Print directory listing to array

[jaaames]

I'm not sure how complex this is, but I'm relatively new to PHP, so I'll ask anyways.

Let's say I have a directory of text files, each containing information. And I'd like to list them in an array, for later manipulation.

How could I do this? I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to file I/O. Please help?

[bqallover]

Do you mean list the filenames in an array or list the contents of the files in an array?

[jaaames]

List the filenames in an array.

[bqallover]

This should do the trick! $dir is the path to the required directory.  At the end, $file_list is an array of all filenames in the directory.

[code]
if($handle = opendir($dir))
{
while(($file = readdir($handle)) !== false)
{
if( $file != "." && $file != ".." )
{
$file_list[] = $file;
}
}
closedir($handle);
}
[/code]

[jaaames]

Thank you, that worked just fine!

Okay, now here's a related problem: How do I list the values for keys 1-5 only? (Sorry for the stupid questions.)

[brendandonhue]

You could just do $array = glob('*.txt'); to get an array with the names of all the text files. You can use a loop like for() to display only the first 5.

[bqallover]

NOT asking would be stupid.  ;)

What you need is a 'for loop' (read about them at [url=http://uk.php.net/manual/en/control-structures.for.php]http://uk.php.net/manual/en/control-structures.for.php[/url])

[code]
for( $i=1; $i<=5; $i++ )
{
  echo $file_list[$i] . "\n"    // print filename and a new-line
}
[/code]

Be aware though that arrays are generally 0-indexed, meaning the first filename is at $file_list[0].  In that case change the for loop to

[code]
for ($i=0, $i<=4; $i++ )
[/code]

There are simpler (better?) control structures like 'while' and 'foreach', but for something like this I'd use 'for'

[bqallover]

[quote author=brendandonhue link=topic=113297.msg460344#msg460344 date=1162263316]
You could just do $array = glob('*.txt'); to get an array with the names of all the text files. You can use a loop like for() to display only the first 5.
[/quote]
Yeah, probably a better technique.  Head like a sieve me... :D

[jaaames]

Thanks, the for() loop worked just fine (and thanks for teaching me something new).