I'm an experienced web designer who's just getting into writing my own php code (have edited others' codes) and I thought I'd start with a Simple XML RSS reader which can be called from any web page via javascript or iframes.
I'm starting this thread to track development of the code and to get feedback, suggestions, criticisms, compliments (yeah, right!:p), favorite restaurants, 5 books to take with you on a desert island and your solution to the problem of cold fusion.
At any rate, this first post is just a simple outline, feel free to respond or not.
Script: WH_Reader
Language: PHP 5.0
Platform: Unix
1) Overview
This script will provide a customizable rss reader which can be placed on any webpage via javascript or inline frame.
2) Flow Chart
a) define variables: feed_url, max_items, open_new_page, display_hieght, display_width, border_on, border_color, shuffle_on, temp_array
b) check for valid feed
c) grab feed (using SimpleXML)
d) place items in an arrray
e) shuffle items
f) output items
3) Questions/Concerns
a) is there a difference between using javascript and an inline frame? which is better?
b) if using javascript, output must be coded in javascript. should i use "echo" or "print"? does it matter?
c) Simple XML automatically converts data into an array (i'm calling it $temp_array); can i use shuffle($temp_array) or do i need to do something else to the data before shuffling?
That's it for now, I'm sure I'll answer some of my own questions as I go, but any suggestions are welcome here. Will continue to post as script develops.
Thanks in advance,
Webhead
