Read A Line from Text File

tommynanda

Hi!
I want to know how to read a particular line from text file using PHP FileSystem Functions like filename.ReadLine and filename.Read(linenumber) in ASP.
I found fread() but that reads untill the end of FIle or number of bytes.
Please Help Me
Thanks.

stolzyboy

If you just want to read and treat a file line by line, use [man]fgets[/man] function

rohithmr

umm I wudd recommend the file() function.

<?php
$file = 'filename.txt';
$data = file($file);

// To use the 35 th line from the file:
echo $data[34];
?>

stolzyboy

yep that'll work too

tommynanda

Thanks That almost worked

But if we read a whole file into an array using file()I think it is gonna eatup the memory if its a big File.

fgets() function gets a line with specified size or until end of the file If I dont know the size how can I get the line required.

thanks For the Help.

rohithmr

Your situation is in my opinion the best time to think abt data storage in a Database. Test files r good for small amounts of data, but when it grows to b a considerable memory eater, i wudd suggest switching to a DB.

Even if u wont switch now, you r jus postponding the inevitable. Sooner or later der will b a time when reading stuff out of plain files isnt jus an options cuz of

1) the difficulty in extracting specific parts of the file
2) the time consumed in retrieving the data.

BUt hey, its jus my opinion, so think ahead and choose the solution dat will spare u hours hours of headache.

tommynanda

Thanks Rohith for Your Help I would be thankful If you could suggest a DB I am NewBie in PHP.

Anyway fgets() solved my problem
Thanks Once Again.

rohithmr

srry abt the rong post der. I accidently posted the reply to a dfferent post on ur thread, lol. Man i have to stop smokin, lol.

Well a good and solid start is mySQl. Search on google for a PHP and MySQL tutorials, you will find billions of em. Read em n u will b developing data strucures in no time.