[RESOLVED] Setting multiple paths

IceRegent

Hello;

I cannot find any clear information on how to set multiple file paths for include files. I have my main index.php file in the document root directory, and I have another sub-directory that I call 'modules', which contains sub-directories in those for the different 'modules' I have developed. I am having trouble understanding how to set include paths, and I am having trouble getting the includes called up correctly. I have never set up the 'include-path' before, so I figured I would try to set up an include path to address the issue, but do not know how to correctly implement the include path feature. If I set up include paths, how do I set up multiple paths that will allow access to the root directory and all the module directories as well?
And If I do set up paths, do I then not specify the file name path in a modules subdirectory when I set an include in a file in, say, '/modules/songs/filename.php' ?

I need help understanding how to set these up. If I just keep all my files in the document root directory, the whole system works great, the site functions, and there are no errors. But, I really need to organize the site, keeping the different sets of functions modularized etc. Thusly, I created subdirectories and moved all the function sets to the modularized directories, now I am having trouble getting the files to see each other when include files are called for in various files in various places. HELP!

Thanks;
Ice

devinemke

if you have access to your php.ini then you can set the "include_path" directive with all directories for your modules. you can also use $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] in of all of the include calls to get the absolute paths.

scrupul0us

include paths are relative to the directory they are in..

so if you have lets say:

wwwroot/index.php
wwwroot/includes/module a/module.inc.php
wwwroot/includes/module a/dependency.inc.php

in index.php youd:

include('/includes/module a/module.inc.php');

however, anything included inside that module must be set relative:

include(getcwd().'/dependency.inc.php');

I believe thats how nested includes would work... it's been a while

IceRegent

Ok, so lets say I include in my index.php file, which is in the document root directory, the file 'song_admin.php' , which is in the directory 'modules/songs'. This included file, calls up several other files for various library functions, for the module, and may have a form inside of it, which gets submitted as an action to a php script in the 'modules/songs' directory, which, upon conclusion of the action, needs to call back the main index file to run, which of course has various session variable passed among them. DOes the relative path end up changing on me when I do these various includes, which call up different scripts, and then call back the index file? I hope this doesn't confuse anyone, but, I am really trying to get this mess of functions organized out. The scripts are all working correctly in the root directory, but when I did move them into the 'modules/songs' directory, I called all the includes that were in that directory as direct paths, and tried to call back the 'index.php' file form a relative path, but I fear I misused the syntax. What would be the correct syntax to use, to call back the index file, the '$_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT']'?

I am trying to understand how the paths need to work, as scrupul0us mentioned,

'however, anything included inside that module must be set relative:'

The paths I need to specify seems to change depending upon what file I am in at the time. I am so confused.

Ice

scrupul0us

right and it will depending on the file you are using and the directory its in

anytime I include files outside the realm of the document root I always reference the path to the files, that way theres no guess work

think of it this way, included files use the file calling them as their base path

so index.php in the document root wont know to find library.inc.php in:

wwwroot/includes/songs/

itll look for it here:

wwwroot/library.inc.php

therefore, the main module file should include 'library.inc.php' using the full path, not just include('library.inc.php');

IceRegent

Ok, I am working with a brand new module, one that will add, update(change contents) or delete news articles in the database. This module will be developed inside of the 'modules/news' directory. So, what should be the correct way then that I call this file set, as an include, in my index file? The relative path of "include 'modules/news/news_admin.php'? Or should I use an absolute path involving $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT']/modules/news/news_admin.php'? And, if I need to address any other files outside of the 'modules/news' directory, what should the correct usage be?

Ice

IceRegent

This is the file that I just created as a skeleton to acheive what I want, and it calls back the index file. Here is the code:

<?php
//Song Admin Decision maker file
session_start();
include 'config.php';
//Check for choice sent in song_update_admin.php
$_SESSION['admin'] = $_POST['adminnews'];
include '($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'])' . '/index.php';
?>

It gives me the following error:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING in /home/iceregen/public_html/duzzitmatter/modules/news/news_update_admin.php on line 7

There must be some miniscule thing in the syntax that is keeping me from my goal, but I have tried it taking out the '()' as well and it still doent work.

Ice

devinemke

<?php
session_start();
include('config.php');
$_SESSION['admin'] = $_POST['adminnews'];
include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/index.php');
?>

IceRegent

Ok, I am seeing the syntax that I did wrong. The single quotes on the outside and the placement of the '()'s. I think I understand why they need to be as you stated. The ($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] is a variable and the index.php is a string text, and the entire sentence after the include is the statement, so it gets grouped together. Ok, so maybe this is what was wrong with my attempts to set the paths up in the songs module. Ok, I will develop around this assumption, and with the understanding of variables and text and statements. Maybe my brain is understanding now. Let me work on this assumption and do the coding and see if I am getting it right. Your statement did work, and I think I understand why.

Thank you, I will get abck to you on this!

Ice

IceRegent

Ok, this is getting confusing. I thought it was straightened out. I am including the file 'news_admin.php' with this call from the index.php file:

if ($_SESSION['menu'] == "news") {
	include "modules/news/news_admin.php";
	}

The code from the file news_admin.php is as follows:

echo 'Please Choose from one of the options below:<p>';
echo '<form method="post" action="modules/news/news_update_admin.php">';
echo '<SELECT size="1" name="adminnews">';
echo '	  <option value=""> Please Select an Option </option>';
echo '	  <option value="add"> Add New News Article </option>';
echo '	  <option value="edit"> Edit Existing News Article </option>';
echo '	  <option value="delete"> Delete Existing News Article </option>';
echo '	</SELECT>';
echo '<input type="submit" value="Make Changes">';
echo '</form>';

This works correctly so far, but now, when the file 'news_update_admin.php' is called, here is the results:

The requested URL /modules/news/modules/news/news_update_admin.php was not found on this server.

Here is the code from the file 'news_update_admin.php':

<?php
//News Admin Decision maker file
session_start();
include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/config.php');
//Check for choice sent in song_update_admin.php
$_SESSION['admin'] = $_POST['adminnews'];
include($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/index.php');
?>

Both of the other two files are in the 'modules/news' directory, while the 'index.php' is in the root.

I dont know where this goes wrong?

Ice

scrupul0us

The error message tells all:

The requested URL /modules/news/modules/news/news_update_admin.php was not found on this server.

you prolly have the file located: /modules/news/news_update_admin.php

Update your include accordingly

IceRegent

Uhm, yes, the file, as I previously stated, is in the directory 'modules/news'. I also posted the code for each file. You can see the statement setting the include path called by the file 'news_admin.php'. The path is set to: 'echo '<form method="post" action="modules/news/news_update_admin.php">';'. The two fiels are in the same directory. the first file is included in the 'index.php' file, and the third file is called as a result of the form function action of the second file. Yet, if the action path is set to simply the file name, since it is in the same directory, it still does not function.