can't echo include

zoobie

Hey now -
I've test.php echoing out different pages according to login status and in my root folder so it's like my other pages relative to folders.
I'm trying to echo out my menu, an include ("inc/nav.php"); and it's not working....with or without the tags, full path or not.
Inside inc/nav.php is normal HTML pointing to the folder img/buttons/cat.gif

<a href="defined.php"><img src="img/buttons/cat.gif" class="button"></a><br>
etc...

but it's not working when echoed...and works fine when called upon in other pages
Instead, it just shows the text "include ("inc/nav.php");" where the menu's supposed to go.

Secondly, I've inc/header.php which includes a switch that is supposed to echo out this months image...that's not working either. Perhaps I could just include the switch itself into test.php and forget including it...but how do I code the echoed variable to call on the switch?

switch(date('n')) { 
  case 1: echo '<img src="img/header/jan_paris_red.gif">'; break;
  case 2: echo '<img src="img/header/feb_cast_purp.gif">'; break;
  case 3: echo '<img src="img/header/mar_mono_green.gif">'; break;
  case 4: echo '<img src="img/header/apr_final_blue.gif">'; break;
  case 5: echo '<img src="img/header/may_blackletter_black.gif">'; break;
  case 6: echo '<img src="img/header/jun_calli_purp.gif">'; break;
  case 7: echo '<img src="img/header/jul_bway_red.gif">'; break;
  case 8: echo '<img src="img/header/aug_kling_grn.gif">'; break;
  case 9: echo '<img src="img/header/sept_joker_purp.gif">'; break;
  case 10: echo '<img src="img/header/oct_carn_red.gif">'; break;
  case 11: echo '<img src="img/header/nov_bell_blu.gif">'; break;
  case 12: echo '<img src="img/header/dec_scruf_mix.gif">'; break;
};

Thank you

nrg_alpha

I'm not so sure I follow..(with your first part).

for your second part, you should be able to leave the switch in the include file (my site works fine with that setup) (you don't need that semi-colon beside the colsing curly brace in your switch statement though...)

It's strange, because I use a simular system (switch statement using the month do display graphics depending on the month), and my setup is very close to yours. If you insert a default: in your switch, does your switch statement display the default?

default: echo 'no date found..';

I have experienced strange switch behavior in the development of my pages from time to time. I have trouble shooted and never really gotten anywhere..

So you are sure you have the correct include path and correct include file?
Add the default to the switch statement, ensure all file paths and file names are correct and give it a whirl.. let me know what it reports..

Cheers,

NRG

zoobie

Let's break it down (I can hard code the navigation if I have to) and start with echoing the switch.
How would I include the switch at the top of test.php and call on the result in the echo?
Something like this isn't working:

$header = switch(date('n')) { 
  case 1: echo '<img src="img/header/jan_paris_red.gif">'; break;
  case 2: echo '<img src="img/header/feb_cast_purp.gif">'; break;
  case 3: echo '<img src="img/header/mar_mono_green.gif">'; break;}

because it seems to be echoing it twice

echo '$header';

All paths are correct as stated in my post...normal php pages work fine...always have
It's smelling like a server config problem
I've uploaded an image of what's happening...mainly nothing

Thanks

PS - If this is going to be a major hassle, I'll just make normal pages and redirect them via the header ("Location: page.php"); & it's done

nrg_alpha

I looked at your attached image.. try using $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] as the base path..
so my site's include (rather require function goes like this):

require_once($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/include/myPHPFile.inc.php');

(You can substitute the require_once with include , and change the path after the $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].. but leave that initial '/' afterwards then list the rest of the directory structure and file.

Cheers,

NRG

nrg_alpha

When I do use this:

switch(date('n')){
   case 1: echo 'january'; break;
   case 2: echo 'february'; break;
   case 3: echo 'march'; break;
   case 4: echo 'april'; break;
   case 5: echo 'may'; break;
   case 6: echo'june';break;			           		
   case 7: echo 'july'; break;
   case 8: echo 'august'; break;
   case 9: echo 'september'; break;
   case 10: echo 'october'; break;
   case 11: echo 'november'; break;
   case 12: echo 'december'; break;
   default: echo 'no date found..';
}

it works.. now granted, I don't have your images or directory structure..but assuming you are listing your directories and files / file formats properly in your case statements.. it should work..

but I notice in your listings, you don't start your paths with a slash.. try changing

This assumes of course that your img folder is in the root directory of your site.

Cheers,

NRG

nrg_alpha

zoobie;10879881 wrote:
it seems to be echoing it twice

Sorry.. I missed that part.. yes it is echoing twice.. because you are echoing in your switch statement.. and since the echo statement is being assigned to $header, you are now echoing $header (which is already echoing in the statement).. this would be why you get two echos..

Cheers,

NRG

zoobie

Nothing works...I took out the echo bit in the switch...nothing
Obviously the server is configured otherwise
Moving on...As a general rule of thumb, I only spend 20 minutes on a problem. If I can't get it by then, it's not worth the time
If someone wants to comment further, I'll be happy to entertain but I've already moved on.
Thanks

nrg_alpha

Sorry to hear. And as for the 20 minute rule of thumb.. that doesn't really leave a lot of time to trouble shoot (but you could be very busy and not be able to trouble shoot longer than that). I have had times where I would bang my head against the proverbial wall for hours before I found the solution.. so perhaps as you said, someone else might be able to better understand and assist you.

Cheers,

NRG

zoobie

hours?...lol...try days and even weeks...been there...wasted a lot of time, too...now I know better
It's not like I haven't tried at here, the coding forums, and even the experts-exchange
I'm pretty sure it's the server configuration
I'll just redirect them to regular pages that includes everything properly
Like I said, it couldn't even include plain html
It just would be nice if it echoed my code properly...bummer

Thanks

zoobie

I remembered some clever code and posted the solution here
http://www.phpbuilder.com/board/showthread.php?p=10879981
2 ways... stop and starts code (most efficient)...or stop and start the echo itself allowing the includes to run

nrg_alpha

Zoob..I think there is some confusion here.. you don't stop an echo (the echo command executes (prints) what it is you instructed it to print out and then stops). I'll have a look at your link and get back to you.

nrg_alpha

Oh I see.. you were trying to echo an include line (meaning use echo to print an include() into your XHTML document)?
If so, then yes, what NogDog said.... you don't echo an include.. the include statement is just inserted in its own line in your document..

example:

include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/include/blah.inc.php');
// then start echoing stuff out.. of course, you can embed echoing in your include as well...

I revisit your initial post and see this line:
"I'm trying to echo out my menu, an include ("inc/nav.php"); and it's not working....with or without the tags, full path or not." and I slap my forhead.. if you look at my first response in this thread, I mention that I do not understand the first part.. but now it makes sense lol.. sorry it didn't don on me what you were trying to tell me...

Cheers,

NRG