Template switcher?

[TR World]

Hey! I was wondering if there's is a way in Php of I could, use some code to switch stylesheets? e.g. if you go to http://trsearch.org they let you choose a different template from a drop-done list a the bottom. How do they do this?  Help!

[zendoctor]

Create a dropdown box with the template names and when selected update a database field for that user with the template name and link to css file.

 

Have a file which fetch the user or session preferences

require(preferences.php);

 

which runs a query to get the stylesheet location for that user or session and assign it to a session variable $stylesheet

 

In your pages do something like

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="<?php echo $stylesheet; ?>" />

[TR World]

Okay I went through the php & sql tutorial on w3 schools. I'm new new to php/sql but I didn't understand what you said.

[zendoctor]

Is the application for a user login or for visitors to a page to switch templates until the page is closed?

[TR World]

no its just select a template you won't be able to log in.

[TR World]

soory double post, Anyone?? Zendoctor? No you won't be able to log in to the site.

[ChemicalBliss]

Start with your code, dont worry about the drop down box yet especially if your really new to php.

 

To complete your idea you wil need to use: 1 or more IF Statements and implement sessions.

 

Sessions:

 

For every page that you want to store "User-Specific" data, (without them needing to log in), you use Sessions, and you must put "session_start();" at the top of your pages that use sessions.

 

Once you do that you can save session variables between page clicks, unique to each user. For example:

 

page1.php

<?php
session_start();

$_SESSION['test'] = "abc";

echo("<a href='page2.php'>See what happens:");

?>

 

page2.php

<?php
session_start();

echo("Previous Number: ".$_SESSION['test']");

?>

========

 

Then the IF Statement:

if.php

<?php

if($_SESSION['template'] == "template_1"){
  echo("<stylesheet src="1..." />");
}else{
  echo("<stylesheet src="2..." />");
}

?>

======

 

Now you can combine these to create a session enabled variable stylesheet template, hehe.

 

If you want a drop-down box you need to create a php form script, these are very simple and can be added easily like so:

 

form.php

<form method="post" action="process.php">
<SELECT name="stylesheet">
<OPTION value="1">Some Style Name</OPTION>
<OPTION value="2">Some Style Name 2</OPTION>
<OPTION value="3">Some Style Name 3</OPTION>
</form>

 

process.php

<?php

// Check for the form submittion:
if(isset($_POST['stylesheet'])){
  $_SESSION['stylesheet'] = $_POST['stylesheet'];
}
?>

 

then, on each page where the stylesheet would be:

 

<?php
echo("<stylesheet src='path/to/styles/$_SESSION['stylesheet'].css'");
?>

 

Good Luck.

-CB-

[TR World]

Thanks!

[khr2003]

Why not simply your approach and use javascript:

http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex9/stylesheetswitcher.htm

 

it is easier to implement, and neater.