[RESOLVED] Parsing Problem-Help Please!

Cinds

I have a search page with includes. The includes parse fine as long as there is a response to the query. The problem happens if there is no answer or response to a query-that is when the page does not parse all of the includes, only some of them are parsed(the includes before the php coding parse). I've been working on trying to figure this out for days so if anyone would could help me I would really appreciate it. I am not very smart when it comes to php coding, so please try to keep it as simple as you can. The page I am talking about is located here:
http://www.all4love.net/newcheck_pickuped2.php

Cinds

I realize I am a first time poster here and maybe I haven't waited long enough for a reply or my question was not clear..if you need any additional answers to help me please feel free to ask. I have tried various work arounds for this dilemma without success and would really like to learn what I am doing wrong. Thanks!

NogDog

It's going to be pretty hard for any of us to answer without knowing what the error is and what the code looks like.

Cinds

Actually there is no error. The PHP coding does work correctly. It is only when I place the php coding inside of the html coding that problems start to show up.

If you look at the above url there is a list of card categories on the left hand side of the page-that is pulled in with this type of coding <? include("includes/name of file.txt"); ?>

Those parse correctly. I also have includes after the php coding such as a footer file. However, this only parses if a person enters information that comes back with results. If they enter a request that there are no results for the page will not parse the footer include.

I hesitate to post all of the php coding as it is rather lengthy and I know it works ok-it doesn't return errors or anything like that, it just doesn't allow any includes to be parsed after the php coding if no card is found. I also hesitate to post it because I haven't read all of the posting rules for this forum and don't want to violate them.

bpat1434

Don't worry, the worst that can happen on a first offense is a mod says something, edits your post, or worst of all, removes the offending item(s). So please, post your code. one way to get rid of length, is to cut down on how much HTML you post here with it. We don't need to see everything, just most of it. So use your discretion.

Cinds

This is the coding for the form:

<form action="<?php echo $this_filename; ?>" method="post">
 <input type="text" name="string" value="<?php echo $field_string; ?>">
 <input type="radio" name="option" value="sender_email">
  <input type="radio" name="option" value="recip_email">
<input type="submit">
 <input type="hidden" name="action" value="verify">
</form>

The coding for results:

<?php 

$this_filename = 'check_pickuped.php'; 
define('IN_VCARD', true); 
require('./lib.inc.php'); 

$action = (!empty($HTTP_POST_VARS['action'])) ? $HTTP_POST_VARS['action'] : $HTTP_GET_VARS['action']; 
if($action=='verify') 
{ 
   $field_string = (!empty($HTTP_POST_VARS['string'])) ? $HTTP_POST_VARS['string'] : $HTTP_GET_VARS['string']; 

   if($HTTP_POST_VARS['option']=='ecard_id'){ 
      $sql = "SELECT * FROM vcard_user WHERE message_id='".addslashes($field_string)."' LIMIT 0,1 "; 
   }elseif($HTTP_POST_VARS['option']=='sender_email'){ 
      $sql = "SELECT * FROM vcard_user WHERE sender_email='".addslashes($field_string)."' "; 
   }elseif($HTTP_POST_VARS['option']=='recip_email'){ 
      $sql = "SELECT * FROM vcard_user WHERE recip_email='".addslashes($field_string)."' "; 
   } 
   $usercard_find = $DB_site->query($sql); 
   $number = $DB_site->num_rows($usercard_find);    

   if($number > 0) 
   { 
      echo '<table border="1" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="3" align="center" style="font-size: x-small;">'. 
      "<tr><td >date</td><td >ecard id</td><td >recip´s email</td><td >sender´s email</font></td><td >retrieved?</td></tr>"; 
      while($usercard_data = $DB_site->fetch_array($usercard_find)) 
      { 
         extract($usercard_data); 
         $txt_pickped = ( $card_read==1 )? 'Yes':'No'; 
         echo 
         "<tr><td >$card_date</td><td >$message_id</td><td >$recip_email</td><td >$sender_email</font></td>". 
         "<td ><strong>$txt_pickped</strong></td></tr>"; 
      } 
      echo "</table>"; 
   }else{ 
      die('card not found'); 
   } 
} 
?>

bpat1434

I'm guessing you can't include the footers and such because when you don't find the card, you execute a [man]die/man command.

Also, a couple things to note:
1.) You're using $HTTP*VARS which is deprecated. Use $POST and $GET now
2.) You check whether items are sent via POST or GET with preference to post. This poses a possible security issue in someone sending malicious code through the URL to your program. Try limiting the input to POST and not checking for anything via the URL.
3.) If you insist on checking for URL and POST variables, you can make it easier in one of two ways:
3.a) Make use of the $REQUEST array
3.b) Figure out which one is not empty, and then put that array's contents into a new array:

$submitted_contents = (!empty($_POST) && isset($_POST)) ? $_POST : $_GET;

Also, when posting code, please use the VBCode items:
For PHP code: [php]<?php YOUR PHP CODE; ?>[/php]
For HTML: [html]YOUR HTML CODE[/html]
For All other code: [code]YOUR CODE[/code]

Cinds

would it be ok to remove the die and close the code like this? That would escape the script run wouldn't it? At the same time it should allow any includes that follow to parse if I understand all I have read correctly.

<?php 
}
?>

bpat1434

Or you could echo "Card not found" to the user and then proceed with your includes 😉

Cinds

Thank you so much for all of the help. I did change the $HTTP*VARS as suggested and I made a few other small changes. Everything works the way I wanted it to now. This is a wonderful place to get excellent advice! I'll be sure to spread the word!

bpat1434

Fantastic. Glad we could be of assistance.