PHP newb - Linking

[csudhoff]

How would I go about creating links.  Should I use arrays?  below is kid of what i am looking to do

 

Catagories

- Fruit = 1

- Meat = 2

- Vegs = 3

 

Sub catagories

- Fruit

        - Strawberries =101

        - Grapes = 102

 

 

the link would appear  - http://www.websiteurl.com/subcat=101

 

I am not sure if this makes sense and i am in the process of learning the terminology.

Thanks!

 

 

[revraz]

How are you storing the catagories?  Hard coding or in a flat file/database?

[csudhoff]

thats part of what i need to know.  can i include this in another php file or will i need to create a mysql db with 2 tables. 1 called cat and one sub cat?

 

thanks for the prompt reply

[trq]

You don't need two tables. One shall suffice.

 

CREATE TABLE products (
  id PRIMARY KEY AUTO INCRIMENT,
  parentid,
  title VARCHAR(80)
);

 

Now insert your products....

 

INSERT INTO products (parentid,title) VALUES (0,'Fruit');
INSERT INTO products (parentid,title) VALUES (0,'Meat');
INSERT INTO products (parentid,title) VALUES (0,'Veg');
INSERT INTO products (parentid,title) VALUES (1,'Strawberries');
INSERT INTO products (parentid,title) VALUES (1,'Grapes');

 

See how the parentid relates Strawberries and Grapes to Fruit?

[csudhoff]

ok I think i am getting this.  What would be the syntax for my links on my menu system then?

[DyslexicDog]

thats part of what i need to know.  can i include this in another php file or will i need to create a mysql db with 2 tables. 1 called cat and one sub cat?

 

thanks for the prompt reply

 

You can do it either way. If you use a database you can easily update it later.

 

The easiest way I've found to create links is with an associative array.

 

 

 

<?php
//First we create the array
$links = array('link title' => 'link.com/location' , 'link title 2' => 'link.com/location');

//if I want to add more links later it's pretty easy todo, you can even change existing links.
$links['link title3'] = 'foobar.com';
$links['link title'] = 'link.com/location17';

//then after the array is setup the way we want we run it through a foreach loop to create the html links

foreach($links as $title => $href){

    echo '<a href="$href">$title</a>':
}
?>

WARNING: I didn't test this code it may have some errors.

[csudhoff]

Thanks for all of the help!

 

this is what i am reffering to:

       <a href="/myspace-layouts/cat.php?id=10">Animals</a>
                <a href="/myspace-layouts/cat.php?id=9">Animated Backgrounds</a>
                <a href="/myspace-layouts/cat.php?id=19">Anime</a>

                <a href="/myspace-layouts/cat.php?id=38">Butterflies</a>
                <a href="/myspace-layouts/cat.php?id=28">Cars/Vehicles</a>

 

this site does this exactly.  in this example woudl i have a cat.php file and reference

"animails = 10... etc...

 

sorry i don tmean to be spoon fead, i am trying my best to learn on my own.

[trq]

Yes, the cat.php file would simply query the database for data relating to the id passed to it in $_GET['id'].

[csudhoff]

Yes, the cat.php file would simply query the database for data relating to the id passed to it in $_GET['id'].

 

ok kow of any good tutorials that i can look @?  I am a noob w/ php.

[phpQuestioner]

create your database with mysql or mysql based software like phpMyAdmin and then use the code below as a reference on how to display content in your pages based on "id".

 

<?php

// Connect To Database
mysql_connect("localhost","username","password");
// Select Database
mysql_select_db("vehicleList");
// Query Database
$myresults = mysql_query("select * from dataTableNameHere where idFieldNameHere='$id'");

while ($myrow=mysql_fetch_array($myresults)) {

// Declare Your Variables
$myvariable1=$myrow["SomeFieldNameHere"];


// Design Your Content & Add Your Variables To Where Ever You Want Them To Display At
echo "<div>\n";
echo "$myrow\n";
echo "<div>\n";

}

?>

 

Here is a pretty decent mysql tutorial:

http://www.tizag.com/mysqlTutorial/mysqldatabase.php