Cutting one program into two.

terandle

I have developed a pretty complex php script with well over 400 lines and many sql execs.

This script does basicly 2 things, search and insert data into sql databases.

So here is my delima:
This script takes quite a bit of time for the server to process and then send out the user, so in order to cut down on the time it takes to send i was wondering if there was a way to have PHP perform all the sql SELECT commands, output the html tables and all that other good stuff to the users browser, and then return to perform all the INSERT commands (which take a considerable ammount of time).

I was thinking a force_display() function might be able to do it... or possibly an include() that doesn't execute until after the parent code was parsed and sent.

I could make a pretty messy hack with javascript if needed but i would rather go the more elegant way (if possible).

If anyone has any ideas/solutions, please let me know.

-Ryan

ScubaKing22

You could do something like you said: Exectue all the SELECT statements, output to HTML, the have an include for the INSERT statements. That way everything would be SELECTed, then the file for INSERTing would be included.

terandle

Originally posted by ScubaKing22
...Exectue all the SELECT statements, output to HTML...

Right, but what is the command to force output?
Maybe im misunderstanding you but...

<?PHP

// do all sql selects

print "html code";

include("insert_sqls.php");

?>

your telling me that "html code" will show up on the user's browser before PHP is done parsing the contents of "insert_sqls.php"?

ScubaKing22

Yes it will. Since PHP code executes in line-by-line, naturally since the SELECT statements are before the include they will be executed before the file is actually included. There is no special command needed to "force" output.

terandle

Originally posted by terandle
your telling me that "html code" will show up on the user's browser before PHP is done parsing the contents of "insert_sqls.php"?

Originally posted by ScubaKing22
Yes it will.

Hm, i just ran a test and it does not actually.
you can try it out for yourself

file1.php

<?PHP

print "You should see me ASAP";

sleep(10);

// The sleep command is there to simulate
// a big program that takes a while to process

include ("file2.php");

?>

file2.php

<?PHP

print "<br> AND you should see me after 10 seconds";

?>

The result: your staring at a blank screen for 10 seconds, and then both print messages appear at once, as i thought.

If i'm doing something wrong please correct me.

-Ryan

drawmack

you don't want to force output, you want to turn off output buffering

I briefly dug in the manual and could not find how to do this but I know it can be done.

ScubaKing22

Well I don't know then maybe it has to do with a version or something, but if I were to write the following code:
include('something');
echo "hello";
include('else');
It would include the file something, echo hello, then include else. Like I said, it executed line-by-line. Just get rid of that little sleep segment. I'm not saying it will be noticable time delay if thats what your after, but it will execute in order.