Missing something basic using the includes statement and linking css / js files to my php page.

[skygremlin]

I’m trying to organize a site and am missing something basic with linking my css..  Right now all the pages are in the root folder.  I am using a template that  includes a header and footer, only changing the body on each page.  The header file contains links to the css and js files.

 

I want to move all my news and events to a sub folder (newsEvents), as I expect a large number of these pages. 

 

For example:

Folder structure:

• root/css/main.css
  
• root/includes/header.php
  
• root/newsEvents.php 
  
• root/newsEvents/2014-04-29_eventPosting.php
  

 

Working Page: 

• root/newsEvents.php  —  loads css and javascript fine
  
  • Inside of this page is the below line
    
  • include(includes/header.php);
    
  
  

 

Not working Page: 

• root/newsEvents/2014-04-29_eventPosting.php  —  Does not load the css or the javascript
  
  • Inside of this page is the below line
    
  • include(../includes/header.php);
    
  
  

  

 

I’m looking at the Debugger in FF, and I’ll see the CSS file listed for each page, but it shows 0 rules on the one not working.  On the working page it shows 198 rules.  I thought changing the includes path would be enough to load the header, which would included path’s to the css and js files..   But again, I’m missing something basic..

 

I’m using MAMP for my testing.  If that makes a difference..  

 

thank you 

[adam_bray]

Are you using a "/" at the start of your include?

[skygremlin]

Do you mean like this?

include("/../includes/header.php"); 

If I do that I loose my header..  

[skygremlin]

I've also tried this with same result....

$docRoot = ($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT']);
	echo'<script type="text/javascript">window.alert("Doc Root:  '.$docRoot.'")</script>';
	$headerLink = ($docRoot . "/css/header.php");
	echo'<script type="text/javascript">window.alert("Another Link to Header:  '.$headerLink.'")</script>';

include($headerLink);

I think it's something more fundamental that I'm missing......  

[skygremlin]

I also have url linking in my css file to yet another folder location..  

 

From the css file that's ../img/sub-img/...  Could that be messing with something?  I thought the url links started at the css file location though..

[adam_bray]

What's the URL to your CSS / JS files?

[skygremlin]

Folder structure with some additional data:

• root/css/main.css
  
  • Inside the css file
    
    • 
      

      
      
      .header-news-events { background-image: url("../img/sub-img/sub-news.jpg"); }
      

      
      
      
    
    
  
  
• root/img/sub-img
  
• root/includes/header.php
  
  • ​Inside the Header File
    
    • 
      

      
      
      <link rel="stylesheet" href="css/main.css">
      
      <script type="text/javascript" src="js/main.js"></script>
      

      
      
      
    
    
  
  
• root/js/
  

[adam_bray]

This should fix it - 

<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/main.css" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="/js/main.js"></script>

[skygremlin]

nah that didn't work, and that removes the css to my root/home.php...  

[mac_gyver]

I want to move all my news and events to a sub folder (newsEvents), as I expect a large number of these pages.

 

 

that's a sign you need to store the content in a database and dynamically output it using ONE page. by producing a large number of php files that only vary in the content they contain, you are just making a lot of make-work for yourself producing and managing the files. the the computer do this work for you.

 

---

 

as to your problem. the php include statement essentially replaces the include() statement with the content of the file being included. it doesn't matter where the file being included is stored at, it could be twenty folders deep in your site or even below/outside your document root folder, any links in the resulting web page are relative to the main file.

[skygremlin]

Thanx mac_gyver.  I thought about putting the full page content in the DB and using one page file for display, but wasn't sure if putting html in the DB was the right path to take.  Sounds like in this instance not a bad choice.  

 

 

thank you 

[mac_gyver]

the html layout of your web page shouldn't be stored in the database, only the content that goes on the web page.