print here interpolation with require/include

[BobLennon]

I'm having a problem structuring a template containing a rather large HTML form that I'd like print out with the "here document syntax" the manual says:

print <<<END
This uses the "here document" syntax to output
multiple lines with $variable interpolation. Note
that the here document terminator must appear on a
line with just a semicolon no extra whitespace!
END;

I can only get it to work when the HTML is part of the php parent document. When the code is contained in an external file and inserted with a "require(..) or include() statement it fails to interpolate the PHP variables.

The failure occurs independently of the include file having the print <<< ...END; sandwiching the HTML contained within it or if the print is issued in PHP followed by the require(..) and terminated with the END; placemark.

The manual says: "When a file is included, the code it contains inherits the variable scope of the line on which the include occurs."

Somehow that's not the way it seems to work. Anyone have any ideas?

[laserlight]

Could you provide the simplest and smallest script that demonstrates this problem? You might need to give some filenames to refer to in the include.

[BobLennon]

laserlight wrote:

Could you provide the simplest and smallest script that demonstrates this problem? You might need to give some filenames to refer to in the include.

Thanks for helping laserlight. I finally got it working by entering php(<?php) on the first line of the included file, even though it was called from within a php script.

Here's a snippet from the original code. The include file is a copy of the in-line code starting at the commented print <<<END statement. However to make it work you must preceed this with a <?php tag.

-------------------------Demo Script---------------------------------
<?php

if(isset($_POST['Submitted'])){ // Test if user has filled in form and submitted it.

$Last_Name=$POST['Last_Name']; //Sample Variable Setting from form POST
$First_Name=$POST['First_Name'];
$Address1=$_POST['Address1'];
} /End of Simulated Form submission Handling. If initial entry, display empty form for user fill and submission. Otherwise retain entered values on form with inherited PHP variables. /

// Code to print html form. Remove appropriate comment tags to test either external file or in-line code.

require ('Interpolate.inc');

// Interpolate.inc only works if first statement starts with <?php... even though called from php.

/ print <<<END
<!-- Sticky Values Input form -->
<form action="Interpolate.php" method="post">
<font face="Georgia" style="font weight = bold">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="635">
<tr>
<td width="298">
<b>Last Name&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<input type="text" name="Last_Name" size="20" value=$Last_Name></b> <!--Sticky PHP Value -->
</td>
<td width="337">
<b>Street Address</b>&nbsp; <input type="text" name= "Address1" size="26" value="$Address1">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="298">
<b>First Name</b> &nbsp;&nbsp;
<input type="text" name= "First_Name" size="20" value="$First_Name">

</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br><br><input type= "submit" value="Submit" method="post" Name= "Submitted">
</form>
END;
/
print "<br>$First_Name $Last_Name<br>$Address1"; //Display values.

?>