Find screen width with PHP

peacemaker

Hi,
I'm new to PHP and I'm building my website right now using PHP/mqSQL. It's not a big site, but rather a personal information site with a portfolio etc.

I've read that PHP can't get the user's screen width, but I found a way to do that.
I don't know if it's good coding or not (I'm new :p ), but it works for me...
You need Javascript and GET to get the screen width...

if (isset($HTTP_GET_VARS["width"])) {
$width = $HTTP_GET_VARS["width"] - 60;
if ($width <= 640)
$width = 620;
}
else if (browser_is_ie())
print "<SCRIPT>location.replace(\"".$PHP_SELF."?width=\" + document.body.offsetWidth);</SCRIPT>"; //IE
else if (browser_is_netscape())
echo "<SCRIPT>location.replace(\"".$PHP_SELF."?width=\" + window.innerWidth);</SCRIPT>"; //NS

Can anyone give me feedback on this. It works in IE, NS, Mozilla, Opera on Windows. Not sure about Mac and Linux (probably... not?!.😕 )

Thank you fellows.

batman

As long as it works for you then it's fine. I'm afraid I can't test it in linux or mac for you though.

peacemaker

I think it's fine on any client, since it's server scripting. I have tried to do that screen width with sessions, but I don't get around involving Javascript on each site via require_once(). Is there a smarter way? Thanks.

batman

Well you can just make it into a php page by itself. Then on all the other pages just use the include "page.php"; where you want the iframe to show up. The only thing you'll have to make sure of is the variable width is set on every page.

Cheers,

superwormy

Note that that will only work on browsers which have JavaScript enabled, and again, you are not getting the screen width with PHP, you're getting it with JavaScript, and passing it to PHP.

If you turn off Javascript, it won't work.

peacemaker

That's correct, anybody who has JS disabled won't see the adjustment. Or rather, won't be able to load the site.
JS controls the rollover graphics as well.

Does anyone know how many people (in %) have JS turned off?

Thanks.

stolzyboy

JavaScript Stats
Thu May 1 00:05:02 2003 - Sat May 31 23:55:04 2003 31.0 Days

Javascript 1.2+: 32815350 (86%)
Javascript <1.2: 128196 (0%)
Javascript false: 5170035 (13%)

Stats taken from www.thecounter.com

batman

Note that that will only work on browsers which have JavaScript enabled, and again, you are not getting the screen width with PHP, you're getting it with JavaScript, and passing it to PHP.

Like you said, you can't use php, but javascript will work. So...why not take the chance if the person has javascript turned on or not, if php can't even do it?? Get what I'm saying?

FrozNic

not sure, but another possiblity for better results 'might' be vbscript.. i don't know if u can even get the screen width but it's client side scripting so maybe it's possible, i don't know?