You may remember that not long ago I asked you for some help with objects transfering through $_SESSION in PHP (more: Data loss during sending via $_SESSION from one script to another ). Currently I'm reworking the whole project and I don't have a foggiest idea how to do it properly. I mean, how to do it "according to the art", not "at any cost / the easiest (but nasty) way".
Here's the mockup of what I want to achieve (animated gif):
As you can see, I want my website to display at startup only the navigation, in which I want user to set his starting parameters. In the future, the navigation bar will have ability to be collapsed (to extend the data display section's height). When user sets the parameters (or not - for default view) and clicks "FILTER AND SORT" (which probably will be renamed to "GENERATE"), the second section should appear with data filtered and sorted as user defined.
Data is read from CSV file and stored in PHP Objects defined by my custom classes I've shown you in the question linked above. So I need to communicate data between 5 files:
FRONTEND:
index.php <-- my main file handling the website
FRONTEND-BACKEND:
navigation.php <-- file that shall be displayed in the navigation div
data.php <-- file that shall be displayed in the data section div / iframe (?)
popup.php <-- file that appears in a div over the index.php when certain DataBox is clicked; handled with tinybox2.
BACKEND:
classes.php <-- file with definitions of classes (properties and methods)
tinybox2 "library".
My communication flow is as to be:
navigation.php displayed on the top of index.php sends filtering and sorting parameters to data.php, making it appear on the bottom of index.php.
data.php and popup.php shall use classes contained in classes.php constructed from CSV file datafile.csv.
When a DataBox is clicked in data.php, popup.php appears over index.php content to display extended object data.
So, how should I do this, to make it properly? Which option will be best: $_POST, $_SESSION or maybe something else? Maybe due to embeeding all files in / over index.php it is possible to store all data in such a way, that no communication is needed? How to embeed files - with include, require or maybe other way?
There are lots of assisting questions, but still, the most important is: how to do it properly? Thank you for your help in advance :)
PS For certainty, please find below one additional usecases:
UC1: Standard use of display system
User enters website with the system
User chooses parameters for filtering and sorting
User starts generating view
Data is being read from *.csv file
During above, data is being filtered and sorted
Data is being displayed by the system to the user
Extensions:
5a. No data to display: system displays empty data section
6a. User want's to filter and sort again: back to step 2.
UC2 (OPTIONAL): User wants to share the data
UC1
User chooses an option to share data
System displays question if user wants to send it to printer, or e-mail
User chooses option (for this case: e-mail)
System asks for e-mail address
User provides e-mail address
System sends an e-mail with the current data.php data as it is displayed on website.
PPS I know I should show you some code snippets, but my current code is a mess with lots of interchanging html, php and comments, that cannot be cut of from the system (or would take me ages to clean it up to show it here). I'm asking you for help mostly, because I really want to remodel the current solution, therefore I'm rewriting the code from zero, using old one as a hint, not a template. Like Microsoft did with Windows Vista and Windows 7 :P Hope you'd understand ^^'
Okay, so here it is. The ultimate answer to a question some understands as too wide.
What was the case:
I wanted to achieve a two-section page, where the first (partent) section takes user input and uses it to filter the data in the second section. The problem was with providing parameters from the parent side to the invoked one.
What I had to change in my conception:
At first I thought about passing data with $_SESSION or other PHP way, BUT there is one major problem with such way of thinking:
As PHP is server side interpreted, it cannot dynamically add another page without refresh!
I know I didn't intent a new lightbulb or explore America, but it's still this conclusion what leaded me to accept the fact, that JavaScript usage is inevitable. I think most beginners will find this important: you need to completely change your way of thinking, as website ain't the same thing as traditional application. After this, it finally came to me (thanks to #Yoshi) that my initial problems with jQuery weren't a good reason to hold back from using it and I had to find out what they were.
Solution comes here:
Okay, so what is the solution?
I've started up with finding out what was wrong with my jQuery and... it was wrong way of interpreting "what is the scope of code included into php". If I include view/header.htm file into index.php that lays in the root directory, it will behave as it was in the root directory, not view directory. And that was the stupidest, as well as not uncommon error that one can make.
After finding this out (thank you #Yoshi again!):
I've created backend (model) for my app that can:
Read data from file
Put data into a class-based storage (that will in the future be then exported into a php file as "pseudo-database")
Then I've created a kind-of controller, that can use the model to pass data to a variable in my view.
At least I've created a view for my site, with the "parent site" (it has a backend part with a main-controller, and a frontend part with a view), and a "invoked site" that is opened through jQuery request, and contains a filtering backend and the main data view.
