using php include function for classes - php

Question

Trying to get a hang of classes in php, trying to include carClass.php into new_file.php.
carClass.php
<?php
class carClass
{
private $color;
private $gear;
private $model;
private $gas;
function paintCar($carColor) {
$this->color = $carColor;
}
function findCarColor() {
echo "$color";
}
function shiftGear($newGear) {
$this->gear=$newGear;
}
function findGear() {
echo "$gear";
}
function chooseModel($newModel) {
$this->model = $newModel;
}
function findModel() {
echo"$model";
}
function fillCar($gasAmount) {
$this->gas = $gasAmount;
}
function lookAtGauge() {
echo "$gas";
}
}
?>
its just a bunch of getters and setters. Im trying to include this class to new_file.php
new_file.php
<?php
include("carClass.php");
$car = new carClass;
$car->chooseModel("Mustang");
$car->paintCar("black");
$car->shiftGear("5th");
$car->fillCar("half");
$car->findModel();
$car->findCarColor();
$car->findGear();
$car->lookAtGuage();
?>
When I try to execute this file I get these error messages
Warning: include(carClass.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in C:\xampp\htdocs\testFile\new_file.php on line 4
Warning: include(): Failed opening 'carClass.php' for inclusion (include_path='.;C:\xampp\php\PEAR') in C:\xampp\htdocs\testFile\new_file.php on line 4
Fatal error: Class 'carClass' not found in C:\xampp\htdocs\testFile\new_file.php on line 6
I believe both files are in testFile directory so I'm not sure whats going on. I appreciate any help you guys can give me as usual.

Answer 1

The include path is set against the server configuration (PHP.ini) but the include path you specify is relative to that path so in your case the include path is (actual path in windows):
<?php
include_once dirname(__FILE__) . '/carClass.php';
$car = new carClass;
$car->chooseModel("Mustang");
$car->paintCar("black");
$car->shiftGear("5th");
$car->fillCar("half");
$car->findModel();
$car->findCarColor();
$car->findGear();
$car->lookAtGuage();
?>

Answer 2

You can use PHP's auto loading feature which will automatically load a class when an object is created. If you have many classes then you can use it an header file so that you don't need to worry about using this include every time.
<?php
function __autoload($class_name) {
include $class_name . '.php';
}
$obj = new MyClass1();
$obj2 = new MyClass2();
?>

Answer 3

Try this:
<?php
class carClass
{
private $color;
private $gear;
private $model;
private $gas;
function paintCar($carColor) {
$this->color = $carColor;
}
function findCarColor() {
echo $this->color;
}
function shiftGear($newGear) {
$this->gear=$newGear;
}
function findGear() {
echo $this->gear;
}
function chooseModel($newModel) {
$this->model = $newModel;
}
function findModel() {
echo $this->model;
}
function fillCar($gasAmount) {
$this->gas = $gasAmount;
}
function lookAtGauge() {
echo $this->gas;
}
}
?>
//
<?php
include("carClass.php");
$car = new carClass;
$car->chooseModel("Mustang");
$car->paintCar("black");
$car->shiftGear("5th");
$car->fillCar("half");
$car->findModel();
$car->findCarColor();
$car->findGear();
$car->lookAtGauge();
?>