PHP Include problem

Darkfirebird

Hey all. I am trying to make an include script that auto adds a -2.

<?php 
$file = substr($_SERVER['PHP_SELF'], 0, -4) . "-2.php";
include($file);
?>

echo would be /includes/file name-2.php

I have tried other strings. They seem to work when I echo them but not when i use it as an Include.
Basic idea was base file is Index-###.php. The include would be Index-001-2.php. Not sure if its possible, I am still new to PHP. If theres a quicker way to make a page to add my top and bottom and auto include the linked file, do tell. Would help from me renaming each file to include index-###-2.php. # is the Index number. ( each Index-###-2.php has a different variable to load like Index-001-2.php has $file = This-File.swf and Index-002-2.php has $file = Another-File.swf ) Basically want the Index.###.php to auto add -2 to the $file include. Not sure if its possible though. If any could help would greatly be appreciated.

Ashley_Sheridan

What is the output of

print $file;

saidbakr

Hi,
$_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] will not return file system path specially if you use windows while include needs this path. for example:

include ('file.php') //will work
include('D:\www\docs\file.php') //will work
but
include('docs/file.php') //will not work even your script in www directory

Ashley_Sheridan

Would this have anything to do with the fact that Windows uses back-slashes while modern operating systems use forward slashes?

Weedpacket

Ashley Sheridan wrote:
Would this have anything to do with the fact that Windows uses back-slashes while modern operating systems use forward slashes?

Fortunately, PHP (and Apache, for that matter) take pity on Windows in this regard, and will tip the slashes over for it.

I'm also thinking that $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] is the wrong one to use: include() won't be expecting a relative URL. It would appear that FILE is what is wanted in this case.

Darkfirebird

Weedpacket;10883947 wrote:
Fortunately, PHP (and Apache, for that matter) take pity on Windows in this regard, and will tip the slashes over for it.

I'm also thinking that $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] is the wrong one to use: include() won't be expecting a relative URL. It would appear that FILE is what is wanted in this case.

As I said I am still new to Apache / PHP. would

<?php include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '$file');?>

work? And what does FILE do / how is it used?

nrg_alpha

The method I use on my site is:

include ($_SERVER['DOCUMENT.ROOT'] . '/include_folder/whatever_file.php');
(I actually use require_once.. for stuff like top menu and footer... but principally, the over all line format is the same).

Works like a charm 🙂

Darkfirebird

nrg_alpha;10884182 wrote:
The method I use on my site is:

include ($_SERVER['DOCUMENT.ROOT'] . '/include_folder/whatever_file.php');
(I actually use require_once.. for stuff like top menu and footer... but principally, it's the same).

Works like a charm 🙂

Yes I know that works well but I want the file to get its own name and add -2 to it as well. like Index.php or SWF.php would include Index-2.php or SWF-2.php depending on the what the file is called. I'm sure theres a easier way but I do not know.

nrg_alpha

Well, you could employ a regular expression to do so. For example:

$str = $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
$str = preg_replace('#(?=\.php)#', '-2', $str);
echo $str;

Darkfirebird

nrg_alpha;10884186 wrote:
Well, you could employ a regular expression to do so. For example:
$str = $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
$str = preg_replace('#(?=\.php)#', '-2', $str);
echo $str;

I got as far as

<?php
$path = $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
$file = basename($path, ".php");
$testing = $file . "-2.php";
echo $testing;
?>
<?php include($testing);?>

and it so far works. < Edited due to me naming file incorrectly after saving the test. >

nrg_alpha

but your method doesn't include any folders (unless you don't need to have the folder name involved..)

Darkfirebird

nrg_alpha;10884188 wrote:
but your method doesn't include any folders (unless you don't need to have the folder name involved..)

Yeah.. Kinda figured that but at the moment this is a start for me. 🙂

If you change some of the variables you should be able to in my opinion. I usually keep all these type files in one place anyways.

nrg_alpha

well, my first example includes the 'include' folder.. but I did one up on that..