These 3 not-so-easy at first, but now so-so-essential, steps took me here. Please find some php-pseudocode below:
model_Data.php
<?php
// Class for single instance of data storage
model_DataSet.php
<?php
// Class for set of data instances storage
model_ReadData.php
<?php
// Code for reading CSV file with fgetcsv function
controller_DataMaster.php
<?php
require_once 'model_Data.php';
require_once 'model_DataSet.php';
require_once 'model_ReadData.php';
// Read data from file to a variable
$reader = new ReadData();
$reader->setConfiguration(//some setup);
$tmp_data = $reader->read("filename");
// Put data into the class
$dataSet = DataSet($tmp_data);
return $dataSet;
index.php (which is the main controller!)
<?php
header('Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8"');
include 'view/header.htm';
header.htm contains HTML headers, includes of jQuery and jQuery-UI (for sake of datepicker) as well as css references, and (of course) physical header of the website with the input form displayed.
view.php
<?php
$import = include 'controller_DataMaster.php';
$usableData = $import->getAllDataSingles();
if (isset($_POST['data_from_the_form']))
{
// Do something!!!
}
?>
<table>
<tr>
<?php $i = 1; foreach($usableData as $singleData): ?>
<td><pre><?php print_r($singleData->getAllProperties()); ?></pre></td>
<?php if ($i++ % 3 == 0): ?>
</tr><tr>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</tr>
</table>
And this way you can achieve something that looks like this (currently - without any CSS applied):
So here it is. An easy, not very long, not very short answer to my own question. Case closed :)
Related
I have wrote my own CMS in PHP. It is quite simple, but it does not permit me to do some things, like the redirect with header() from dynamic page.
Here is its structure (very simplified):
<?php
$db = new PDO...
try {
//getting page info from database (by $_GET['id'])
//and put results into $pageInfo
$stmt->prepare
//.. catch etc...
?>
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head><title><?=$pageInfo['title'];?></title></head>
<body>
<?php
//this file below cannot contain a php redirect, because headers are already sent
include($pageInfo['content_path']);
?>
</body>
</html>
There is one page that is dynamic and can display other pages by changing the value of the get parameter id.
The included content often contains PHP scripts.
I have looked around the internet but I don't know how to resolve this issue.
May I create a header.html and a footer.html and include them into every page? But if I include the header file before including the content doesn't it send headers? How?
Really sorry if this question seems stupid, but I don't know how to do it. I haven't someone that teaches me, so I have to learn all by myself but for some things I don't know where to look.
Thanks in advance.
The preferred way is to have the application separated into several parts, one part that executes code (Controller or core) and another one that displays something (View or template).
For example in MVC (Model/View/Controller), your single page would be just a dispatcher that calls a controller, the controller executes PHP-code, and fetches some data by using the second part, the model, and finally calls a template to display the data.
In your example you could start by including two files for each call, one that contains only PHP-code and fetches all data, and after that one that contains a html-template with variables and only very simple code that is needed to display the data. You can then do redirects and exit in the php-part (controller).
Like for example, i have a page that has a form that asks the user to enter their name and last name and that form will be directed to a php file but at the same time, that page(form) has a mysql code because it shows the current names of the users that were recently added so will my file be saved as .php or .html?
Ideally, you would separate your server side scripting from your client side pages, calling them though either includes on an intermediary rendering php page, or ajax on a static html page.
a quick rule of thumb: If it has logic, interacts with backend resources or performs a calculative function, then it's php, if it provides structure to the output then it's html and if it provides blueprint for the presentation of the layout it's css.
Of course php!
if you are using php your pages must be in php otherwise your code will not get rendered.
you fill up the gaps using:
e.g: <span><?php echo $yourVariable; ?></span>
$yourVariable is either extracted from Database or has been defined
OK - Thanks for taking the time!
I am using WP on a CentOS 6 server. I have a plug in with the functions, I have a function that makes a DB call and populates relevant products based on $_GET variables, I took from one of the other project and modify it so it works! But here where I run in to the problem, I go to the main page and i have a function that gets called first, goes through the URL name and determines the categories id and then from that I need to pass that to the URL so that when the next function then calls $_GET["category_id"] and that ID is there and ready to be use and it it does its magic. (all staying on the same page no refreshing or anything)
So I need to put that on the URL as the page is being loaded and so that I can use it (Again i get the variables from a function that is doing all the work with the address for relevant info,) So how do i do it? HTML or PHP, and a straight forward way no extra installs would be nice :)
Edit 1:
So is there something then I could integrate in that would be simple and straight forward that would allow me to do a mini refresh and get the right variables in place, never used JavaScript but seams to be getting or something in php ... Ideas are welcome :)
You can with javascript and the history API
The only way you can change the url without actually redirecting the user is by using the pushState method.
