store and update number without database

[PeterPopper]

I have a PHP  web form; every time a user submits the form, I want to display and update the number (like a counter) on the web page. This is for users to see how may people have submitted the form. But I don't want to use a database.

 

I want to have: This form was submitted 20 times, and keep updating the number each time the form is submitted.

 

Thanks.

[cags]

If the number needs to go up 'globally', you will need to either user a database or store the value in a file and read/amend it from there using the file handling functions.

[abazoskib]

I would store it in a file. No point in wasting database calls.

[roopurt18]

This is going to be chaos and inaccurate on a high traffic site.

[waynewex]

Firstly; why are you doing this? Are you trying to prove that you can? If you do follow through with this and store the number in a file, you're going to have to make sure that you lock the file in question while you're updating it, as you don't want two updates happening concurrently. But I have to say that I just don't see the point in what you're doing.

[PeterPopper]

Is using the file option unwise? I am doing it because the client wants visitors to see how many other visitors have filled out the form.

[KingIsulgard]

Yes it is unwise because it will give troubles when two people are updating the file at the same time.

[roopurt18]

But I don't want to use a database.

 

Where did this requirement come from?  Your passing thoughts or the client?

[PeterPopper]

The client doesn't want to pay for the database work, but I think I will have to convince the client to use database.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

[Cardale]

There is a third option.  You could create an image and keep re-creating it and show it that way and use the file name as your counter....haha kinda simple and odd, but it would work. 

[abazoskib]

There a lot of solutions to the problem. Another easy one, is to create a blank file somewhere on your server each time the submit button is pressed.  Then use something like shell_exec() to run "ls $fullpath_to_dir | wc -l" which will give you the number of files in that directory. I'm not saying this is the best method, but a database is really not required for such a task, especially since its the only thing you want to track.

[Cardale]

There a lot of solutions to the problem. Another easy one, is to create a blank file somewhere on your server each time the submit button is pressed.  Then use something like shell_exec() to run "ls $fullpath_to_dir | wc -l" which will give you the number of files in that directory. I'm not saying this is the best method, but a database is really not required for such a task, especially since its the only thing you want to track.

 

Thought of that one to...good one.

[PeterPopper]

I don't like the option to make a file for each count, eventually there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of empty files on the server.

 

Cardale, could you provide an example of the image example, that sounds promising.

[Cardale]

I don't like the option to make a file for each count, eventually there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of empty files on the server.

 

Cardale, could you provide an example of the image example, that sounds promising.

 

Well honestly you wouldn't have thousands if you deleted the one before it, but in order to do this you have to create two files.

 

We will name this image.php

<?php
session_start();
$command = "find /var/www/test/*.jpg";
$file = exec($command);

$info = pathinfo($file);
$file_name =  basename($file,'.'.$info['extension']);

$realstring = $file_name;
$useimage  = imagecreatefromjpeg($file);
$linecolor = imagecolorallocate($useimage,233,239,239);
$textcolor = imagecolorallocate($useimage, 255, 255, 255);

imageline($useimage,1,1,40,40,$linecolor);
imageline($useimage,1,100,60,0,$linecolor);
imagestring($useimage, 5, 20, 10, $realstring, $textcolor);

header("Content-type: image/jpeg");

imagejpeg($useimage);

$_SESSION['filename'] = $file;
$_SESSION['file'] = $file_name;
?>

 

second example.php

<?php
session_start();
?>
<img src="test.php">
<?php
$file = $_SESSION['filename'];
$file_name = $_SESSION['file'];

$file_name = $file_name + 1;

rename("$file", "/var/www/test/".$file_name.".jpg");

?>

 

Now create a directory name it "test" give it proper permissions.  Then get a good image to use and name it 0.jpg. and that should be it after you set all the permissions correctly.

 

Hahah..cool

[Cardale]

You can see an example here.

 

http://www.kinggoddard.com/test2.php

 

It isn't perfect, but it gets the job done.  If you added a few more things to make sure all is well it would help.

[PeterPopper]

Thank you very much for the examples, Cardale.

[Cardale]

No problem.  I will send you the bill later. 

[PeterPopper]

Cardale, how can I show just the number without the background image? The number has to blend in with the rest of the design on the page.

 

Thanks.

[Cardale]

I posted an update that works a lot better.  Not that it is a huge deal or anything. 

 

http://www.kinggoddard.com/portfolio.php

 

And to answer your question I put another piece of code to only display the number.