I was wondering if there is a way to use php to return the values from a search without having to reload the whole webpage or using iframes or anything like that. I've tried searching for it but I always end up with AJAX and I was wondering if there is a PHP way for it...
I suggest you read up on AJAX and what it is, as it is exactly what you are describing.
What AJAX is generating a request on the browser with javascript, sending the request to a server, generating content with whatever technology you want (be it PHP, .NET, etc.) and returning it to the browser, without the page ever 'reloading'. That's all it is, and that's what you want.
I recommend you check out something like jQuery as it is far away the most popular javascript library. It makes doing AJAX requests a piece of cake.
AJAX is what you're looking for. It means using JavaScript (on the browser) to initiate a request to the server (which may be running PHP, or any other language).
PHP is a server-side technology, and what you describe is mostly a client-side issue.
Every technology that does what you want is going to be very close to Ajax, so I suggest to just take a little time and get yourself going with Ajax. There are plenty of javascript frameworks around that make life easier for you as an Ajax programmer.
PHP is server-side. It can't do anything unless a web request is made (i.e. the user clicks on a link, requesting a page). This is why AJAX exists. The javascript on the client side is able to initiate a web request in the background and decide what to do with the response.
Check out jQuery. It makes AJAX a snap:
http://docs.jquery.com/Ajax
Yes I did the same using PHp and Mysql. What you can do is first create a PHP search page1 with a text box and write down some jQuery function for the onkeyup event of text box. Pass the value of the Text Box to the PHP search page2 and display its data in another blank DIV tag on your search page1. Let me know if you were able to get the concept, else I will forward you some link for that. infact I found a youtube video for this. Its not a difficult task.
Related
I have a table with a button which onClick calls an external javascript file, which calculates some values and returns them to the table. I need to then write that value back to a file using PHP without leaving the current page. Is there any way to do this? I thought about trying onChange, but I wasn't sure how ot make that work with php since it's usually a javascript call.
PHP is executed on your server
the javascript file, even if external, is run on the client machine.
You can't use PHP on the client machine! You must use javascript to call a php script, stored in your server, that do what you need to.
You're on the good track, you need to use AJAX calls in your javascript.
don't use onclick, search for unobtrusive javascript;
you'd be using jQuery, so you can use its ajax handler;
find out a good reading about the whole topic, before going heads down on writing code.
This sounds like something you could solve by using AJAX. Basically you would communicate with your server in the background, send the data to it so it can process it. You send a separate request in the background which happens without reloading the page.
Please be aware of the distinction between the client (where the JavaScript is run) and the server (where PHP generated the page run by the client).
If you want to use jQuery, that library has some decent functions that makes it easier to implement cross-browser AJAX requests. However I would suggest first researching the topic.
I'm working on a editing tool (type of a simple CMS) in PHP/MySQL for a product catalog. I have search the Internet for a solution but I don't even know what to search for. So now my hope is on you guys.
I have a form where you can put all kinds of data like part.no, description an so on. All of this data is saved into a MySql table (items). I also have a table with predefined specifications.
What I want to do, and that I can't find a solution for, is to have a dropdown meny (or similar) and a add button to add a row for each related specifications without saving the whole form each time. I want to save first when all specifications is selected.
So, can I use PHP for this or do I need jQuery/Javascript or similar? I know it's possible, have seen it in OpenCart :-)
I hope someone understands my question. It's hard to explane i a language I'm not fully manage.
Regards
Client-side vs Server-side
Javascript: This sits in the user's browser. So anything you want to move in the user's browser will be done with JavaScript. This is "client-side"
PHP: This site on the server, so takes inpute from the user's browser and gives back a response (generally HTML, but can also be JSON or XML which is read by Javascript.). This is "server-side".
Libraries
jQuery: This is a set of functions written for Javascript to make it easier. So it runs in the user's browser and makes it easier for you to write bits that move on the screen.
You get similar libraries that help you write PHP (commonly called "frameworks") and there are many others for javascript as well.
Where to start
Write your HTML page as you want it to look. Keep it simple for the first time.
Then write some javascript (possibly using jQuery) to move the menu. Google "jquery menu dropdown" or similar and you'll find a solution you cna customise.
Then write some PHP that gives you the HTML you wrote in '1'.
