Log-In Application is not working

[amy_damnit]

Hi all. So I was almost done with my second PHP book when I got dreadfully stalled last week.

BACKGROUND:
The book has been building up, and I'm in Chapter 11 with an "application" that allows users to log-in and it demonstrates several concepts including: using includes, templates, and cookies.

While the book has been good, I think the author's coding practices are really loopy in this chapter and don't make good use of organizing code and/or files.

I now have a handful of PHP pages, and I honestly do not understand how they are supposed to work together?! 😕😕

I have typed in the code verbatim, but I get two big problem areas:

PROBLEMS:
1.) The included Header template file stopped working.

2.) When I use a valid username/password in my database, the Log-In fails and I get all of these error messages complaining about "the header was already sent"?!

I have followed Larry Ullman's code to a "T", and I think the issue is bad code design plus some bugs in the book SIGH

SUMMARY OF FILES:

Attached is a ZIP of all relevant files, plus my directory structure, plus script to create the database.

Here is a brief summary of each file:

0802_MysqliConnect.php - provides database connection information.

style_2.css - CSS stylesheet.

0303_Footer.html - template provides a website header.

1101_Header.html - template provides a website footer.

1101_LoginPage.inc.php - prints any errors associated with logging in, as well as creating the log-in form.

1102_LoginFunctions.inc.php - defines two functions used by the log-in/log-out process.

1103_Login.php - processes the log-in form submission, and upon successful log-in, the user is redirected. Two included files are necessary.

1104_LoggedIn.php - user is redirected here from "1103_Login.php". If no cookie is present, redirect the user.

Additional Files...

The files above built off of these files below from Chapter 8 and 9...

0800_Index.php
0901_ViewUsers.php
0902_DeleteUser.php
0903_EditUser.php
0905_ViewUsers.php

and all of these Chapter 8 and 9 files worked just fine (e.g. Header was working previously).

SUMMARY:
Obviously it would be easier to help me debug things if you all had Larry Ullman's "Visual QuickPro Guide: PHP 6 and MySQL 5". However, since you don't, and since you can't look on my MacBook, the best I could do was explain things in detail here and include a ZIPPED copy of the files and folders.

I could really use some help here so I can finish learning how to work with "Cookies" and then move onto "Sessions" and finish up the book!! :o

(I have been stalled on this issue since last week!)

Thanks,

Amy

[big_nerd]

HI Amy,

I don't have a chance since Im at work to take a look the files with any great detail, however:

the file: 1103_Login.php has 2 dead enters AFTER the ?> code.

This is sent to the browser or is trying to - after you have the header() command.

Be sure to remove those (as a general step) to get rid of the Headers Already Sent issue.

That Error basically means that the HTTP Headers were already sent, in this case an HTTP page with two carriage returns (shows nothing in the browser) so the Header Location can't be sent since one has already been sent.. OR vice versa, as in you send headers and it will error out trying to resend headers for those two returns.

Once you have the redirection problem taken care of, I would inspect your $errors array further for WHY it isnt working.

Best of luck

[bradgrafelman]

Looks like all of the PHP files have extra whitespace after the final ?>'s, actually.

As big.nerd points out, any text (including a space or a linebreak) outside of <?php ?> tags and before a header() call will cause the "headers already sent" error. PHP specifically tells you which line of which file began the output, too. You can search the board for "headers already sent" for a plethora of examples.

[amy_damnit]

bradgrafelman;10916902 wrote:

Looks like all of the PHP files have extra whitespace after the final ?>'s, actually.

As big.nerd points out, any text (including a space or a linebreak) outside of <?php ?> tags and before a header() call will cause the "headers already sent" error. PHP specifically tells you which line of which file began the output, too. You can search the board for "headers already sent" for a plethora of examples.

I took out the carriage returns after my ?> tags and still get this...

