[SOLVED] How do I use rotation? newbie question

[henrikb]

Hi,

 

I have searched for a solution but did not find it, sorry if answered already.

 

In my database table I have the following 6 field values and need the banner/url's to rotate (no stats required):

 

1. banner image 1

2. banner url 1

3. banner image 2

4. banner url 2

5. banner image 3

6. banner url 3

 

So

first view : banner image 1 with banner url 1

second view : banner image 2 with banner url 2

third view : banner image 3 with banner url 3

etc. etc.

 

Probably simple just cannot figure it out.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Henrik

 

 

 

 

[Wuhtzu]

With PHP you can only get it to "rotate" when the user updates his or her browser. If you want them to rotate while the user is viewing a particular page you have to use java-script.

 

What rotating pattern do you need? Just a random banner each time the user navigates to a new page or shift banner every 2 minutes? And do they have to be in order (1,2,3,4 not 4,5,2,1,3)?

[henrikb]

Hi,

 

Sorry I was not clear,  banner only shifts when page reloaded/new visitor - order 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3 etc.

 

hope that makes it clearer.

 

Thanks

 

Henrik

 

[Wuhtzu]

It does. The simple solution is this:

 

<?php

//Define an array containing pairs of banner images and banner urls
$banners = array( array( 'banner' => 'banner1.jpg',
                         'url' => 'http://somesite.com'
                       ),
                       
                  array( 'banner' => 'banner2.gif',
                         'url' => 'http://anothersite.com'
                       ),
                       
                  array( 'banner' => 'banner3.jpg',
                         'url' => 'http://yetanothersite.com'
                       ),
                       
                  array( 'banner' => 'banner4.png',
                         'url' => 'http://somesite.com'
                       )
                );

//Generate a random number between 0 and the number of elements in the banner array
$rand = rand(0,count($banners));

//Use that random number to choose an element (image and url) from the array
$banner_image = $banners[$rand]['banner'];
$banner_url = $banners[$rand]['url'];

?>

<!-- Display the banner -->
<a href="<?php echo $banner_url;?>"><img src="<?php echo $banner_image;?>"></a>

 

This is the simple version which chooses a random banner each time the browser is reloaded. To make it display the images in the right order gets more complex.

 

[henrikb]

Hi again,

 

Should work fine, I appreciate you help!

 

Thanks again,

 

Henrik

 

[Wuhtzu]

<?php
session_start();


//Define an array containing pairs of banner images and banner urls
$banners = array( array( 'banner' => 'banner1.jpg',
                         'url' => 'http://somesite.com'
                       ),
                       
                  array( 'banner' => 'banner2.gif',
                         'url' => 'http://anothersite.com'
                       ),
                       
                  array( 'banner' => 'banner3.jpg',
                         'url' => 'http://yetanothersite.com'
                       ),
                       
                  array( 'banner' => 'banner4.png',
                         'url' => 'http://somesite.com'
                       )
                );

if(isset($_SESSION['banner'])) {
  
    $num_of_banners = count($banners);
  
    if($_SESSION[banner] < $num_of_banners-1) {
  
        $banner = $_SESSION['banner'] + 1;
        
    }
    else {
        
        $banner = 0;
    }
    
}
else {

    $banner = 0;    
}

$_SESSION['banner'] = $banner;



$banner_image = $banners[$banner]['banner'];
$banner_url = $banners[$banner]['url'];

?>

[a href="<?php echo $banner_url; ?>"][img src="<?php echo $banner_image; ?>"][/a]

 

This is the more "advanced" version. It has the order functionality.

 

Try it at:

http://wuhtzu.dk/random/banner_rotate.php

[henrikb]

Great thanks!

 

Henrik