Php URLEncode help needed

[deadhippo]

Hi, I have just set up a t-shirt ranking site. It is a free service but I had intended to add an affiliate code and it would pay for itself that way.
An I had done that or so I thought. I was able to add the affiliate code automatically to the script but I later found that the code was being stripped in the redirect.

The link I am using is as follows...except it is on one line. I broke it up so it wouldn't break up the page.

 http://theshirtlist.com/cafepress/design_hit.php?
design_id=eccbc87e4b5ce2fe28308fd9f2a7baf3&
design_url=http://www.cafepress.com/deadhippo
/1201429&pid=xxxxxxx&tid=SL1

If you want to check out the link for yourself you can just look at my site - The Shirt List.

I was given the following piece of advice.

You haven't URL encoded the design_url value.
You won't be receiving any commission with that link. It's stripping away at the ampersand before pid. So all that gets passed to your redirect script is: http://www.cafepress.com/deadhippo/12014929

It should be formed like this:

http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecafepress%2Ecom%2Fdeadhippo
+%2F1201429%26pid%3Dxxxxxxx%26tid%3DSL1

You use a function called URLEncode to make the link look like that.

Then you need to decode it on your redirect script. Then redirect. And hey presto you redirect with a pid and a tid. No stripping away at the ampersand.

Unfortunately I don't know how to do this. If someone can help me I'd appreciate it.

 

[Dan]

I'm not sure how you're getting the link, but where you want to use it, you can do:

<?php 
echo urlencode('http://theshirtlist.com/cafepress/design_hit.php?...shortened');
?>

If you have it as a variable, do:

<?php
echo urlencode($thevariable);
?>

 

[deadhippo]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I don't know about php unfortunately but maybe you can tell me something more if I post the following code. There is some html mixed in there.

<?
						$order_no = $order_no + 2;
						for($i=0;$i<2;$i++){
							$row_design[design_discription] = nl2br($row_design[design_discription]);
							$row_design[design_image] = "<a href='design_hit.php?design_id=$row_design[design_id]&design_url=$row_design[design_url]$site_pid' target='_blank'><img src='img/design/$row_design[design_image]' style='border-color:#FFFFFF; border-width:1px' align='absmiddle' alt='$site_word #: $row_design[design_code]
Member ID: $row_design[member_name]'>";
						  $design_order = $use_design_position ? $row_design['design_position'] : $order_no+$i;
						?>
						<td width="50%" align="left"><table width="294" height="275" border="0" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 1px;" background="http://www.theshirtlist.com/images/thumb.gif">
                          <tr>
                            <td colspan="3" class="tsLink" align="center" height="23"><a href="design_hit.php?design_id=<?=$row_design[design_id]?>&design_url=<?=$row_design[design_url]?><?=$site_pid?>" class="tsLink" target="_blank"><?= htmlspecialchars($row_design[design_title]) ?></a></td>

The code just before $site_pid and <?=$site_pid?> is the where the url appears. The $site_pid and <?=$site_pid?> is how I added my affiliate and tracking code. The second piece of code I am proud to say is the first piece of php code I ever wrote, even though it is a pretty humble achievement.

I realise that this may be a very difficult question so don't be afraid to tell me I am asking too much. On the other hand if you are able to help me that would be great.

 

[DodgyV]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I don't know about php unfortunately but maybe you can tell me something more if I post the following code. There is some html mixed in there.

<?
						$order_no = $order_no + 2;
						for($i=0;$i<2;$i++){
							$row_design[design_discription] = nl2br($row_design[design_discription]);
							$row_design[design_image] = "<a href='design_hit.php?design_id=$row_design[design_id]&design_url=$row_design[design_url]$site_pid' target='_blank'><img src='img/design/$row_design[design_image]' style='border-color:#FFFFFF; border-width:1px' align='absmiddle' alt='$site_word #: $row_design[design_code]
Member ID: $row_design[member_name]'>";
						  $design_order = $use_design_position ? $row_design['design_position'] : $order_no+$i;
						?>
						<td width="50%" align="left"><table width="294" height="275" border="0" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 1px;" background="http://www.theshirtlist.com/images/thumb.gif">
                          <tr>
                            <td colspan="3" class="tsLink" align="center" height="23"><a href="design_hit.php?design_id=<?=$row_design[design_id]?>&design_url=<?=$row_design[design_url]?><?=$site_pid?>" class="tsLink" target="_blank"><?= htmlspecialchars($row_design[design_title]) ?></a></td>

The code just before $site_pid and <?=$site_pid?> is the where the url appears. The $site_pid and <?=$site_pid?> is how I added my affiliate and tracking code. The second piece of code I am proud to say is the first piece of php code I ever wrote, even though it is a pretty humble achievement.

I realise that this may be a very difficult question so don't be afraid to tell me I am asking too much. On the other hand if you are able to help me that would be great.

First Change:

$row_design[design_image] = "<a href='design_hit.php?design_id=$row_design[design_id]&design_url=$row_design[design_url]$site_pid' target='_blank'><img src='img/design/$row_design[design_image]' style='border-color:#FFFFFF; border-width:1px' align='absmiddle' alt='$site_word #: $row_design[design_code]

:: Change To ::

$row_design[design_image] = "<a href='design_hit.php?design_id=$row_design[design_id]&design_url=" . urlencode($row_design[design_url]) . "$site_pid' target='_blank'><img src='img/design/$row_design[design_image]' style='border-color:#FFFFFF; border-width:1px' align='absmiddle' alt='$site_word #: $row_design[design_code]

Second Change:

<td colspan="3" class="tsLink" align="center" height="23"><a href="design_hit.php?design_id=<?=$row_design[design_id]?>&design_url=<?=$row_design[design_url]?><?=$site_pid?>" class="tsLink" target="_blank"><?= htmlspecialchars($row_design[design_title]) ?></a></td>

:: Change To ::

<td colspan="3" class="tsLink" align="center" height="23"><a href="design_hit.php?design_id=<?=$row_design[design_id]?>&design_url=<?=urlencode($row_design[design_url])?><?=$site_pid?>" class="tsLink" target="_blank"><?= htmlspecialchars($row_design[design_title]) ?></a></td>

Hope this helps