[Resolved] Help with writing to text files..

[TimTimTimma]

I myself, have NEVER in my php career used flat files for anything..but today i broke down, figuring it would be to much stress on the database for what I want, I decided to create a "log" file on the server and make a script to write all the information about every users click I need to the proper file. It works fine with one exception. I can write to a file thats in the same directory but how do I write to a file thats in another directory, I have tried entering the url, and the absolute path, but its not working, what am I doing wrong? I figure you guys dont need code for this because i am simply asking why I can not get it to write to a file in another directory..So i wont post any code, I also would like to know, Would how big the file becomes effect how fast it process's, it is ONLY writing to it, its not reading, I am using the "a" method which writes only, and puts the pointer at the end of the file. But I was just wanting to know if it got so big if it would drastically effect the speed of the scripts execution because its recording every user click..

EDIT: I wasn't entering the absolute path correctly, it works now! thx

[planetsim]

Id say it would eventually perhaps create a different log file every 'x' often maybe once per month if traffic isnt too high.

Also if your trying to create a file in another directory what error are you getting? My first assumption and only would be that its a Permission error as the directory itself hasnt got write permissions enabled to create the file.

[TimTimTimma]

would it do this itself? I am wanting to know if this will effect overall performance of the script/system. Because if it will then I will not do it, because every clickis being recorded, we have to assume that the site will be high volume, just for safety precautions.

[planetsim]

No it wont create a new log file each month this is something you have to do code to do. But it will slow down performance even though it states it will go straight to the EOF to append it still has to find the EOF.

If traffic is going to be quite high maybe creating a log for each day however eventually this will become very very big. You may want to create Directory for each month.

Also is there any specific reason to do so, as just using the Ordinary Logs for the server should really suffice.

[halojoy]

Originally posted by TimTimTimma
- I decided to create a "log" file on the server
- Make a script to write all the information about every users click
- I can write in the same directory, but how do I write to another directory?
...entering the url, and the absolute path, but its not working?
- I am simply asking why I can not get it to write to a file in another directory?
- I also would like to know:
...Would how big the file becomes effect how fast it process's?
...ONLY writing to it, its not reading
...because its recording every user click

Hello,
you're funny, TimTimTimma!
That is a lot for being 'only asking one thing' ......
:p

<?php // A short reply by halojoy July 2005
// Web source link, to read more:
// - phpfreaks.com/tutorials/22/0.php -
// Logging Your Website With PHP Using a Flat File

// This code below, can be put at start of your index.php
// can also be made 'logthisuser.php', if so:
//include_once( 'logthisuser.php' );
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
session_start(); // DO NOT Forget!!

// only one time per session
if( !$_SESSION[ 'counted' ] ) {

/****
$agent = $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT']; tells us what type of web browser
$uri = $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']; what page they are accessing
$user = $_SERVER['PHP_AUTH_USER']; what username login to restricted area (Optional!)
$ip = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']; IP address of the computer accessing your site
$ref = $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER']; what site user were on and clicked to goto your site
$dtime ; standard date format when this page was accessed	

get variables from Predefined Server Variables	
Example: ***/
$agent = $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT']; 
$uri =  $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']; 

//$user = $_SERVER[ 'PHP_AUTH_USER' ]; 
//$user = $_SESSION[ 'user_name' ];
//$user = $_SESSION[ 'user_ID' ];
$user = "guest"; 

$ip =  $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']; 
$ref = $_SERVER['HTTP_REFERER'];
// date+time, format: 20050704-15:34:10
$dtime = date( "Ymd-H:i:s", time() );

// Append user info in logfile, with a newline at end: "\n"
$entry_line = 
"$dtime - IP: $ip | Agent: $agent  | URL: $uri | Referrer: $ref | Username: $user"."\n";

// Directory and textfile need correct Permission, for writing to file
// else CHMOD to 666 ( or 777 )
$filename = "mylogs/userlog.txt";
$fp = @fopen( $filename, "a" ); 
@fputs( $fp, $entry_line ); 
@fclose( $fp );

// Mark this visitor counted.
// Else will be put new line into logfile each visit to this page  

$_SESSION[ 'counted' ] = 1;
}

// Rest of your index.php, home, menu or startpage.php

?>

Enjoy!
🙂

/halojoy July 2005 sweden
🆒

[TimTimTimma]

Originally posted by planetsim
No it wont create a new log file each month this is something you have to do code to do. But it will slow down performance even though it states it will go straight to the EOF to append it still has to find the EOF.

If traffic is going to be quite high maybe creating a log for each day however eventually this will become very very big. You may want to create Directory for each month.

Also is there any specific reason to do so, as just using the Ordinary Logs for the server should really suffice.

How would I go about having it create a file, I tried using fopen() but it only gives me errors, and php.net says if the file doesnt exist it will try to create it. But it doesnt. Anyhow, The server logs won't do, because not every user has access to server logs, remember this is going to be distributed to people publically some users won't even know how to check the log files on the server, this is means of logging them in a way the owner of the site can simply view and understand easily. I have it set up to create different folders for each year/month/ and a different file for eacdh day, but how do I have it create the files when they dont exist? That is my question.

<?php
/*******************************************************************
 **
 ** File: log.php
 ** Description: Records every visitor click, and records detailed 
 ** information such as the day & hour they visited, their IP Addr,
 ** their username (if logged in), their agent, and actions
 **                                                  

 *******************************************************************/ 
$Day_Logged = date("d");
$Month_Logged = date("F");
$Year_Logged = date("Y");
$filename = $Current_Directory."/log/".$Year_Logged."/".$Month_Logged."/".$Day_Logged.".log";
$file_content = "DATE: ". $date ." - USER: ".$user->name()." - IP: ".$_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']." - AGENT: ".$_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT']." - ACTION: ".$base_url.$_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']."
";
$error_msg = "<strong>The visitor log file must be given writting permissions! Please content the webmaster at ".$Admin_Email." about this issue ASAP!</strong>";
if (!$handle = fopen($filename, "a")) {
	die($error_msg);
}else{
	if(is_writable($filename)){
		if (fwrite($handle, $file_content) === FALSE) {
			die($error_msg);
		}
		fclose($handle);
	}else{
		die($error_msg);
	}
}
?>

there is the code as it stands now..

[halojoy]

🙁

yeah, I almost know you would not take an advice.
you will use 'your way', even if it does not work 😃

so, did you test using my suggestion to change your script?

because
I do not like to repeat same thing, to somebody refusing to listen to what I say

I go help some other people, who can listen
there are so many to help here at www.phpbuilder.com/board
and they would mostly be glad and say: "thank you very much!"

Good Luck, TimTimTimma

:p
/halojoy 2005 sweden

"Please Listen!
Cause I will say this ONLY ONCE!"

[TimTimTimma]

Yes, I did try your script and it works, but I want to record everything, not just their first action when they visit, that pretty much kills the whole point of what I am trying to do. And yes it works :-) I do listen I appreciate help, however different people have different opinions on how they should approach different challenges, many may present their opinions but the one to be presented too, holds no obligation to actually accept or use that opinion. I appreciate your efforts, but its just not what i am looking for.