Sending data via GET

[wrgill999]

I need to send data to a script on another server via the GET method.

I've used curl to post data before...opened a socket etc, however I need to use the GET method, but I would rather not have to open up a separate browser window to send the string (http://domain.com?variable1=this&variable2=that).

Is there a way using PHP to send the data in this format to another server 'behind the scenes?'

Thanks.

[bradgrafelman]

Send the data? Do you want to display the data returned?

$data = file_get_contents('http://domain.com?variable1=this&variable2=that');

echo $data;

EDIT: Don't forget to [man]urlencode/man the value of the variables you're passing!

[wrgill999]

No. For example, a user is on my site. He fills out a form. That form is posted to a php script. That script populates a database, sends a couple of emails, sends the data to the script on another server via the GET method, and then displays a message to the user on my server that their data has been collected.

I do not need any data returned from the outside server. I just need to send the data to it.

Doesn't file_get_contents() just read the contents of a file or site into your variable? Can it actually send the data as described above and in the first post?

Thanks.

[bradgrafelman]

So... use the code I posted minus the echo() line.

[wrgill999]

This doesn't seem to work. The file_get_contents() function seems to get the contents. It needs to work exactly like if you just put the url with the attached name value pairs into a browser, so the receiving script works on the sent variables.

[bradgrafelman]

If it gets the contents of the remote page, then it worked.

If you're not getting the desired results, it's due to an error in the remote script.

[cretaceous]

you could use javascript to auto submit a form with hidden fields

<script language="JavaScript">
<!--
if (document.getElementById)
{
document.getElementById('myform').submit();
} else {
document.write('geez no javascript<input type="submit" name="submitbtn" value="Submit" >');
}
//-->
</script>

I also read on the zend site something about you should be able to concatenate the vars into a string and send that without usung a form

[bradgrafelman]

The file_get_contents() works flawlessly for this type of situation. It generates a normal HTTP GET request just like any other browser. If it's not working as expected, it's because the remote script is erroring.

[cretaceous]

brad - doesn't your method pull data from a remote page?

whereas wrgill999 wants to send data to a remote page

presumably you are proposing to send it somehow?

[bradgrafelman]

He wants to send data. The topic of this thread is "Sending Data via GET".

"Pulling" data with the variables in the URL is the same as "sending" data to a remote page via the GET method.

So, the answer would be yes to both of your questions.

[thorpe]

doesn't your method pull data from a remote page?

what you describe as "pulling" data requires a request to the server. a request to the server is (by default, but necesarily) sent via the GET method, so in essence all calling the file_get_contents() function does is make a request to the server.

now... im going to assume that you are asking this question because you need to make a more complex request to the server. ie: you need to set certain headers to send allong with your request.

you say you've used curl before.. [man]curl[/man] is the perfect tool for this job.