[Resolved] Page refresh

jlewis

I have a page on my site that reads from a text file.

The only way I can view new information that was entered into the text file is if I hit F5 to refresh the page.

Is there a way to force the page to refresh whenever that page loads?

If not is there a better way to do this (other than a database).

I have tried

readfile ("index.txt")

include ("index.txt")

require ("index.txt")

They all have the same effect. If I hit F5 I can see the new information. If I do not than I never see it.

Any assistance would be very appreciated.

Moonglobe

well, if a simple refresh works, use:

<meta name="refresh" content="30; url=<?=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']">

hth

Ryan_Sanders

It most likely won't work because, it will just keep refreshing over and over.

jlewis

So that will refresh the page every 30 seconds and on every load?

If that is so that is a perfect solution. I can set the refresh to every three mins or something.

But as long as it refreshes on load that is mostly what I am looking for.

Moonglobe

well, it wont refresh as soon as it loads.........but, there is a work around:

<?php if (!$_GET['r']) { ?>
<meta name="refresh" content="0; url=<?=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']?>?r=1">
<?php } else {?>
<meta name="refresh" content="30; url=<?=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']?>?r=1">
<?php } ?>

stick that in the <head> section of the page and on the first load it will automatically refresh, on any subsequent loads every 30secs. is that what you wanted?

Ryan_Sanders

I think he just wants it so that it refreshes once and it does it each time they visit that page.

So basically what you were saying right there was to make a variable when the page refreshes, and then when it goes there, it doesn't refresh anymore? That way it won't keep refreshing over and over.

jlewis

You guys are amazing.

Thanks for the help. I think that last one should work fine. So how long have you guys been using PHP? I am going on 3 weeks or so now.

Thanks again for the help.

Moonglobe

you're welcome, no prob. i've been using PHP since about early april, when i joined, and didn't start posting till may 4th. don't forget to mark the thread resolved (link at the bottom of the page)

jlewis

Your last command refreshes on a new page load and that was my ultimate goal. However it does not refresh every 30 seconds. It does not matter to me if it does or doesn't but that refresh option would be a cool thing to know.

I just copied your code right into my header. Should I have done something differently?

jlewis

Would this basicly do the same thing. It will force the browser to get a new page from the server everytime the page is loaded.
<meta http-equiv="Pragma" content="no-cache">

It just won't refresh every 30 seconds. In which case I can add
<?php

Am I right in my asumptions?

Moonglobe

yes, sort of. that r=1 will only be useful if you set that to DO something. if you don't care about the 30 second refresh, then i would just use:

<meta http-equiv="Pragma" content="no-cache">
<meta name="refresh" content="0; url=<?=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']?>">

hopefully that will work for you.

jlewis

Thanks again. I will close the thread now.

jacobelias

Hello,

I have tried both your methods, however it''s not working.
Please help me with this.

and

<?php if (!$GET['r']) { ?>
<meta name="refresh" content="0; url=<?=$SERVER['PHP_SELF']?>?r=1">
<?php } else {?>
<meta name="refresh" content="30; url=<?=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']?>?r=1">
<?php } ?>

jlewis

It worked for me.

But I have since moved on away from the text file and have redesigned using MySQL.

It is ultimately faster and easier. Sure you have to find the time to do the work but will pay you back in the long run.

Sorry I can't be more help.