This second regular expression can replace nested folders as a single root 'include'.. so take for example:

$str = '/home/temp/cookie/template.php'; // Let's assume that this path is what $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] is.
echo $str . '<br />'; // print out the path (as a before comparison)..
$str = preg_replace('#^(/\w+(?:/\w+)*?/)(\w+)(?=(?:\.php))#', '/include/'."$2".'-2', $str);
echo $str; // output: /include/template-2.php

Darkfirebird

nrg_alpha;10884193 wrote:
well, my first example includes the 'include' folder.. but I did one up on that..

This second regular expression can replace nested folders as a single root 'include'.. so take for example:
$str = '/home/temp/cookie/template.php'; // Let's assume that this path is what $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] is.
echo $str . '<br />'; // print out the path (as a before comparison)..
$str = preg_replace('#^(/\w+(?:/\w+)*?/)(\w+)(?=(?:\.php))#', '/include/'."$2".'-2', $str);
echo $str; // output: /include/template-2.php

That works too. Didnt know PHP did $str in order. ( Kinda reminds me of Morrowind: Oblivion where it tries to do them all at once. ) + I have no idea what the

$str = preg_replace('#^(/\w+(?:/\w+)*?/)(\w+)(?=(?:\.php))#', '/include/'."$2".'-2', $str);

does though. I get lost in all the symbols o.o.

nrg_alpha

Ah.well.. regular expressions is kind of a mini language all in its own with its own complete set of rules. Too much to explain here.. but you can learn more about it here.

It is really something worth learning if you really want to get on the ball with text search and match / replace / manipulate. It's a work-horse and a half! Strongly recommend at least familiarising youreself with. Could come in hand in many situations. 🙂

Cheers,

NRG

EDIT: the $str is just a suggestive string.. you could use $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] if need be. I just wanted to demonstrate an example with nested folders.

Darkfirebird

nrg_alpha;10884198 wrote:
Ah.well.. regular expressions is kind of a mini language all in its own with its own complete set of rules. Too much to explain here.. but you can learn more about it here.

It is really something worth learning if you really want to get on the ball with text search and match / replace / manipulate. It's a work-horse and a half! Strongly recommend at least familiarising youreself with. Could come in hand in many situations. 🙂

Cheers,

NRG

EDIT: the $str is just a suggestive string.. you could use $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] if need be. I just wanted to demonstrate an example with nested folders.

Yeah I figured. I try to avoid doing that. I keep the .php files in 1 folder with the files it needs in a sub folder, but thats defined in a different include script. Its annoying making a new page and editing the names so it works each time and now I got this working out. All I have to do is copy the basic index.php and rename it to FILENAME.php and php does the rest.

nrg_alpha

Here is some better links for regex:

http://www.php.net/manual/en/regexp.reference.php
http://www.regular-expressions.info/index.html

Hope those help if you do become interested in learning regular expressions.

Cheers,

NRG

Darkfirebird

nrg_alpha;10884201 wrote:
Here is some better links for regex:

http://www.php.net/manual/en/regexp.reference.php
http://www.regular-expressions.info/index.html

Hope those help if you do become interested in learning regular expressions.

Cheers,

NRG

Will give it a go. Thanks for the assist.

nrg_alpha

The one thing the expresisons I showed does not take into account is any dashes or spaces.. it basically looks for folders/files with letters a-z (or A-Z), 0-9 and the underscore. But this can be expanded with ease if need be.

Darkfirebird

nrg_alpha;10884203 wrote:
The one thing the expresisons I showed does not take into account is any dashes or spaces.. it basically looks for folders/files with letters a-z (or A-Z), 0-9 and the underscore. But this can be expanded with ease if need be.

This would be a lot quicker if I could Instant Message you. Trying out a lot of different things. Lots of questions as well.