way, other than database and what you just mentioned?

Yes what you are asking can be done.
However, you will need to do some homework 🙂

Read up on PHP's filesystem functions:
http://www.php.net/manual/en/ref.filesystem.php

You will be able to utilize most of these functions in some way for your script

Also, this tutorial on flat files, may be of some use to you:
http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/00/05/index2a_page3.html?tw=programming

PS.
to epimeth:
do you really think the above message merited a post? :p

epimeth

I'll post what I want, when I want to!

so keep your tongue out of it!!

or your smilie's tongue anyway....