[RESOLVED] Question about include()

aaron_karp

I'm including a header on every one of my pages using:

include("includes/layout/header.php");

I also have a set of functions in a file called fetch.php and I want to include it into the header file, since I need one of the functions for the script in the header (outputting some information). So, inside header.php I have the code:

include_once("/includes/common/functions/fetch.php");

And I get the error:

Warning: main(/includes/common/functions/fetch.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/socialmo/public_html/includes/layout/header.php on line 27

Warning: main(): Failed opening '/includes/common/functions/fetch.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/socialmo/public_html/includes/layout/header.php on line 27

Any idea why this doesn't work, and what might be a good workaround? Thanks guys.

aaron_karp

Maybe it's got something to do with absolute vs. relative links? Would that make sense?

Weedpacket

Yes, it would.

aaron_karp

Ok, so am I not allowed to include absolute references? Or am I not allowed to include absolute references inside files that are included themselves?

To that effect, what would be the proper syntax for the inclusion? The following doesn't work: include_once("../common/functions/fetch.php");

I guess I have to use a link relative to the location of the file that is including the file header.php to begin with, correct?

This causes problems. fetch.php actually requires another set of functions (some database functions) in the same folder, which requires my database connection script as well. Quite interlinked.

Should I be using include_path or set_include_path or something? I've never used it before. Any recommendations for best practices? Thanks.

trexx

i've had similar problems too. what i've done is this: i have an "ini.php" file which contains constants with absolute paths. e.g.

<?php
define('SERVER_CLASS_DIR', 'c:/htdocs/classes/');
...

the first thing i do on each php-page is to include this "ini.php":

<?php
require_once 'ini.php'; # this is relative
require_once  SERVER_CLASS_DIR . 'c.class.php';
...

if class c requires class a i use the absolute path too. "c.class.php":

<?php
require_once  SERVER_CLASS_DIR . 'a.class.php';
class c {
...
}

this works fine. you only have to care about relative paths once, when you include the ini.php. if you use your script on different machines (e.g. live- & development server) you can switch between different configurations in the ini-script.

Weedpacket

You can use absolute paths, but obviously you have to use the correct absolute path. And I should point out that we're talking about file paths (on the server's filesystem), not URLs.

GirishR

What trexx said is a fine idea. But I would do it by creating a config.php file and setting a variable to '/home/socialmo/public_html/'. Once done that I can include the config.php file in the necessary php files and access the assined variable for the initial part of server path. Its only a matter of appending the directory one you have the initial part of server path.

This is also the standard practice in any open source php software.

aaron_karp

That's an interesting solution trexx. Weedpacket makes a good point though that didn't occur to me....

It's not like writing a hyperlink. That's the critical part. I guess I need to use a file path like include("/home/socialmo/public_html/includes/layout/header.php")

And from within that: include_once("/home/socialmo/public_html/includes/common/functions/fetch.php")

....Sweet.....tried it an it's working like a charm. Thanks guys!