Reading only parts of an HTML page

ihenman

first attempt at parsing data here s what I need todo.

A page of html on another site, has an img tag I need the src from and then a large chunk of HTML formatted text. I've disceted the code and know exactly where I want to read from.

the <img> tag occurs right after a tag. I need the src from there. then after that there is 2,3 or 4 paragraphs of text I want to take as well. So I want to read all the text from the end of the <img> tag until there is 2 tags side by side...

i.e.

I know howto open the stream...with fopen() but not sure what to do with it...I could read the whole thing into a string then parse it??? with file_get_contents()....

I need some direction, and also help with what functions I use to read to a certain point then begin to caputre the text etc.

also how can I read a large chunk of text rather then just a line with fgets()???

This is info I'm taking from a parent website on an Affiliate webpage that can be used by all partners...but they don't offer it in any user firendly format! Thanks in advance !

HalfaBee

I would read it into a string using file_get_contents().

You could use preg_replace() or preg_match to return the parts you want.

or use strstr() and substr().

You can use fread() to get chunks of data instead of one line.

Halfabee

ihenman

HalfaBee

so could I do something like this

get the file via fopen()

then read it into a string via file_get_contents()

then read the sting to the first point I require which will be the via preg_match().

THen I'm giong to be info a problem b/c I'll have to fread() until preg_match() equals a particular character that I want to stop @

Then fread() again until preg_match() == the 2 tags ( )

Sound right too you?? I've never used some of these functions but I'm sure I can figure it out hopefully!

HalfaBee

you don't fopen and fread if you use file_get_contents()

ihenman

OK I figured that out while playing around with it...

So I can directly file_get_contents() from the specified URL, then fread() from it...Correct.

At least that's what I'm starting too see..

Now how do I integrate the preg_match into all that???

HalfaBee

Once you have the the file_get_contents() the whole page is in the string.
fread() does not have to be used.
Use preg_match() or strstr() and substr() to get the bits of the string you need.

ihenman

HalfABee I must be getting tired but I'm still running into problems with this...here's what I have.

This reads in my string

$file = file_get_contents("http://www.mobtastic.com/artists_bio_ringtones_logos_picture_messages/u/u2_ringtones.asp/");

No this should return all the text before it finds 2 line breaks?? correct...

$test = strstr($file, ' ');

...I'm still not getting anything right here...maybe I should wait until tommrow to look @ this again... let me know any other pointers I should know...

thanks..

ihenman

I thinK i discovered what the problem was it appears I cannot open any pages on that site at all...possibly protected in some way it refers me to another error page I think...

I'll have to ivnestigate further!

Moonglobe

yup, the page isn't there.

ihenman

MoonGlobe,

Does that make ssense that it goes to an error page.

I know the URL is correct b/c if I paste it into my address bar the page comes up???

Just wanna ensure I'm not missing anything here.

Can pages not be readable by file_get_contents() ..

Shrike

Only if fopen wrappers is set in your .ini 😉

If you can't set that use fsockopen() / fsockread() to get a URL

If fopen wrappers is set you can use any file read command, I think.