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+includes/0802_MysqliConnect.php:19) in /Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/1103_Login.php on line 33
Call Stack
#	Time	Memory	Function	Location
1	0.0007	62404	{main}( )	../1103_Login.php:0
2	0.0132	77156	setcookie ( )	../1103_Login.php:33

( ! ) Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+includes/0802_MysqliConnect.php:19) in /Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/1103_Login.php on line 34
Call Stack
#	Time	Memory	Function	Location
1	0.0007	62404	{main}( )	../1103_Login.php:0
2	0.0156	77288	setcookie ( )	../1103_Login.php:34

( ! ) Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+includes/0802_MysqliConnect.php:19) in /Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/1103_Login.php on line 38
Call Stack
#	Time	Memory	Function	Location
1	0.0007	62404	{main}( )	../1103_Login.php:0
2	0.0169	77400	header ( )	../1103_Login.php:38

Where is it saying the error is at?

0802_MysqliConnect.php?

1103_Login.php?

I'm not seeing what is wrong...

Amy

[dagon]

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+includes/0802_MysqliConnect.php:19)

as the error says -- its the line breaks at the end of 0802_MysqliConnect.php

[bradgrafelman]

The key of the error message is here:

output started at /Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+includes/0802_MysqliConnect.php:19

The number after the colon is referring to a line number.

[amy_damnit]

bradgrafelman;10916947 wrote:

The key of the error message is here: The number after the colon is referring to a line number.

Okay, but here is the code from 0802_MysqliConnect.php...

<?php
	// This file contains the database access information.
	// This file also establishes a connection to MySQL.
	//   and selects the database.

// Set DB access info.
DEFINE ('DB_USER', 'root');
DEFINE ('DB_PASSWORD', 'root');
DEFINE ('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
DEFINE ('DB_NAME', 'sitename');

// Make the connection.
$dbc = @mysqli_connect (DB_HOST, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD, DB_NAME)
			OR die ('Could not connect to MySQL: '
			. 	mysqli_connect_error());
?>

Notice how there are only 16 lines...

I deleted the carriage returns after the ?> and so I don't see what is wrong with this file or how it can be sending output from "line 19"?? :queasy:

Amy

[bradgrafelman]

Rename the .php file to a .txt file so we can take a look at it directly; it's probably your editor (vi/vim, by any chance?) playing tricks on you.

EDIT: Gah, trying to multitask (and failing); I meant to say that you should rename the file and upload it to your next post.

[amy_damnit]

bradgrafelman;10916953 wrote:

Rename the .php file to a .txt file so we can take a look at it directly; it's probably your editor (vi/vim, by any chance?) playing tricks on you.

EDIT: Gah, trying to multitask (and failing); I meant to say that you should rename the file and upload it to your next post.

It might have helped if I was updating the file in my main directory and NOT the one in the folder called "AMYs_FILES" which had the files I posted here in "AMYs_FILES.zip"?! :rolleyes::rolleyes:

So why didn't my extra carriage returns cause problems before?

Is this just an issue when setting cookies?

Amy

[bradgrafelman]

It becomes an issue whenever you try to do something that requires nothing be outputted, such as the case of modifying HTTP headers before they are sent; this can include setting cookies, starting a session (which in turn sets a cookie, normally), using [man]header/man, etc.

[amy_damnit]

bradgrafelman;10916961 wrote:

It becomes an issue whenever you try to do something that requires nothing be outputted, such as the case of modifying HTTP headers before they are sent; this can include setting cookies, starting a session (which in turn sets a cookie, normally), using [man]header/man, etc.

Do you ever use that "flush thingy" where you don't have to be so careful with errant spaces?

Amy

[amy_damnit]

Okay, thanks for the help with my header issue, but there are some other areas - mentioned before - where I am still stumped...

1.) Why isn't my header file working??

2.) Why does he include...

// Create the page.
	include ('includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php');

at the very end of 1103_Login.php instead of at the beginning?? (Don't you need to print the header first thing?!)

3.) The file 1103_Login.php includes 1101_LoginPage.inc.php which in turn includes 1101_Header.html.

