[RESOLVED] gerating HTML from a php page.

paulnf

ok in my learning so far i've seen 1000 examples of how to output PHP using the print function. but the problem i see is that its just base output. if i wanted to take the information that is stored in a variable/array etc... and place that information in a table/text box/label etc... I am not finding any specific examples of this. do i have to print all of this to get the php to create them and send them to the browser? any references that can be given where i can find information on this would be hugely appreciated. here is an example of what I am trying to do.

user logs in. I want to take the user name (the easy part) and place it within a table following the word "user:"

bradgrafelman

I don't really understand the question. Where is their username stored? In a session? If so, just output it like you would any other HTML data:

echo "<table>
  <tr>
    <td>User: {$_SESSION['user']}</td>
  </tr>
</table>";

Kudose

It really all depends on where your data is coming from on how you display it.

Let's say you has a session variable called "name" and it had "Bob" stored in it.

echo '<div>User: '.$_SESSION['name'].'</div>';

I used a div, because it's easier to type than a table (and "Web 2.0" :rolleyes🙂, but you can use a table.

If you got it from a database, you would do your database calls and store the data into an object or array, in this case "$array" or "$object".

echo '<div>User: '.$array['name'].'</div>';

echo '<div>User: '.$object->name.'</div>';

The user authentication part I leave up to you and a google search.

edit

Seriously now Brad. 😉

paulnf

ok I got that to work with the feedback you guys gave me, I guess my last question on the subject is, would the following code be considered ok. it works but basically i have nested the entire page within the php to be sent to the browser. i'm not sure if this is considered a good way of doing things or should i only use the parts that apply to the php itself.

<?php
// this script will take information provided by the user and populate the login page
// address error handling
ini_set ('display_errors',1);
Error_reporting (E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE);

// in case register globals is disabled i will register them her
$PlayerName = $_POST['Login'];
//print "This is a test to see if $PlayerName is really working";

echo "
<body bgcolor='Black'>
<span style='height: 184px'>
<center>
<table class='style1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0 align='center'>
			<tr>
				<td style='height: 169px; width: 215px' class='style3'>
				<table cellspacing='1' style='width: 147%'>
					<tr>
						<td class='style2' style='width: 14px'>&nbsp;</td>
						<td class='style4'>Name: {$_POST['Login']}</td>
					</tr>
		<table cellspacing='1' style='width: 147%'>
					<tr>
						<td class='style2' style='width: 14px'>&nbsp;</td>
						<td class='style4'>Level:</td>
					</tr>
		<table cellspacing='1' style='width: 147%'>
					<tr>
						<td class='style2' style='width: 14px'>&nbsp;</td>
						<td class='style4'>Experience:</td>
					</tr>
		<table cellspacing='1' style='width: 147%'>
					<tr>
						<td class='style2' style='width: 14px'>&nbsp;</td>
						<td class='style4'>Money:</td>
					</tr>
		<table cellspacing='1' style='width: 147%'>
					<tr>
						<td class='style2' style='width: 14px'>&nbsp;</td>
						<td class='style4'>Location:</td>
					</tr>
		<table cellspacing='1' style='width: 147%'>
					<tr>
						<td class='style2' style='width: 14px'>&nbsp;</td>
						<td class='style4'>Fuel:</td>
					</tr>

			</table>
			</td>

<center style='height: 184px'>
		<td style='height: 169px; width: 297px' valign='baseline'>
		</td>

	</tr>
</table>
</center>
</center>
</center>
</center>
</span>
<table align='center' class='style5' style='width: 799px'>
	<tr>
		<td style='height: 20px;' colspan='3'></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td style='width: 144px'>&nbsp;</td>
		<td style='width: 397px'>&nbsp;</td>
		<td>&nbsp;</td>
	</tr>
</table> 
</span>
</body>";
?>

Kudose

It's generally better to embed PHP into HTML after you've done all of your business logic with PHP.

i.e.

<?php
  // data processing
  // display data
?>
<div>Name: <?php echo $_POST['Login']; ?></div>

Also, an easier way would be

<div>Name: <?= $_POST['Login']; ?></div>

but that's not standard practice and isn't portable. Just as an FYI in case you ever ran into it and started doing it.

paulnf

Thanks for the clarification, I was under the impression that once i opened the code section I wouldn't be able to do it or call on it. I have to admit of all the programming forums i've dealt with over the years i've programmed, this has been the best in getting feedback as i'm learning a new one.

thanks again guys