php include to repeat coding on pages

abi_the_unicorn

i haven't hosted a website for a long time and have just started on a new project
ive made the layout and coded it and everything, but i need to know how to do something i used to do with my old websites a long while back

what i did was id have a php code that i put in a .php page and it would automatically insert the layout for me. so i could edit the layout in one file like main.php that had the full html/css layout code in it, and it would update the changes throughout all my pages.

so basically, i could add a new link to the navigation in main.php, and it would add it to all the pages.

i can't explain it very well but im hoping someone can figure out what im talking about. i will happily explain it more if you ask any questions.

i know nothing of php so if you have an answer for me please make it so i can understand.

ixalmida

You can 'include' all sorts of code in various sections of any given page. For example,

include('../includes/functions.php');   // This is at the top of every page, and contains the function: validate_session()
include('../includes/inetdb_connect.php');  // This is at the top of every dynamic page to connect to the database
include('../includes/lt_navbar.php');  // This is in the body of every page and displays my entire left navigation bar, complete with links
// etc...

The benefits are obvious. When I change a link in my navbars, I only have to do it once. If a particular function is broken, I only have to refer to one file to fix it. If I decide to change the password to my database, I only have to modify one file.

Just bear in mind that the code in your includes needs to use absolute web addresses (not relative addresses), since the pages that include them will most likely have different paths.

In other words,

  <h3>Department Pages</h3><!--  Links to various departments  -->
  <ul>
   <li><a href="http://www.domain.com/departments/it">Information Technology</a></li>
  </ul>

NOT,

 <h3>Department Pages</h3><!--  Links to various departments  -->
  <ul>
   <li><a href="../departments/it">Information Technology</a></li>
  </ul>

abi_the_unicorn

thankyou for your reply, although i actually found an answer before i came across yours. still, thankyou very much. i hope you managed to help anyone else with the same problem!