The problem, though, is that these files all exist in the includes folder:

0303_Footer.html
1101_Header.html
1101_LoginPage.inc.php
1102_LoginFunctions.inc.php
style_2.css

The author says,

"It may seem illogical that this script (i.e. "1101_LoginPage.inc.php") includes the header and footer file from within the includes directory when this script will also be within that same directory. This code works because this script (i.e. "1101_LoginPage.inc.php") will be included by pages within the main directory; thus the include refeences are with respect to the parent file (i.e. "1103_Login.php"), not this one (i.e. (i.e. "1101_LoginPage.inc.php")."

Well, that logic makes no sense. Furthermore, my header file no longer works.

Can you help me straighten this out?!

Thanks,

Amy

[big_nerd]

It may seem illogical that this script (i.e. "1101_LoginPage.inc.php") includes the header and footer file from within the includes directory when this script will also be within that same directory. This code works because this script (i.e. "1101_LoginPage.inc.php") will be included by pages within the main directory; thus the include refeences are with respect to the parent file (i.e. "1103_Login.php"), not this one (i.e. (i.e. "1101_LoginPage.inc.php")."

What the author means is this.

In the file 1101_LoginPage.inc.php

include ('includes/1101_Header.html');

Says includes/1101_Header.html

Since that file already is LOCATED in the includes folder, he is saying that you put the includes/ in the include statement because the file 1101_LoginPage.inc.php is being included from the folder behind this one, i.e. NOT in includes.

When you include the file the path's found in the included file should be concidered to be from the main folder where you are running the script from.

i.e.
main/program.php
main/includes/included.php
main/includes/included2.php

if included.php INCLUDES included2.php, but program.php includes included.php, the path should be taken from main/ since that is where program.php is located.

I hope I havn't confused you more.

Also, looking @ 0800_Index.php

	include('includes/0801_Header.html');

The file 0801_Header.html does not exist, its actually 1101_Header.html

(at least in the files you provided us)

so it seems as if you are trying to include a file that doesn't exist.

I had adjusted the source from my end and it seems to be working correctly.

[amy_damnit]

big.nerd;10916980 wrote:

What the author means is this.

In the file 1101_LoginPage.inc.php

include ('includes/1101_Header.html');

Says includes/1101_Header.html

Since that file already is LOCATED in the includes folder, he is saying that you put the includes/ in the include statement because the file 1101_LoginPage.inc.php is being included from the folder behind this one, i.e. NOT in includes.

When you include the file the path's found in the included file should be concidered to be from the main folder where you are running the script from.

i.e.
main/program.php
main/includes/included.php
main/includes/included2.php

if included.php INCLUDES included2.php, but program.php includes included.php, the path should be taken from main/ since that is where program.php is located.

I hope I havn't confused you more.

Big.Nerd,

You are a beautiful person, of that I am sure, but I have no clue what you just said?! :eek:

(**NOTE: Please don't say this, that, and the other - without qualifying things - when you are talking about multiple things!! :p

Here is my current file structure on my MacBook using NetBeans...

Development Environment:
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV

Web Root:
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs

NetBeans Project Root:
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2

Chapter Files:
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/1103_Login.php
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/1104_LoggedIn.php

Local Includes Folder:
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/includes

Local Includes Files:
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/includes/1101_Header.html
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/includes/1102_LoginFunctions.inc.php
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+htdocs/VQS_2/includes/style_2.css

Includes Files Outside Web Root:
/Users/user1/Documents/DEV/+includes/0802_MysqliConnect.php

---

Now, here is how I interpret the code and then maybe you can help me see where the issue is...

The file 1103_Login.php has this code:

	// Create the page.
	include ('includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php');

which says to me, "Look for a sub-folder called 'includes' within YOUR (i.e. '/VQS_2') directory. And within that sub-folder (i.e. 'includes') will be a file called '1101_LoginPage.inc.php'. When YOU (i.e. "/VQS_2/1103_Login.php") run, be sure to include that (i.e. '/VQS_2/includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php') file!!

I am okay with that code and logic.

HOWEVER, where I disagree with the author's code is here...