Then decide what's going to happen when you click on a link in the HTML, and repeat the process (write HTML, incorporate Javascript to make it move, write PHP to give HTML)
Then work out which bits of the HTML are common or structured and should come from a database.
Without writing it for you (in which case you'll never learn) best to start one bit at a time and build as your knowledge grows. Bucket loads of examples on the web when youreach a particular problem you need to solve.
After comment "[how to] make it possible to select and add single/multiple specifications (from another table) without saving the whole form each time a specs is added":
Growing with AJAX
What you are asking is AJAX - this is where you get Javascript to talk to the server, and for javascript to move bits on the page based on the results. jQuery is probably the easiest (and probably has best documentation / examples for the ajax, as well as moving the DOM).
Basically: you have an "event" that you trap in JavaScript, example
/// Using jQuery to trap a button click
$().ready( function() {
$("#ButtonID").click( function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
alert('Button Clicked');
});
});
Then you build in an AJAX call inside that event (also check out get or post as the syntax is easier, you just get less control). The AJAX wil send a request to your PHP server, and you can get PHP to return HTML which you can replace/insert using the DOM manipulation functions linked below (e.g. before, html etc) or, when you get more advanced, you'll send back JSON which is a data structure you cna more easily manipulate in JavaScript to stipulate what actions are required.
As above, without actually writing it for you, the best place to start is to read the docs and have a go. Google "jquery AJAX PHP table example" or similar and you'll find an example somewhere.
I'm trying to emulate the upvote/downvote system used on the SE sites. Each of my pages have a score which users can upvote or downvote.
The arrows are images with onclick links to javascript functions. I need to find a way to dynamically change the score without refreshing the page and then run a script (probably PHP) to increment the score in the server's data files.
Is javascript the best way to do this? I'm not that big of a fan of letting users see the source for my functions.
This is only possible using Javascript.
Don't worry about users seeing the source; as long as the server is secure and well-designed, it won't do any harm.
You should only implement display and validation logic in Javascript; everything must be validated again on the server.
Welcome to AJAX.
The easiest way to do that is to use jQuery and its $.ajax method.
See http://api.jquery.com/jQuery.ajax/
It's as simple as
$('a.upvote-button').click(function() {
$.ajax('/posts/123/upvote', {type: 'post'});
return false;
});
Yes, you need javascript (or something considerably less sane) to do this. Namely, you need an AJAX callback.
I'm not that big of a fan of letting users see the source for my functions.
The client-side source of your "function" would be ridiculously simple. It could be as simple as:
$.post('/1234567/vote/up')
You may use a direct link to a php script (and form post values) instead, and without a javascript library it would be a few more lines, but you shouldn't need to expose anything of value in your javascript.
Use javascript. JQuery is an excellent choice for manipulating on screen content and interacting with a server via asynchronous calls.
Is there a way I can pass a PHP variable from a PHP page to a JQuery page and back to a PHP page?
Maybe I'm wrong but I believe you may be confusing things.
Server Generates page using PHP.
Generated page is composed of HTML, JAVASCRIPT whatever...
Client receives page
Received page is interpreted (JavaScript code is run)
In the end what you are asking for is possible but, by the way you put the question, I though that the above should be clarified.
How to do it?
Say you want to pass id=123 from server to client and then back.
generate page with a tag, say <span id="js-val">123</span>
have client read the contents of id="js-val
client can then resend the 123 using POST or GET that really depends on what you want.
Hope it helps to clear things up.
What should I look into to accomplish this.
When you select an input field some text to the right shows up.
For example: https://twitter.com/signup
Anyway i need something like that works with PHP. What should I look in to?
And also How can you query the database and not have to reload the page to see result? For example i have seen on many sites registration you can check if the a username is used without the page reloading. Dont know how to explain better.
Thanks
Like Arkain said, they are making the text appear with JavaScript. PHP is server-side only, meaning it can't make any changes to the page once it has loaded.
You can however, call a PHP script dynamically (to check if a username is registered) using a technique called AJAX.
I'd look into Ajax using jQuery. I had done some things with ajax before trying jQuery but jQuery made it so easy that I found it enjoyable to keep implementing things using it.
You need to use JavaScript, look at this source for instance, for some beginner tutorials.
Learn JavaScript. You can start with jQuery (a pre-made javascript toolkit of functions that help you do many things without reloading the page).
Google for a jQuery Ajax tutorial.