e.g. open a console and copy and paste this:
var stateObj = { foo: "bar" };
history.pushState(stateObj, "changes url to stackoverflow.com/yes-you-can", "/yes-you-can");
You won't be redirected, and the url of your browser will change unless, basically, you're using IE 9 or less. You can see a demo of this on html5demos.com
OK here is how I am going to get around this problem I am having
I made a new table in the DB and then I already have a list of the Domain We are using, so then I am going to give to the customer there are three columns and they will manually enter the fields and it will be on them to manage and change what they want displayed on the webpage.
CVS import and then BAM! done! just pull $_SERVER["SERVER_NAME"] and then compare that to the domain column and done! (I will have what ever cat's and sizes they want and it will not be on us to create any complicated functions and if statements for exceptions and it is in there hands!)
Not the exact answer I wanted to get but much easier and not so much complicated :)
IS there a way to post a $var to $PHP_SELF so that I can use it further down the script?
After 2 hours reading dozens of questions which helpfully appear in the sidebar to the right,
it became apparent that they pretty much all assume an HTML Form has been / will be
activated.
But psuedo~code of what I need looks more like this:
< php
$someVariable=y;
$otherVar=X;
// and the usual setup for accessing the `$_POST` of php:
$HokeyDino=`$_POST`["SendOFF"];
$SendOFF=101;
// etc. and then come to a point where I need the script to just automatically post a value
[ the lack of knowledge ]
// which if I had tha codez!
// would permit the use of that $var, $HokeyDino ...
if($HokeyDino==100){
// do stuff
}
I don't like looking foolish, but gotta ask away, because I figure I have missed learning some elementary aspect of programming, being self-taught so far, but not knowing what might be lacking makes it hard to go look productively.
Thanks very much!
EDIT // Clarification.
Wow, this is amazing. half an hour, 24 people reading the question. Blows my mind.
Right. What I have gotten done so far to give more background:
A php script which uses fopen to create on the fly another php / html page, and all the
code on the Authouring originating script, to write (a+) to the newly created temp page, the whole thing.
From a loop on the authouring page, I have code for retrieving POSTS I send TO that temp page, and that code gets written to a very temp page... then I cause the first part of the page to be written, to get placed on the Temp page, by put_contents etc.,
Next, from another loop on the Authouring page, I write code which item by item matches the things which were included in the < head > of the Temp page.
Anyhow, without graphics, it's a bit tough to explain. What I have at the point I have gotten to so far, is the newly created/assemble Temporary page, can be accessed as a WebPage,, and a button click on it, will successfully POST a value back to the originating/Authouring script.
Here's the tricky part: There isn't any way I was able to devise, to dynamically create code ON THE AUTHOURING page, to recieve POSTS from the Temp Page.
But I realized that if, in the Loops on the Authoring Page, I was able to $PHP SELF post a
string which would be the code for creating a * $Var = $ POST; to catch the values from button clicks on the TEMP page, it would work.
Critical, is that the Authoring Page, doesn't know how many buttons will be made over on the Temp Page ~ that depends on the number of items in the database, which the loops are reading and translating into code which builds the Temp Page.
So, there is no way to hard~code, on the Authouring Page, all possible code for recieving posts, but I could use one Universal $Var= $ POST[ X ] if I could generate it on the fly in the loop, on the Authoring Page.
Hence the need to write code which will $SELF POST, and have it triggered just by normal programme flow, and not the click of a button in a form.
Hmm.... clear as mud yet? :) the question still is pretty straight foreward.
Cheers!
//// Loop
Create CViewerTemp
read DB and manipulate data
Loop B
create, and write to VeryTempHead page
code which creates the top of CViewer, HEAD items
create, and write to VeryTempBody page
code which will work there, items one by one matching head items
end Loop B
Write code which is 1ne time only stuff, to begin CViewer.
then transfer the stuff from VeryTempHead page, into CViewer, kill
VeryTempHead
then transfer the stuff from VeryTempBody to CViewer, kill Very Temp Body.
Open CTempViwer, click on a Button, a value gets posted to Authouring Page.
