cannot send header redirect when script called from .shtml virtual command

[sprocket]

I have a .shtml file that calls php code using the
<!--#include virtual='/blahblah.php' --> directive. However, I need to call a simple php script before the headers are sent to test for a cookie or not - if a cookie is present I need to redirect to another script.

index1.shtml file...

<!--#include virtual='/test.php' -->

test.php:
<?php
if ($_COOKIE['text']) { /
       header("Location: /index2.shtml");
        exit;
}
?>

The problem is is that the header isn't redirecting, nor the exit command, even though the if() code is equating (tested with an echo "hello world"😉

Whatgives?

[appied]

This could be because the headers al already sent.

Meaning: If there is output before the header() command, the headers cannot be rewritten.

There is a way to workaround this by using an output-buffer

I think it was ob_start () and ob_flush()

[sprocket]

no, it's not that - the include virtual command is the very first line of the .shtml script and the included php script doesn't output anything...

I'm thinking the php script cannot output headers if included by an SSI include virtual directive

[appied]

could be.... Never tried it... Sorry cant help you further...