The included file /VQS_2/includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php has this code:

	// Include the header.
	include ('includes/1101_Header.html');

which says to me, "Look for a sub-folder called 'includes' within YOUR (i.e. '/VQS_2/includes/') directory. And within that sub-folder (i.e. 'includes') will be a file called '1101_Header.html'. When YOU (i.e. '/VQS_2/includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php') run, be sure to include that (i.e. '/VQS_2/includes/includes/1101_Header.html') file.

I disagree with this code because there is no 'includes' in the directory that '/VQS_2/includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php' is located.

Put another way, I see FILE_1 including FILE_2 located in an 'includes' folder and then FILE_2 trying to include FILE_3 located in another 'includes' folder which does not exist!!

The author's code states you have this...

'/VQS_2/includes/includes/1101_Header.html'

which is false!

Hopefully I did not confuse YOU in return?! 😃

Also, looking @ 0800_Index.php

	include('includes/0801_Header.html');

The file 0801_Header.html does not exist, its actually 1101_Header.html

(at least in the files you provided us)

so it seems as if you are trying to include a file that doesn't exist.

I had adjusted the source from my end and it seems to be working correctly.

I uploaded and was talking about the wrong file.

There was a newer header file called "1101_Header.html" for this example and in Chapter 8 - which was working - I was using "0801_Header.html".

Disregard that part.

Thanks,

Amy

[big_nerd]

Amy,

I apologise for the 'this that and the other' -> but keep in mind, we're pretty busy and do these things on our breaks, etc, as much as I would love to be paid to help here, I am not.. but I'll try to be more descriptive in future.

The author's code states you have this...

'/VQS_2/includes/includes/1101_Header.html'

From what I saw in the source - again not having the book handy, this would not be the case.

When I click on the Login File:

http://localhost/VQS_2/1103_Login.php

(on my computer)

The header (as it seems) comes up just fine:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
    <head>
        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
        <title>
			Log In		</title>
			<link rel="stylesheet" href="style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />
    </head>
    <body>
		<div id="header">

		<h1>Your Website</h1>
		<h2>catchy slogan</h2>
	</div>

	<div id="navigation">
		<ul>
			<li><a href="0800_Index.php">Home Page</a></li>
			<li><a href="0805_Register.php">Register</a></li>

			<li><a href="0905_ViewUsers.php">View Users</a></li>
			<li><a href="0807_ChangePassword.php">Change Password</a></li>
			<li><a href="#">link five</a></li>
		</ul>
	</div>

	<div id="content">
		<!-- Start of the page-specific content. -->

<!-- Display the form -->
<h1>Login</h1>

<!-- CHANGE ACTION="" BELOW -->
<form action="1103_Login.php" method="post">
	<p>Email Address:<input type="text" name="email"
						size="20" maxlength="80" /></p>
	<p>Password:<input type="password" name="pass"
						size="20" maxlength="20" /></p>
	<p><input type="submit" name="submit" value="Login" /></p>
	<input type="hidden" name="submitted" value="TRUE"" />

</form>

		<!-- End of the page-specific content. -->
	</div>

	<div id="footer">
		<p>Copyright &copy; <a href="#">Plain and Simple</a> 2007 |
		Designed by <a href="http://www.edg3.co.uk/">edg3.co.uk</a> |
		Sponsored by <a href="http://www.opendesigns.org/">Open Designs</a> |
		Valid <a href="http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-vaidator/">CSS</a> &amp;

		<a href="http://vaidator.w3.org/">XHTML</a></p>
	</div>
</body>
</html>

This is the source from it.

And to explain again what I was talking about:

The file: 1103_Login.php does this:

Checks to see if you're trying to log in, if not, display (via include) the page: includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php

When you include the file in this fashion, PHP treats the current file AS 1103_Login.php.

In FACT, as a test do this:

Open the includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php

Modify the area under '// Include the header.' as follows:

	// Include the header.
	include ('includes/1101_Header.html');
  highlight_file('includes/1101_Header.html');

You know that the file 1101_Header.html is located under includes/ and there is no includes/ within that folder, i.e. includes/includes/1101_Header.html

The code above worked well on my system, priting the source code to the header to the screen.

