PHP blocks

[goobers]

Hi,

Does anyone know how I would go about implementing a good php block management system (Blocks as in the 'blocks' on the sides of a page layout). I used to have code that just goes through a table in a db and includes the php files in there, but i am faced with a situation where i need to implement the code based on the current page, and pass argument to them . I cannot seem to find a tutorial or something to guide me on a decent method of implementing this

any help is appreciated

thanks

[halojoy]

Hello man or woman.

A google search for this could be something like the one below.
You can add or exclude some words to refine your search.

My own idea is:

1. Use database tables to store:

2. Block templates, re-usable page bits

3. Stuff, data, to put in those bits

4. Download or write Your Custom Template Engine that can assign + parse data into blocks
   ------
   There are many such php template engine. I prefer the more barebone, simple, lightweight engines. I avoid Smarty and those with special syntax.
   Keep with those using plain PHP Syntax for Class or Function.

Make use of http://docs.php.net/str_replace
it is the fastest way to assign and replace your custom template tags in such template blocks.

<?php 

$page = '';
// tags are like:     {{copyright}}    {{video}}   {{googlead1}}


$pageblock1 = $template1;
// parse data into each template block
foreach( $tag_data_array1 AS $find=>$replace ){
    $pageblock1 = str_replace( '{{'.$find.'}}', $replace, $pageblock1);
}
$page = $page . $pageblock1;

$pageblock2 = $template2;
// parse data into each template block
foreach( $tag_data_array2 AS $find=>$replace ){
    $pageblock2 = str_replace( '{{'.$find.'}}', $replace, $pageblock2);
}
$page = $page . $pageblock2;

// and so on for all blocks templates you want to inlcude in page

// finally DISPLAY resulting html code
echo $page;

?>

I use often only 3 blocks per page:

- header.tpl
- contents.tpl
- footer.tpl

... but of course CONTENTS can be any number of blocks:

• header.tpl
• topmenu.tpl
• leftmenu.tpl
• mainleft.tpl
• mainmiddle.tpl
• mainright.tpl
• bottom_advertise.tpl
• footer_links.tpl
• footer_copyright.tpl
• footer_ads.tpl
• footer.tpl

And you can let some BLOCK use several SUB-blocks.
Like footer.tpl can include LINKS COPYRIGHT & ADS and whatever.

Here is my google search:
php template block page display parse assign database tutorial OR article
.... but adjust this search by remove/add words, to make it 'perfect'

I am sure you will find some Article / Tutorial or Small Template Engine to download.

Basically you design your Block Templates.
You Pull Page Data from database tables.
Assign Data to Templates.
Finally Display the result.

I may post my own small & fast
Lightning Template Engine Class in Code Critics forum.
If any body wish & ask me to ....

Good Luck 🙂
halojoy