Simple PHP Question

Steve · 08-16-2006, 10:54 PM

Hello,

I've had a web page going for a little while now using very basic PHP (includes). However, the way I'm doing it seems rather inefficient compared to other sites I've worked on (but not built) before.

http://scca-racing.com/

As you can see, every page with content on it (with the exception of the forum) uses the same basic page template -- the header, left side, background, content area, and the copyright area. Right now, I have a basic "framework" for each page, that is simply the blank squares of each section. Where the main content area is, I have it including a page from my includes/ folder, which is just the content displayed there.

For example, on the Cup Series standings page: In my root directory I have cupstandings.php, which is the "framework" of the page that has an include to includes/header.php, includes/left.php, includes/copyright.php and includes/cupstandings.php, which is the content of the page.

Is there a way to simplify this process of creating a new framework page and only changing what one div layer includes for each page? I'd really like to just have one framework page that displays whatever content I ask it to. For example, if I have a file "octopus.php" in my includes/ folder, I'd like to be able to type in a URL that is actually the "framework" of that page with "octopus.php" as the content, sort of like "http://scca-racing.com/index.php?page=octopus.php" or something of that nature.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/programming/228500-simple-php-question.html

I don't really know what I'm talking about, but hopefully someone with more PHP knowledge than I have knows what to do. I've seen it done before, I just can't do it. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Steve

Camron · 08-16-2006, 10:58 PM

Quote:

<?php

$header = "";
$footer = "";
$side = "";

switch ($HTTP_GET_VARS[page]) {

//homepage
default:
echo "$header";
echo "$side";
echo "Welcome to my site, homepage!";
echo "$footer";
break;

//secondary page
case 'octopus':
echo "$header";
echo "$side";
echo "Welcome to octopus page!";
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=228500
echo "$footer";
break;
}
?>

Is that what your looking for?

Just edit $var in the top ($header = "HEADER HTML GOES HERE"

, and the same for the rest. When you go to index.php?page=octopus it will show the header/side bar/footer and will say Welcome To octupus page!

Let me know if that's what you were looking for.

Thanks.

Ms Grace · 08-17-2006, 01:24 AM

would what you could do is is make one page (index.php) that holds the standard non-changing stuff like: header, footer ect.
and make separate little files for the content (variable) part.
then you could include the file needed, depending on the page that was called like this:

in index.php you then place this where you want the content to show up:

PHP Code:

  <?php

switch ($_GET[page]) {

//homepage

default:

include("main.php");

break;

 
//news or whatever

????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=228500
case 'news':

include("news.php");

break;

}

?>

The separate content files would look something like this:

main.php:

HTML Code:

Welcome to xxx.com. Please take the time to browse around !

main.php:

HTML Code:

This is the news section of the site !

that way you can call pages like this index.php?page=news
kind of like the way StackedTech allready explained.

This may not be the most efficient way to do things but it is a way

Hope I explained that clear enough...

TwistMyArm · 08-17-2006, 05:56 AM

I appreciate that you've put a lot of work into your site, but it's the perfect candidate for a CMS: why not use one? I believe it would help in the long run...

Steve · 08-17-2006, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by TwistMyArm

I appreciate that you've put a lot of work into your site, but it's the perfect candidate for a CMS: why not use one? I believe it would help in the long run...

We had used a CMS in the past but decided it caused too many errors and site issues to be worthwhile. It made things very easy at first until things started to break.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=228500

StackedTech and Ms Grace, I was able to get things exactly the way I want them, it's as efficient as I need it to be, and it's very simple. Thanks a lot, rep coming your way!

08-16-2006, 10:54 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
Steve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,204	Simple PHP Question Hello, I've had a web page going for a little while now using very basic PHP (includes). However, the way I'm doing it seems rather inefficient compared to other sites I've worked on (but not built) before. http://scca-racing.com/ As you can see, every page with content on it (with the exception of the forum) uses the same basic page template -- the header, left side, background, content area, and the copyright area. Right now, I have a basic "framework" for each page, that is simply the blank squares of each section. Where the main content area is, I have it including a page from my includes/ folder, which is just the content displayed there. For example, on the Cup Series standings page: In my root directory I have cupstandings.php, which is the "framework" of the page that has an include to includes/header.php, includes/left.php, includes/copyright.php and includes/cupstandings.php, which is the content of the page. Is there a way to simplify this process of creating a new framework page and only changing what one div layer includes for each page? I'd really like to just have one framework page that displays whatever content I ask it to. For example, if I have a file "octopus.php" in my includes/ folder, I'd like to be able to type in a URL that is actually the "framework" of that page with "octopus.php" as the content, sort of like "http://scca-racing.com/index.php?page=octopus.php" or something of that nature. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/programming/228500-simple-php-question.html I don't really know what I'm talking about, but hopefully someone with more PHP knowledge than I have knows what to do. I've seen it done before, I just can't do it. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks, Steve __________________ Steve NamePros Staff Emeritus

08-17-2006, 01:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ms Grace NamePros Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: amsterdam Posts: 93	would what you could do is is make one page (index.php) that holds the standard non-changing stuff like: header, footer ect. and make separate little files for the content (variable) part. then you could include the file needed, depending on the page that was called like this: in index.php you then place this where you want the content to show up: PHP Code: `<?php switch ($_GET[page]) { //homepage default: include("main.php"); break; //news or whatever ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=228500 case 'news': include("news.php"); break; } ?>` The separate content files would look something like this: main.php: HTML Code: Welcome to xxx.com. Please take the time to browse around ! main.php: HTML Code: This is the news section of the site ! that way you can call pages like this index.php?page=news kind of like the way StackedTech allready explained. This may not be the most efficient way to do things but it is a way Hope I explained that clear enough... __________________ Directory Bids \| ArcadeCharts.com \| Play Arcade Games CasinoPremiums.com \| DrmRemover.com \| InsuranceBasic.com \| Pedicure.cc \| 32-bit.com \| BearDolls.com

08-17-2006, 05:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
TwistMyArm NamePros Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 160	I appreciate that you've put a lot of work into your site, but it's the perfect candidate for a CMS: why not use one? I believe it would help in the long run... __________________ Free Fuel Efficiency Calculator \| Buy CMS Templates

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)