Parsing and Modifing a PHP File

Avochelm

Hi, I currently have a file named config.cfg. In it I have an array containing configuration settings like so:

conf['db_host'] = "xxx";
conf['db_username'] = "xxx";
conf['db_password'] = "xxx";
conf['db_database'] = "xxx";
// etc...

I have absolutely no problem loading the file and the running it's contents by using eval().

The problem comes when I want to edit it. I want to be able to store the current array with the name of it's keys intact and then modify them and then overwrite the existing file.

I have a good idea of what I am going to do to accomplish the task - probably using regular expressions and eval(), but if anybody has done something like this before, please, I would really like to hear your experience and advice on how to tackle such a problem.

But I do have a practical question: How would I get the names of the keys of an array, so that I can write them as a string into the file?

Dirtbox

for obtaining the keys of an array use array_keys()

[URL=http://]nl3.php.net/manual/en/function.array-keys.php[/URL]

With regards your other problem of storing this array have you not considered using sessions & and a db table or flatfile.😉

yelvington

If this config file is stored in or below the docroot of the Web server, naming it config.cfg is a VERY bad idea, because that exposes the contents of the file (i.e., the password information) to the world. Most applications that use this technique write config.php files because, if requested by name, they will not reveal any values.

Dirtbox

yes which is good practice. But i never have a dynamic config file. the configs that i use are nearly always static ie hardcoded. What information is your config file recording?

Avochelm

My config file contains default settings for a forum I am working on (learning experience). It contains data such as database settings, language and template settings, backend configuration settings, etc.

I am going to create an administration panel to alter the contents of the config file via a GUI to make it dummy-proof. I initially considered using a database, but this is far too boring for a learning edge and wastes a query.

The name doesn't bother me. board.cfg will do.

Thanks, Dirtbox, I'll test array_keys() to see if it returns the name and value of the key, tommorow as I need some sleep!

Dirtbox

ok i see your point then these functions may be usefule to ya http://uk.php.net/manual/en/function.fopen.php

if your doing forums have you considered using smarty -templating engine. Ive used it on a few applications and i think it would be perfect for a forum. smarty.php.net and php-gtk would be handy tool for designing a configuration panel.

Avochelm

I managed to get what I wanted.

$foo["name1"] = "aaaaaa";
$foo["name2"] = "bbbbbb";
$foo["name3"] = "cccccc";
$foo["name4"] = "dddddd";
$foo["name5"] = "eeeeee";

foreach ($foo as $k => $v) {
   echo("\$foo[\"$k\"] = \"$v\";\n");
}

With this, I could then write what was echoed to a file. So essentially, I can run it with eval(), then modify the variables, then resave them to the file.