Authouring Page doesn't recieve anything, no code to do so exists [YET! :)]
If you want to create data on the fly, but not from $_POST, you can just populate $_POST from any other source like this:
<?php
// some calculations
$_POST['my_var'] = $some_calculated_stuff;
// later in your code
if(isset($_POST['my_var'])) {
// works as if it had been posted
}
?>
Is this what you're looking to do?
It's a bit hard to follow, so I'll suggest another potential:
Have you taken a look at cURL?
I think you mean hidden input fields. You can print them with php and they will be posted to your next php script.
Please note, that the user can change the values and you shouldn't trust them.
Also, you can consider using $_SESSION. That would be the better way to solve the task.
Please note that you shouldn't use PHP_SELF because it's insecure.
Context
I'm working on a project that I'd like to make more dynamic with PHP + AJAX.
I'm using jQuery for the AJAX part because I totally suck in Javascript, and anyway it seems to be worth something.
I reached a point where my application needs to use a form to send a post, and I want to use an ajax call to perform this action. In the page I'd like to send the post, there is also a list of the most recent 15 posts submitted.
First question: Should I just forget about it and use just PHP?
The action
The user writes something in the <textarea></textarea> and clicks on a <a id="myPostSubmit">Submit</a> that is the handler that I'll manage on the jQuery script with something like $("#myPostSubmit").live('click', function() { /* here i make the ajax call */ });. If the post is successfully submitted we are going to do something (I'll talk about it in the next section), either we will alert the user using my showAlert(text) function, that shows a black box for 4 seconds with the text in it.
Second question: Should I manage the click event in any other ways? Should I create a function, such as sendpost(post) and attach it into the HTML onclick="" event?
If the post is successfully sent
I'd open a discussion about 2 options:
We refresh the page [not actually
loading the entire page but making
another ajax call that retrieves the
posts lists and makes disappear the
old one, load the PHP file to
retrieve the new posts (including
the one we just sent), and then make
the post list appear]. Pro: 1) We are sure that what the user is reading after the post list is loaded is the real post sent. So it actually double checks the action. 2) We load also some possible posts sent in the mean while. Cons: 1) We have to create a PHP file that gets the post list template, slicing the template of that page in 2 files. 2) It doesn't really seems that smooth to me.
We just use Javascript to get the post template, add it to the list. Pro: 1) We make it really smooth, without reloading the entire page. 2) We don't need of any PHP file to reload the page. We just use Javascript (jQuery). Cons: 1) How do we get the post html template to add it to the list? 2) How do we get the user (logged) informations without PHP?
Third question: Is it better the 1st or the 2nd solution? Would you provide a even better 3rd solution?
The PHP page
The PHP page that will receive this AJAX call is : ?p=action&a=sendpost. The page require $_POST['myMessage'] to be set and not empty and nothing else. The page itself will get all the user infos from the cookies and will manage to perform the needed query.
The application
It is divided in 3 parts: App, Template, Library. Basically each page of the application has its own .app.php and .tpl.php file.
The .app.php file manages the building
of the basis of the page, using classes
and other stuff from the library. In
our case it retrieves datas from the
database and put them into
variable.
The Template is called at the end of the .app.php file. The .app.php file send to the template the retrieved data and the .tpl.php file outputs them.
The library is used to contain the classes and functions we need in the application file.
Fourth question: Is this a good way of manage my web application?
Edit: What about returning the alert message to the user?
I read about an option, inside $.ajax() that will manage the response on success or in error. The documentation about it is very simple and I didn't get it.
Fifth question: How should I return (from the PHP file) the error
or the success?
First question: Should i just forget about it and use just PHP?
Well, you application will relay on JavaScript if you use ajax, this days i think it just fine ;)
Second question: Should i manage the click event in any other ways? Should i create a function, such as sendpost(post) and attach it into the HTML onclick="" event?
Create a function and bind onclick. Code will be more readable ;)
Third question: Is it better the 1st or the 2nd solution? Would you provide a even better 3rd solution?
My solution: ajax submit the form and on callback insert new comment in to the list or display error message if user can't comment.
Check jQuery serilize() for submitting forms data with ajax.
Fourth question: Is this a good way of manage my web application?
It's just fine ;) When you application get's bigger you will have to redesign it, but don't do it know, do it when current solution becomes to hard to work with.
Read some good book on building MVC framework. And on programming patterns in general.
You seem to be on the right track with everything. There are lot of opinions called "best practices" about how to exactly attach event handlers, how to reload the data on the page and how to organize your application, etc, but I personally would rather build more software instead of worrying about details like that. The details will come to you eventually.
I personally find that updating whole chunks of server-side-rendered HTML on the page is more robust solution, but I have seen people getting excellent results with templates.