replace lines in a txt file

[The Little Guy]

Is it possible to replace one line in a textfile?

say I have these lines:

 

ray:house:1-21-2007_0224PM

joe:hoose:1-26-2007_0224PM

tim:hoooe:1-22-2007_0224PM

him:hoooo:1-20-2007_0224PM

 

If joe decides to log in, I need to update the time, or the 3rd "field" in the text file.

 

if I can not replace one line, what would the best way to do this?

 

P.S.

This is homework, and I cannot use a database for it.

[joquius]

You can use file(), and then search for the line with foreach or array_search or something and then rebuild the file with the edited line.

[Barand]

Use file() to read the data.

 

Create an array where the first element of each line is the key and the rest of the line is the value.

 

Update the array, using 'Joe' as the key to find the data.

 

Rewrite the array to the file.

[ted_chou12]

try:

$array = file("text.txt");
foreach ($array as $line) {
$parts = explode(":", $line);
$times[] = $parts[0];}
$linenum = array_keys($times, "joe");//joe as an example
$data = file("text.txt");
$data[$linenum] = "modified";//changing the info.
$handle = fopen($file, "w");
foreach ($data as $val) {$write = fwrite($handle, $val);}
fclose($handle);