[RESOLVED] Writing array into TXT file

zzz

I noticed that my main page is starting to load with delay due to the number of calls to the db, I assume. So I'm thinking to simplify it by creating calls once a day, writing them into a TXT file and then just include these pieces.

To start with I need to write a script that will take an array generated with a query and write it in a file that will contain that array. Now, I almost never deal with writing flat txt files, but know it's possible. Not sure how it's done. I checked manual but didn't quite found what I was looking for...

Need a little push in a right direction.

zzz

I found something in the manual -- fwrite, I just need to make sure my var is overwritten rather then appended...

zzz

Yep, my script appends values instead of re-writing with the new one. How do I rewrite?

cahva

Using:

$fp = fopen('filename.txt','w');
fwrite($fp,'blaablaa');

In fopen the mode is the key. using "w" will truncate the file to zero lenght. You were using "a" which put the filepointer to the end of file.

cahva

And a little bit of advice. Instead of creating textfile containing array, why not write the whole page to file? I have created my own cache script a while ago and it really speeds things up. When data is changed in db, it creates the cache files on the fly.

zzz

Ahh... perfect!

zzz

I just took appart my page that actually pulls three outputs from two different databases.

The first one is drag. I might write that one into txt file. Since the data is date sensitive I might just create that file once a day only. Good idea! Now, how do you protect the file. I understand I need to CHMOD it to 777 to be able to write in it.

NogDog

Of course, the other option would be to take a look at your database queries and the relevant database tables to make sure things are optimized, making such a work-around unnecessary, perhaps.

zzz

It's true, my query is a bit complicated, plus i run a loop and do a bunch of other operations with each turn. It seems that in this particular case putting it in a text file once a day and then include would reduce some db calls and server load. Just need to figure out how to do it now...

NogDog

You could do something like the following, so that the PHP web page does both jobs:

// assume daily data file will be called "data.txt":
$data = 'data.txt';
if ( file_exists($data) and ( date('Ymd') == date('Ymd', filemtime($data) ) ) )
{
   // read the data from the file and output the page
}
else
{
   // do the database queries...
   // write the data to the 'data.txt' file
   // output the data as HTML
}

This way, the first time someone accesses the page on a given day, the database queries be done, but successive accesses on the same day will grab the data from the file, instead.

zzz

That's true.

I am struggling right now with how to take my code that contains of db query, output loop that includes references to other vars, html and php code and functions and put it into a flat file...

fwrite($fp,'$myOutputCode');

😕

zzz

I have taken an HTML source generated by my page and hardcode into the page adn see a drastic increase in load. Need to figure out how to create that kind of source imprint into TXT file...

zzz

Solution found here: http://phpbuilder.com/board/showthread.php?&t=10338451