[SOLVED] read / print file to 'x' character??

[tbare]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but i can't find an answer anywhere... maybe it can't be done?

 

Here's my issue:

 

Currently, i am using a php script to write information to a text file. Upon submission of the form, the date is printed (form: yyyy.mm.dd), followed by a space, then the information entered in the form.

 

This txt document is then read then printed line by line on a web page.

 

//read data from the news file in /news_input/news.txt and prints it a line at a time

if (!($newsfile = fopen("news_input/news.txt", "r"))) {
die('Cannot open file');
}

while ($line = fgets($newsfile,4096)) {

//read first 10 characters of line an label as date
$date = preg_replace('/(..........).*()/','$1$2',$line);

//read all characters after date and label as content
$content = substr($line, 10);
$news = stripslashes($content);

print "<tr><td valign='top'>";
print "<font color=#000000>$date</font>";
print "<td align='left'> $news";
print "</td>";
print "</tr>";
}
fclose($newsfile);
?>

Note that the date and the info are printed into separate cells of a table.

 

my question: is there a way to do something similar, only reading up to a specified character (say '~' for example), and everything before said character be labeled $date, and everything after said character to be labeled $content?

 

Let me know if you need more informatioin. i do not have access to a sql db, so that's out of the question (free web hosting, can't be picky...) (btw, the website this is on is http://www.wannafork.com).

 

If you want the source code of how i wrote the information to the file, i'll post it, too

[pocobueno1388]

Use the explode function.

 

Take this for example

 

<?php

$str = "125485~dds5f56";
$new_str = explode('~', $str);

echo $new_str[0]; //prints "125485"
echo $new_str[1]; // prints "dds5f56";

?>

[tbare]

you are a god among men. Thanks!! i was beating my head over this one... my friend will thank you, too... (it took less time to register on this forum, post the question AND get the reply than i spent looking for this answer all day!!)

 

thanks again!

[Barand]

 

Get the contents of the file first with this, (instead of fgets)

 

$text = file_get_contents ('filename.txt');

 

then explode as pocobueno suggested

 

<?php
$text = 'Twas brillig~and the slthy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe';    // assume this was in the file

list ($date, $content) = explode ('~', $text);

echo $date;        // -> Twas brillig
echo '<br/>';
echo $content;     // -> and the slthy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe
?>

[tbare]

 

Get the contents of the file first with this, (instead of fgets)

 

$text = file_get_contents ('filename.txt');

 

will this return it a line at a time?

 

basically, when info is entered into the txt file, it's in a specified order (date, separator, content, line break). i need to read the info a line at a time until eof.

[Barand]

Sorry, that does the whole file. I took your post title literally.

 

To process line at a time

 

<?php
$text = file('filename.txt');

foreach ($text as $line)
{
    list ($date, $content) = explode ('~', $line);
}
?>

[tbare]

what are the benefits of your way over this:

 

<?php

//read data from the news file in /news_input/news.txt and prints it a line at a time

if (!($newsfile = fopen("news_input/news.txt", "r"))) {
die('Cannot open file');
}

while ($line = fgets($newsfile,4096)) {
list ($date, $content) = explode('~', $line);

print "<tr><td valign='top'>";
print "<font color=#000000>$date</font>"; //print date in left cell
print "<td align='left'> $content";               //print content in right cell
print "</td>";
print "</tr>";
}
fclose($newsfile);
?>

 

sorry for the n00bish question, but i'm still somewhat new to php scripting and want to understand what works best aside from taking someone's word for it... (that's how i learn best).

 

Thanks again

[Barand]

It saves having to fopen() and fclose()

[tbare]

makes sense... just saved 5 lines of code. thanks!