Perform Function when...

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09-12-2007, 10:51 PM
Rockonmetal

Perform Function when...

I was wondering if PHP can perform a function when a link, button, or something is pressed...
Heres what I want todo...
Heres the HTML page code *its still in development stages but who really cares...*

PHP Code:

<html> <head>  </head> <body> <table> <tr> <td>Menu: <ul class="menu"> <li><a href="Tutorial/1/Introduction/" target="phpincludediv">Intro to PHP</li> <li><a href="Tutorial/2/Introduction/" target="phpincludediv">What you need to run PHP</li> ... </ul></td> <td>Tutorial Below: <?php //Stuff here that says: //If link going to or named "url/blank" then do this... include("Tutorial/1/Introduction/index.php"); //Else include("News/new.php"); ?> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>
09-12-2007, 11:08 PM
Twey

No. PHP scripts are run at request time: they can only respond to request data. If you want to pass data to a PHP script, you have to either submit a form to the PHP script in question, in which case the form data is passed along with the request and available to the script in the $_GET or $_POST arrays (or the $_REQUEST array, which is a combination of $_GET, $_POST and $_COOKIE) or use Javascript to process the event and display the result, possibly using the XMLHttpRequest object to retrieve the data from the PHP script. Note, however, that this usually involves some fairly involved Javascript, and requires careful and elegant design to be accessible.
09-12-2007, 11:29 PM
Rockonmetal

OK... thanks man...
I can't do it, cuz my client won't accept any javascript *he hates it...* same here...
09-13-2007, 12:16 AM
Twey

Javascript is actually a fairly decent language. What it is is very flexible, and thus open to abuse. Most of the time, bad Javascript code stems from bad design patterns (like writing a Javascript function without a pure HTML/server-side backup), rather than actual language flaws. Used properly, it can dramatically enhance a site, without losing any accessibility.

Either way, the form submission route is still open to you.
09-13-2007, 12:21 AM
Rockonmetal

k... but my client still won't accept any javascript...
09-13-2007, 12:42 AM
Twey

Javascript was only one option of two that I gave you. I was discussing Javascript purely as an aside, and on that note alone you should talk to your client about this preference. Practically, in terms of your project, the form submission method will be fine and Javascript is entirely unnecessary, although it could be used to enhance the interface.
09-13-2007, 01:18 PM
boogyman

Quote:

(or the $_REQUEST array, which is a combination of $_GET, $_POST and $_COOKIE)

it also contains variables of $_SERVER
09-13-2007, 01:43 PM
djr33

SERVER is not included. (Nor is SESSION.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by php.net

Note: Prior to PHP 4.3.0, $_FILES information was also included in $_REQUEST.

An associative array consisting of the contents of $_GET, $_POST, and $_COOKIE.
09-13-2007, 01:51 PM
boogyman

oops, okay its not. learn something new every day. thanks mate
09-13-2007, 02:19 PM
djr33

Indeed. When I read your post, I was unsure, so I wanted to check it. I was also thinking that the SESSION array was included.
09-13-2007, 02:36 PM
boogyman

Quote:

Originally Posted by djr33

I was also thinking that the SESSION array was included.

thats what I meant to say... but my fingers typed SERVER instead... haha I didnt even catch that until you posted.
09-13-2007, 04:06 PM
djr33

Ha. Ok. But SERVER makes some sense too. the IP, REQUEST_URI, HTTP_REFERER, brower info, etc., are input in some sense.

I like to stay away from $_REQUEST, anyway. Too much guesswork involved. If I do need to use both post and get (and/or cookie), then I just write that directly, explicitly, so it's easy to keep track of.