Placing javascript/jquery functions in a universally accessible page - php

I am trying to clean up my pages, and one of the major ways that I am doing so is to put JavaScript and JQuery functions into a file called 'scripts.js' that is automatically accessed upon page load.
I've run into a problem with functions that use php to call from the page itself. For example, the following function doesn't work, and in fact 'kills' the script for all pages (so now things that were supposed to be hidden are not, and things are not loading properly). I've narrowed it down to the fact that I use to call a variable. I would really like to be able to keep functions using PHP in this universal file as opposed to clogging up the HTML template pages, any thoughts on either how to make this work, or if not how else I may be able to call the values needed? They are always extracted to the page before rendering if that helps.
function positiveSelect()
{
var size = <?php echo $idea[0]["size"]; ?> * 1;
if (size > 5)
return true;
else
return false;
}

if you can't retrive your data form the DOM itself you can store values with the corresponding object:
<div data-size=20>
and then retrive it with:
$(element).data("size");
or if you have global data you want to store you can create a value "container" in the head of you html document like this:
<script type="text/x-json" class="global-data">{"value1":"1","value2":"2"}</script>
and then read the content of that element and parse it with JSON.parse

If this function is that specific to a certain page, you might want to add a second js script that just gets loaded on that page.
An alternative would be to echo out a js variable in that php page and have your code call that function with that variable as a parameter.

You can give the javascript a ".php" extension and call it in the script in the same exact way:
<script type="javascript" src="path/to/scripts.php"></script>

You could just name the generate scripts file scripts.php or scripts.js.php; then the PHP preprocessor will process the file and the PHP statements will be evaluated.

When mixing php or any server side language with javascript you need to be aware that the php gets executed only once when the javascript file is created on the client side.
This is probably why you are getting unexpected results. As you move from page to page the php snippet in your global scripts.js will not get updated.

Related

How can I refresh embedded PHP code from the client side?

Basically, at the click of a button I need to refresh a div that contains embedded PHP. I tried using .html() in jQuery to reload the contents of the div, but it didn't change anything so I'm assuming it's not recalling the PHP (because the PHP should be changed at this point). It's probably just rewriting the HTML that was outputted by the PHP when the page loaded. I also tried appending something to the new HTML load so I could see it was at least refreshing the HTML code, and it was. It looked something like (if "updateObject" is a variable that contains the location of the div):
updateObject.html(updateObject.html() + " random text");
I also fiddled around with the .load() jQuery method, but it seemed to be for external PHP files (and at this point I can't change my embedded PHP to external PHP).
Any thoughts? Thanks!
EDIT: The biggest problem I've had is that, with my limited knowledge of web dev, I need to have the PHP embedded. If I make it a separate file, I'd have a very difficult time finding it because I honestly don't understand how the files get put together through the framework we're using (Drupal). I did try using an external PHP file but I couldn't figure out how to find it. Even if I put it in the same directory as this HTML file, it doesn't seem to be easy to find.
You are to have 2 files:
PHP
This contains the data you want to show.
HTML
This is the one showing the php content.
In PHP you can put whatever you want. But the HTML once is loaded is loaded and the only way to have some more content into it is to make what is called an asynchronous call, which means a call after the page has been loaded.
To do this you are to use jQuery and call the $.post (or $.ajax), using this syntax:
$.post('filename.php', function(dataFromPhp){
//actions to do once the php has been read
})
So in your case you can make a function that reads the php every time the click is done on a div/button/other DOM object; like so:
function updateDivContent(whatDiv){
$.post('filename.php', function(dataFromPhp){
if(dataFromPhp){
$(whatDiv).html(dataFromPhp)
}
})
}
So if you want the div to be refreshed (and reload the php) you are to connect that function to an event and specify the div you want to show the data:
$('#myBtn').click(function(){
updateDivContent('#myDiv');
})
Refer to this documentation for further informations: https://api.jquery.com/jQuery.post/