PHP works on the Current Working Directory (CWD) this can be pointed out with getcwd();

PHP Realizes that the file includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php was included in the original file, theirfor keeps the CWD in its original spot.

This is why it says includes/ in the 1101_LoginPage.inc.php even though it is in the includes folder itself.

The Author is indeed correct, as I said, on my system it is displaying the header without issue.

[amy_damnit]

big.nerd;10917015 wrote:

Amy,
From what I saw in the source - again not having the book handy, this would not be the case.

When I click on the Login File:

http://localhost/VQS_2/1103_Login.php

(on my computer)

The header (as it seems) comes up just fine:

When I clicked on the hyperlink, I saw the 1103_Login.php page and the the "1101_Header.html" file's HTML code appended to the bottom of the page.

I did NOT see the Header with it's referenced CSS style sheet working properly.

If things work properly, you should see a series of five "tabs" running horizontally across the top with the text being different shades of grey.

And to explain again what I was talking about:

The file: 1103_Login.php does this:

Checks to see if you're trying to log in, if not, display (via include) the page: includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php

When you include the file in this fashion, PHP treats the current file AS 1103_Login.php.

Right, so let's call 1103_Login.php the "Grandparent" file.

In FACT, as a test do this:

Open the includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php

Modify the area under '// Include the header.' as follows:

	// Include the header.
	include ('includes/1101_Header.html');
  highlight_file('includes/1101_Header.html');

When I do that and run 1103_Login.php I get HTML code from the 1101_Header.html file inserted between where the tabs should be and the login text boxes.

PHP works on the Current Working Directory (CWD) this can be pointed out with getcwd();

PHP Realizes that the file includes/1101_LoginPage.inc.php was included in the original file, theirfor keeps the CWD in its original spot.

This is why it says includes/ in the 1101_LoginPage.inc.php even though it is in the includes folder itself.

The Author is indeed correct, as I said, on my system it is displaying the header without issue.

I would expect includes to work in a relative nature. So when 1103_Login.php includes 1101_LoginPage.inc.php the focus moves to 1101_LoginPage.inc.php. So if 1101_LoginPage.inc.php includes another file, the focus would move in one more level and look for an 'includes' folder within the directory that '1101_LoginPage.inc.php' is located.

I would think that if you wanted to refer to a Grandparent directory, you'd have to use an absolute path reference.

Regardless, my HTML header and related CSS style sheet no longer work. 🙁

The footer does work.

Here is an example from Chapter 8 & 9 that was working beautifully.

Amy

[big_nerd]

Amy,

I have to apologize, something that I had missed, I thought the header wasn't coming up at all, verses the styles not coming up, sorry about that.

The CSS was indeed NOT working. If you open:

includes/1101_Header.html

Change the stylesheet to reference the includes folder:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="includes/style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />

Again - this goes back to the header being located in the includes folder, but the rest of the files being run from the other folder.

When its displayed to the client side, the browser has no idea where that 1101_header.html is located, since it is being put in as an include.

I hope this helps..

[edit]
Forgot to mention - I've attached a screenshot of what I see now..
[/edit]

[amy_damnit]

big.nerd;10917042 wrote:

Amy,

I have to apologize, something that I had missed, I thought the header wasn't coming up at all, verses the styles not coming up, sorry about that.

The CSS was indeed NOT working. If you open:

includes/1101_Header.html

Change the stylesheet to reference the includes folder:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="includes/style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />

UGH!! I am ready to jump!!!!!! :mad:

bradgrafelman helped me with this whole HTML path thing before, but I'm obviously NOT getting it. 🙁

Again - this goes back to the header being located in the includes folder, but the rest of the files being run from the other folder.

When its displayed to the client side, the browser has no idea where that 1101_header.html is located, since it is being put in as an include.

I hope this helps..

I am so messed up and confused right now.

In Chapter 8, I had these files...

