[Resolved] generating a random number to put in a filename...

ajdegans

Hi there, maybe its plain simple but i cant find a satisfying sollution for it...

I wrote a simple thing to put the contents of a form in a .htm file and so that it puts the date fillled in in the form in the filename... but now the problem! 😃

when i have to fill in more then once a day the form... i get multiple files with exact the same name which obviously isnt working 🙁

Is there a way to generate a random number starting at 000 or 00 and counting up 1 by 1 to put in the filename for that it looks like something as this:?

001_10-07-2004_storing.htm
002_10-07-2004_storing.htm

i have the whole thing working already i only need an addition to put the 001 etc in the file name!

the 001 and 002 dont have to start over at each day... just a counting thing is enough 🙂

also if this requires a mysql database its not a problem... altough i have NO real experience with it!

I looked up the rand command in php.net but im not sure if this is what i need.

Thanks!:glare:

tekky

have your script check a filename like 070404.dat (july 4 04) if it exists, read the first line, that value is the last number used in your sequential name, add 1, use that new number for the new file, and write that number to the .dat file as the only line in the file....

of course you may want to exercise file locking just incase 2 people were to load the page at once... or use their sessionid's as the "unique" portion of the filename...

obviously I didnt give you any code... I'll help with code when you have a problem with the code you come up with for which ever suggestion you find best suites you

[edit- do you have access to mysql at all? --]

devinemke

use timestamps. this solves two problems in one. first, it will give every file a unique name (unless two people fill out the form at the exact same second). secondly, you have a covenient way of storing the eact date/time of each file down the second.

$file = time() . '.htm';

ajdegans

hah devinemke thats a really really good idea 😉

hadnt thought of that :o im gonna try it out now 🙂

Thanks alot😃

Tekky:

I have a sql server yes... i dont see the point of that question 🙂