String parsing to input into database

vryce

I'm still learning how to code in PHP, though I am getting a bit better.

Anyways, I have a situation that I'm not sure how to handle.

I have a string that looks like this:

Sometimes we want to get away from the busy and hectic city life to find solace in the raging waves of the ocean pounding on the rocks or the turbulent splashing of a bubbling waterfall. At other times we are amazed by the immovable silence of a mountain - Stuti Garg <A HREF="http://www.qotd.org/cgi-bin/postcard.cgi?quote=Sometimes%20we%20want%20to%20get%20away%20from%20the%20busy%20and%20hectic%20city%20life%20to%20find%20solace%20in%20the%20raging%20waves%20of%20the%20ocean%20pounding%20on%20the%20rocks%20or%20the%20turbulent%20splashing%20of%20a%20bubbling%20waterfall.%20At%20other%20times%20we%20are%20amazed%20by%20the%20immovable%20silence%20of%20a%20mountain%20%20-%20Stuti%20Garg"><IMG SRC="http://www.qotd.org/env.gif" WIDTH=14 HEIGHT=11 BORDER=0 ALT="Send this E-Quote to a friend!"></A>

What I need to be able to do is split out some of the text into two variables to input into a database.

I need all the text between the and to be put into a variable called $quote
and the text between the - and <A be put into a variable called $author.

I also need to check to see if the $quote is in a database. I should be able to figure this part out. Its just the parsing of the string that I am not sure on.

THanks in advance.

adamgeorge

Well, to fiddle with strings, use regular expressions.

look for these on php.net to see how to use them:

eregi() - http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.eregi.php
preg_match() -

if you're new to php, you prolly don't know what regular expression are. Well, what they are is bloody hard to learn lol. It still takes me forever to work out how to do stuff in regular expressions, but when you do work it out they're very usefull and powerfull.

I prefer preg_match cause it's uses perl compatible syntax (and apparently faster too).

Now, I'm not so good with them that I could write a reg ex. off the top of my head for you right now. It would be good if you could learn how to do it. That way ... you'll be learning more!

But extracting all the characters between and with regular exp. would be pretty easy for you to learn. Have a go, and if you get stuck ask around.

cya man,
- Adam 🙂

vryce

Thanks for the help.

I ended up using the explode function

Here is the code I used to get it to work for me:


$quotes_array = array();
$sql_query_quotes = "SELECT DISTINCT quote from quotes";
  $result_quotes = mysql_query($sql_query_quotes);
  while ($quotes = mysql_fetch_array($result_quotes))
  {
    $quotes_array[count($quotes_array)] = $quotes[0];
  }


$quote  = explode( "</i>", $str );
$author = explode( "<A", $quote[1] );
$quote = explode( ">", $quote[0]);
$author = explode( " - ", $author[0]);   
$source = "qotd";

if (!in_array($quote[1], $quotes_array))
{
 $query = "INSERT INTO quotes (quote, author, source) " .
             "VALUES ('$quote[1]', '$author[1]', '$source')";
         $results = mysql_query($query);

}

Kind of messy, I know, but it works and it makes me happy.

adamgeorge

yeah, prolly not the best solution as you could have easily done that with just one reg ex. then 4 different explode() calls.

And what if the quote were to contain extra < or tags and stuff? That would mess it up. If you were using a reg ex. you would have a lot more control.

but if all you need is it to be working, then good work man.

cya
-Adam 🙂

vryce

Thanks.

However I did get help working with preg_match and that works out great.

$pattern = '/<I>([^>]+)<\/I> \-(.*)<A/isU';

if (preg_match($pattern,$str,$matches)) {
                                        $author=$matches[2];
                                        $quote=$matches[1];
                                    }

The text will always look like I posted in the first post, just a different quote and author. The format of the string will be the same.

That code is much cleaner then 4 explode functions.

THanks for pointing me in the right direction with regular expressions