VQS_2/0800_Index.php
VQS_2/0805_Register.php
VQS_2/0807_ChangePassword.php
VQS_2/0905_ViewUsers.php

VQS_2/includes/0303_Footer.html
VQS_2/includes/0801_Header.html
VQS_2/includes/style_2.css

Like I said in my last reply - which you really didn't respond to - was that I would think that if '0800_Index.php' includes '0801_Header.html' which in turn points to the CSS stylesheet, 'style_2.css', then I would think this is the correct code within '0801_Header.html'...

<link rel="stylesheet" href="style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />

because the CSS stylesheet is in the SAME FOLDER as the HTML file, and I thought (??) that the HTML file was what called the CSS stylesheet?!

But according to bradgrafelman, I guess (??) that the CSS stylesheet has to point to the main '0800_Index.php' file instead?? 😕

And so, I recall that Brad told me to use this code instead in the '0801_Header.html' file..

<link rel="stylesheet" href="includes/style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />

Now, in Chapter 11, I have this similar setup...

VQS_2/1103_Login.php
VQS_2/1104_LoggedIn.php
VQS_2/includes/0303_Footer.html
VQS_2/includes/1101_Header.html
VQS_2/1101_LoginPage.inc.php
VQS_2/1102_LoginFunctions.inc.php
VQS_2/style_2.css

So I guess what you were saying above...

When its displayed to the client side, the browser has no idea where that 1101_header.html is located, since it is being put in as an include.

is that even though my header file, '1101_Header.html', and my CSS stylesheet, 'style_2.css', share the same folder, that the CSS file has to point to the main php file, '1103_Login.php' and so it would need...

			<!-- OLD CODE
			<link rel="stylesheet" href="style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />  -->
			<link rel="stylesheet" href="[B]includes/[/B]style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />

to properly display my stylesheet??

What is more frustrating is that the way my files are setup is that the first 4 characters are the Chapter and Example Number. So '1101_Header.html' should have been the logical progression in Chapter 11 of the same/similar file '0801_Header.html' in Chapter 8.

Now I originally had...

			<link rel="stylesheet" href="includes/style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />

in my Chapter 8 version (i.e. '0801_Header.html') but there must have been some logical reason as I went through the examples in Chapter 11 that I changed things to...

			<link rel="stylesheet" href="style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />

GRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amy

P.S. What platform are you using and how did you make the attached screenshot?

[edit]
Forgot to mention - I've attached a screenshot of what I see now..
[/edit]

[big_nerd]

Amy,

I am using Windows to show the screencapture, with Firefox 3.

			<link rel="stylesheet" href="includes/style_2.css"
				type="text/css" media="screen" />

would be correct.

Your web browser has no idea what is going on behind PHP. PHP Goes through it and processes all of the PHP commands and outputs the results.

Since you are using include, its as if you put that code into the php file every time.

The advantage to using include is you have one HTML file as your header and it cna be used across many files.

when using include - you always have to pretend that the included file, whatever it is, is in the same folder as the file your including it from.

[bradgrafelman]

As big.nerd suggests, you have to look at this from the web browser's point of view. Here's some general rules to follow when sorting out paths:

If it's client-side code we're talking about (e.g. the CSS link in the HTML), forget you know anything about the server's file system and/or what the PHP script is doing. Look at the URL in your browser that you type in to access the page. That is where the paths in the HTML document should be relative to.

If it's server-side (e.g. an include() in a PHP script), the only directory that matters is the directory where the PHP parser was invoked. When you type in http://localhost/VQS_2/1103_Login.php, the PHP parser is invoked in the VQS_2 directory. No call to [man]include/man or anything of that nature (short of calling [man]chdir/man) will change the fact that the PHP parser is examining the VQS_2 directory and will apply all relative paths to this location.

If you do include('includes/1101_Header.html'), all that the PHP parser does is grab the file from the "includes" directory - it doesn't switch it's internal pointer to the "includes" directory and then include the HTML file. As such, any relative path inside an include'd file must be relative to the script that invoked the PHP parser - the first PHP script that was executed due to the HTTP request.