[RESOLVED] Increase the value in a text file by one

[kiwibrit]

This code works - but in the case where there is an existing text file, it looks clunky. I think it should be possible not to have to close the text fle , then open it again in order to clear the content and write in the new value. But despite studying the php manual for fopen I can't figure another way that works. Is there a slicker way?

<?php
// increase the number in a text file by one
//the text file consists of one number only
$file = "count.txt";
// check if file exists
if ( !file_exists($file))
	{
		// if it does not, set counter to 0
        $count = 1;
		// create file
		$handle = fopen($file, 'w') or die("can't open file");
		//write the count as 0
		fwrite ($handle, $count);
	}
else	
//if counter file exists open it
	{
		$handle = fopen ($file, 'r');
		//read the number in the file 
		$count = fread($handle, 5);
		//add one to it
		$count++; 
		fclose($handle);	
		//clear the content previously in file and write value of $count
		$handle = fopen ($file, 'w');
		fwrite ($handle, $count);
	}
fclose ($handle); 
?>

[bradgrafelman]

kiwibrit;10989053 wrote:

Is there a slicker way?

Yup:

$file = "count.txt";
$count = file_exists($file) ? (int)file_get_contents($file) : 0;
file_put_contents($file, (string)++$count);

[kiwibrit]

My word, that's slick - and it got me scurrying to the php manual and Google. Many thanks. I must confess I'd not come across such a shorthand way of, effectively, writing 'if else' - and I was unaware of file_get_contents, and file_put_contents - so it's been quite and education.

Thank you.