Content management with flat text files...

[eragon]

i have a script that will write to a text file from a form... using php scripts.. now i need a script to call from this file line by line, or any similar way of posting it, and insert it into my php home page. i have the script set up and working, it posts a headline on say line 1, a news article on line 2, and line 3 is blank. then when i submit again it posts a headline on line 4, a news article on line 5, and line 6 is blank.

the txt file looks as so:

Heading 1
THis is the news article asociated with heading 1. it is saved as one line in for example news.txt
 
Heading 2
This is the news for heading 2. it was submitted by for example submit.php and is displayed on index.php in a table.
 

now i want this to load as so:

[HTML]<table>
<tr><th>Heading 1</th></tr>
<tr><td>THis is the news article asociated with heading 1. it is saved as one line in for example news.txt</td></tr>
<tr><td></td></tr>
<tr><th>Heading 2</th></tr>
<tr><td>This is the news for heading 2. it was submitted by for example submit.php and is displayed on index.php in a table.</td></tr>
<tr><td></td></tr>
</table>[/HTML]

pretty simple?

just a few notes: i dont have a working mysql server, if anybody knows a free sql server that i can use that actually works, i need to have a link, otherwise i will stay with text files... help!

Sincerely,
Eragon

[jx2]

[PHP]
<?php
$handle = @fopen("yourFile.txt", "r");
if ($handle) {
while (!feof($handle)) {
$buffer = fgets($handle);
$lines[]=$buffer;
}
fclose($handle);
}
?>

[/PHP]
now you have whole file in array - $lines

i hope that help

ps: why you dont yous mysql? i know its hard to set up but you will love it!!!

[pbmods]

MySQL is free. Unless you mean you need a free server to host the database.

A-Plus.net's Solo XR plan is at a pretty reasonable rate right now (about $7.50 per month), and you can probably find better deals. $90 per year plus domain (plus ICANN) ain't bad, plus you can host the rest of your site from that server, too.

My boss once built a 'database' using flat text files. It might be why he says he feels so old all the time (hint: he's NOT old!).

[eragon]

can i just make a database on my computer and upload it as a file, or, does it have to be integrated with the server? i tried using *.mdb files with *.aspx files, but i couldnt get it to work right... i need anything that can help a person (me) who only knows html, javascript, some php, everything about access, lots of dreamweaver, and some japenese... any ideas, btw, how do i call the array in that code above?

what would the script look like in the news page...

[PHP]<?PHP
echo ($lines_1);
?>[/PHP]

or what??

SIncerely,

Eragon

[eragon]

and by the way, i need free links, cuz right now alls i have in my company account is -$14, so, ya... I took out a loan from my friend to fix my router cables, geez do i hate my dog...

it seems to me everything online requires you to pay... i cant even get a decent domain name without putting myself in debt...

and im still in buisness, imagine that?

[ronnil]

try setting up your own server for testing purposes, you can do that on the machine you're running.

apache server is free (and great btw), most unix based webservers are apache

IIS (Internet Information Services) is free if you have windows XP Pro (it's on your install disc)

php can be downloaded (for free) from php.net, you will also find a complete reference, very well written.

mysql is also free and can be downloaded from mysql.com

Everything is supplied with user/installation manuals and should be achievable to setup within a few hours.

if you want php to work with MS access i think you need a library to do so (this can also be gotten free of charge from somewhere)

[eragon]

cool. i tried aspx with ms access, but the codes dreamweaver gave me dont work... :( ill look into using MySQL, even though i have no experience. is it similar to mdb?

[eragon]

my question still remains. links to tutorials would be nice. i have decided to use sql, however, i need to know how ot use it. the web host i have has sql. i need tutorials!!!!!!!