[RESOLVED] I have this but will this work?

cowboysdude

Currently I am using the following code to read a config file that is numbered 1-10 but I would like it to be unlimited... so here is what I use now..

<?php
for($i= 0;$i <=9;$i++){
    if( !empty($filename[$i])){
        echo "<a href='$path/$filename[$i]'>  <br />$title[$i] <br />
         $time[$i]";
    }
}
?>

Will this work? I have been trying to get it working with no luck...

<?PHP

$file_handle = fopen("files.txt", "r");

while (!feof($file_handle) ) {

$line_of_text = fgets($file_handle);
$parts = explode('=', $line_of_text);

print $parts[0] . $parts[1]. $parts[2]."<BR>";
}

fclose($file_handle);

?>

$parts0 1 and 2 being file.flv = title of file = time of file

Thank you!!

bpat1434

Well, if you really wanted to, and all you're doing is reading, I'd use [man]file/man to read the entire file into an array.

$lines = file('file.txt', FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);

Now $lines will be populated with the an array of data with each array element correlating to a line of the file. Then you can iterate over each line with a [man]foreach/man loop.

foreach($lines as $line) { }

Then for each line you can do what you need. So if the equals sign is your separator, then you could explode on the equals sign.

$lines = file('file.txt', FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);
foreach($lines as $line)
{
    list($filename, $title, $time) = explode('=', $line);
    echo $title.' ('.$filename.') '.$time.'<br />';
}

Now, at this point, I would ask why not use an XML file? This sounds like a great spot to use it. You could use a format like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<filelist>
    <file>
        <title>Some Title</title>
        <filename>/path/to/file.flv</filename>
        <time>4:10</time>
    </file>
    <!-- OR this version -->
    <file title="Some Title" name="/path/to/file.flv" time="4:10" />
</filelist>

Then you could just use php's simpleXML extension (enabled by default).

$xml = simplexml_load_file('file.xml');
foreach($xml->file as $file)
{
    echo $file->title.' ('.$file->filename.') '.$file->time.'<br />';
    // OR if you're using attributes instead of elements
    // $attribs = $file->attributes();
    // echo $attribs['title'].' ('.$attribs['name'].') '.$attribs['time'].'<br />';
}

Hope that helps.

gregor171

in your case this is what's missing:
$line_of_text = fgets($file_handle, 4096);

bpat1434

He already has that....

cowboysdude

Many thanks guys!!! I will def try that... will let you know of my success..lol I REALLY do appreciate it VERY much!! I will be working on it later for a bit!! 😃

cowboysdude

bpat1434;10912058 wrote:
Well, if you really wanted to, and all you're doing is reading, I'd use [man]file/man to read the entire file into an array.
$lines = file('file.txt', FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);
Now $lines will be populated with the an array of data with each array element correlating to a line of the file. Then you can iterate over each line with a [man]foreach/man loop.
foreach($lines as $line) { }
Then for each line you can do what you need. So if the equals sign is your separator, then you could explode on the equals sign.
$lines = file('file.txt', FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);
foreach($lines as $line)
{
    list($filename, $title, $time) = explode('=', $line);
    echo $title.' ('.$filename.') '.$time.'<br />';
}
Now, at this point, I would ask why not use an XML file? This sounds like a great spot to use it. You could use a format like:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<filelist>
    <file>
        <title>Some Title</title>
        <filename>/path/to/file.flv</filename>
        <time>4:10</time>
    </file>
    
    <file title="Some Title" name="/path/to/file.flv" time="4:10" />
</filelist>
Then you could just use php's simpleXML extension (enabled by default).
$xml = simplexml_load_file('file.xml');
foreach($xml->file as $file)
{
    echo $file->title.' ('.$file->filename.') '.$file->time.'<br />';
    // OR if you're using attributes instead of elements
    // $attribs = $file->attributes();
    // echo $attribs['title'].' ('.$attribs['name'].') '.$attribs['time'].'<br />';
}
Hope that helps.

I would because it sounds simple. What I"m working on is a joomla mod and I need it simple for the back end where users can just put in files, names, time..

THe XML sounds like something I SHOULD learn as I think you're right...it may be MUCH easier!! Many, many Thanks!!

cowboysdude

it was GREAT help but it's not reading the 'file.txt' file. It loads the webpage and I check the page source and it's not showing up so it's not reading it.. hummm suggestions?

Thanks again!!!

OK MY apology I didn't name the file correctly it's working GREAT!! THank you ever so much again!!!

cowboysdude

BUT now the question I have is it possible to modify this line:

$lines = file('file.txt', FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);

to something like this?

$lines = file( $files, FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);

I have tried quotes, periods..etc.. nothing is reading the backend config..

Thanks!

bpat1434

If you have multiple files, you'll have to loop over each file to get it's contents...