Use of PHP code inside Javascript code

Since I know many consider the use of PHP code inside Javascript code bad practice, I wonder how to execute a javascript function provided that a certain PHP variable has a certain value.
This is the way I currently write the code:
<script type="text/javascript">
function execute_this() {
some code;
}
<?php
if(!empty($_SESSION['authorized'])) :
?>
execute_this();
<?php
endif;
?>
</script>
Any ideas how to avoid using PHP inside Javascript in this particular example?
If you don't want to include any PHP code inside the javascript code but want to know the value of a php variable, you have to integrate a communication between the server side (PHP) and the client (JS)
For example you could use a ajax request to call a small php snippet that provides the value in its reply. With that value you can go on in you java script code.
In my opinion you should decide if its worth the effort.
Edit:
In regard to the edited question: If it is important that the JS function is never ever called if the PHP session value isn't present I would stay with the PHP code but would do it that way:
<?php
if(!empty($_SESSION['authorized'])) :
?>
<script type="text/javascript">
function execute_this() {
some code;
}
execute_this();
</script>
<?php
endif;
?>
If you evaluate the value of the session variable in javascript, you have to make sure that nothing bad happens to your code if the provided value was manipulated.
It's a matter of code style. The time your project grows, you will find it increasingly difficult to maintain it or to extend its functionality. A better solution would be to initialize all needed variables in the beginning of the file and to externalize the main JavaScript functionality.
Example PHP:
<script type="text/javascript">
MYCONFIG = {
authorized: '<?php echo $_SESSION['authorized']; ?>',
foo: 'something else'
}
$(document).trigger('init'); // fire init event, you can call it as you like
</script>
Example JS with jQuery (note that i use the custom trigger 'init', you can call it however you like):
$(document).on('init', function() {
function execute_this() {
document.write(MYCONFIG.foo);
}
if(MYCONFIG.authorized) {
execute_this();
}
})
This should be in an external JS file and does not need any PHP tags.
You have to store the php variables somewhere in the html code and then access it.
For example:
<input type="hidden" id="hidval" value=<?php echo $_SESSION['authorized'] ?>/>
then in your js:
var somevar=document.getElementById(hidval).value;
if(somevar==what you want){
execute_this();
}
I think you have some basic design issues, and we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg and can't fully help you.
There is nothing inherently wrong with calling a php function this way, but you have several issues:
1) you cannot separate your js file & allow for caching or cdn
2) while MVC is certainly not "mandatory", it is definitely a good idea to try to separate this type of logic from your "view" - your rendered output
3) I suspect elsewhere you have a massive security hole - if you are setting certain parameters based on whether or not they are "authorized" in their session, this means you are most likely sending back info on which to base a permissions decision in your php code somewhere. Never do that from the page - all data should be "neutral" on the page itself, because you have no control over it.
Give this a read if you are not clear why I say that: http://www.codebyjeff.com/blog/2012/12/web-form-security-avoiding-common-mistakes
There are three possible ways to do it.
Use hidden field and add necessary variable value inside each fields and get those using jQuery.
User jQuery Session plugin and access php session variable.
make a ajax call to php and get response in json format and access response.

is it possible to get current page variable's value into the loaded file inside a div with load() function?

i want to load my search_result.php file inside a div of my main php page using load() function. i have written a function that to parse a json code
json_parsing(document.getElementById('start_val').value, <?php echo $jsoncode;?>);
now i want when i load the search_result.php file using the following code
$("#search_result_cont").load("search_result.php");
the function inside it takes the value from current webpage element #start_value and php variable $jsoncode.
is it possible to do so?
$.get( 'search_result.php'.function(text){
eval(text); // text is without the script tags
},'text');
or
$.get( 'search_result.php'.function(json_text){
json_parsing(document.getElementById('start_val').value, json_text);
// json_text is just $jsoncode
},'text');
Also, why are you parsing the json yourself when you can use $.parseJSON(text) and $.getJSON(); Usually problems like this indicate that you are trying to do something in a way that is not good programming design.

Javascript isn't running in php function

Where am I going wrong with my programming logic here?
I have 2 php files. File 1 includes File 2. File 1 calls a php function from File 2. Inside the php function there is a bunch of html. The html works perfectly. At the end of the function I have this javascript....
<script type="text/javascript">
alert('hello');
</script>
This javascript isn't alerting "hello".
What am I doing wrong?
Thank you in advance.
EDIT: New question because I skrewed the last one up.
In theory would the code below run properly? (yes/no)
<?php function AlertHelp(){
?><script>
alert('help');
</script><?
AlertHelp();
?>
Long shot on a wild guess here with the limited information you gave.
My assumption is that you are not "including" the file via PHP's include, require, include_once or require_once functions, but are in fact using AJAX to load in the page's content.
If this is the case, then I shall also assume you're using innerHTML to put the content on the page.
Suddenly the solution is obvious: <script> tags added by innerHTML are not parsed and run. You could probably do something like this:
// assume `result` is the variable containing the AJAX response and `elem` the element it goes in
elem.innerHTML = result; // this doesn't change
result.match(/<script[^>]*>([\s\S]*?)<\/script>/i,function(m) {eval(m[1]);});
Please note however that eval should be avoided if possible. Consider redesigning your layout to use callbacks instead.

AJAX - replace javascript in page: ajax won't replace the javascript

I'm trying to replace a bit of javascript in my page via AJAX, but for some reason, AJAX wont replace it...
When I use:
alert(document.getElementById('treintracking').innerHTML);
I can clearly see the javascript from the script piece: (this is the opening line of the javascript piece)
<script type="text/javascript" id="treintracking">
For replacing the script I use this:
document.getElementById('treintracking').innerHTML = responseText;
So, why does AJAX not want to replace the javascript?
I've tested, and the php file used to generate the replacement javascript, works fine.
I also took into account that the to-be-replaced javascript already has tags around it, so I removed those in the php file.
But it still wont replace the content...
Also, if it put somefunction() in that javascript, will it then run, or do I have to do something special?
Note: the javascript script is generated in a php file.
SOLUTION:
I am now using this external solution, I don't have a clue how it works, but it works perfectly:
http://www.javascriptkit.com/javatutors/loadjavascriptcss2.shtml
[I took the loading script from the page source, as it wasnt in the article itself...]
Adding JavaScript via innerHTML does not get evaluated.
If you want to add new code, just set the source to a new external JavaScript file.
So instead of using an Ajax call, you just set the src
document.getElementById('treintracking').src = "new/path.php?a=b";
Another solution [that I would avoid at all costs] is eval().
You'll probably have to embed the new javascript inside a function, which may assign new contents to other functions, and then invoke the outer function. Won't be terribly pretty.

Categories