$files = array('file.txt', 'file2.txt', 'file3.txt', 'file4.txt');

$lines = array();
foreach($files as $file)
{
    $lines = array_merge($lines, file($file, FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES));
}

That should populate $lines with all the lines from every file listed in the $files array.

Alternatively you could wrap all the code that loops through and reads the files in a foreach. So my code that I posted a few posts ago could be wrapped in a foreach() loop to iterate over the $files array:

$files = array(/*...*/);

foreach($files as $file)
{
    $lines = file($file, FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);
    foreach($lines as $line)
    {
        list($filename, $title, $time) = explode('=', $line);
        echo $title.' ('.$filename.') '.$time.'<br />';
    } 
}

Hope that helps.

cowboysdude

Just wanted to say Thanks again for all the help!!!

This is what I ended up with in the end... lol

$lines = file('/file.txt', FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES | FILE_SKIP_EMPTY_LINES);
foreach($lines as $line)
{
    list($filename, $title, $time) = explode('-', $line);
    echo "<a href='$path/$filename'> $title <br /><br />$time";
} 
?>

It works like a champ!!!! Many Thanks again you guys are a HUGE help to me... I'm learning but need help at times.. SO glad to have this to help!!

John 😉

cowboysdude

OK another silly question... why won't this work?

$lines = file($files, FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES | FILE_SKIP_EMPTY_LINES);
foreach($lines as $line)
{
    list($filename, $title, $time) = explode('-', $line);
    echo "<a href='$path/$filename'> $title <br />$time";
}

originally the $files was 'file.txt' and it read fine but once I put in $files... it says NOPE... LOL

I have $files set as a backend param and would like the user to be able to input the filename-title-time from there so they don't have to find, open and edit the 'file.txt' file.

Thanks again!!!
John

bpat1434

What is the value of $files? Is it a path, or just a filename? If it's a filename, try adding a path in front of it:

$lines = file('/path/to/where/it/is/stored/'.$files, FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES | FILE_SKIP_EMPTY_LINES);

cowboysdude

bpat1434;10913977 wrote:
What is the value of $files? Is it a path, or just a filename? If it's a filename, try adding a path in front of it:
$lines = file('/path/to/where/it/is/stored/'.$files, FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES | FILE_SKIP_EMPTY_LINES);

OH sorry... the value of $files is reading a backend param that stores the information in a txt area box for example: example.flv-Example-3:40 Min

I have it set up to be able to let the user put the information in that format and would like the program to read from that param.

Thanks!

cowboysdude

OK this is what I thought of since then... Use a file called file.php to do this:

<?php
$params->get('files');
$content = $_POST['$params'];
$fp = fopen("file.txt","wb");
fwrite($fp,$content);
fclose($fp);
?>

to grab and populate the $param field into the file.txt

Then I can use the file.txt as normal...

BUT I can't get this working correctly. I'm thinking that the problems is in the $content line... how can I fix that?

Thanks again!!

bpat1434

So you say that the value of $files is just a filename... so is that file in the same directory as the script being executed? If not, you need to include the path to the file 😉 That's where your problem lies I believe.

You should ALWAYS do some type of checking if the file is there. That way it's easier to really dig down to the problem.

I'd change your code to be something like:

<?php

if(!file_exists($files))
{
    // The file isn't there...
    trigger_error('File `'.$files.'` does not exist or could not be found in the path ( '.get_include_path().' )', E_USER_ERROR);
    exit;
}

if(!is_readable($files))
{
    // The file isn't readable
    trigger_error('The file `'.$files.'` was found but is not readable.', E_USER_ERROR);
    exit;
}

// Now do what you want by reading the file
$lines = file($files, FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES | FILE_SKIP_EMPTY_LINES);

Hope that helps. Add some of those error checks to see what you get.

cowboysdude

$files isn't a file so to speak..it's a 'param' in the backend textarea box.

it would look like this: filename.flv-title-time

Your example is EXCELLENT but it won't read because there is no file there..

Like I said it's a text area box that the information is put into named $files.

Suggestions?

Many, Many Thanks!

bpat1434

But what you're not understanding is that [man]file[/man] needs a path to a file, not a string. So unless you're storing this data as a file first, [man]file[/man] won't be of any help to you.

Either you or I have misconstrued what you're trying to do. You started by saying you wanted to read a file but not limit the number of ilnes you read back. [man]file[/man] would do what you want there. Now you say you're reading a backend parameter that is a text-input box with this string in it. So are you trying to parse the string, or add it to the file or what? It's confusing without seeing precisely what you're trying to do.

cowboysdude

Well I have worked around the problem..lol I used an ajax edit script to edit the file.txt and leave it intact so now the problem is solved! I can allow the editing of the file without having the admin look for it, edit it and upload it again.

Thank you for the help!!!