getting user confirmation

[harvey]

I have a php script that processes the output from a form.

Part of the processing involves writing to a file. I'd like to

ask the user the standard question: "This file exists. Do you

want to overwrite it? :

 

 

[marcus]

<?php

if(file_exists("/path/to/the/file.txt")){
echo "The file exists, would you like to overwrite it?\n";
}else {
echo "File doesn't exist, would you like to create it?\n";
}

?>

 

eh?

[harvey]

While your solution prints a question to the screen, I don't

see how I gather the user response.

 

[lemmin]

You could use a form:

//modification of mgallforever's code
<?php
echo "<form method=POST action=\"writetofile.php\">";
if(file_exists("/path/to/the/file.txt")){
echo "The file exists, would you like to overwrite it?<br>
<input type=submit name=\"overwrite\" value=\"yes\">
<input type=submit name=\"overwrite\" value=\"no\">\n";
}else {
echo "File doesn't exist, would you like to create it?<bR>
<input type=submit name=\"create\" value=\"yes\">
<input type=submit name=\"create\" value=\"no\">\n";
}
echo "</form>";
?>

[harvey]

OK, but this is getting a bit more complicated than I might wish.

For now I have to pass to yet another page, writetofile.php

not only the yes/no options, but also the filepath, and the

content to be written.

[lemmin]

You can do everything in one file. Just use

if (isset($_POST['overwrite']))

 

To see if it is currently getting the overwrite answer. If it isn't it should be checking if the file exists. I have written a number of applications in a single php file.

 

There is no way to get a user event in the middle of a php script running so there is no other way than to pass it to the file one more time.

[harvey]

Hmm. I'm still not quite getting it (but appreciate your help). If I understand, your suggestion is something like:

  step 1.  originalform.php --> (post filename, contents) --> process.php

  step 2. process.php --> (post answer to yes/no confirmation) --> process.php

 

Now process.php can test for isset($_POST['overwrite']). Let's say the value is 'yes'.

However, on the second call (to itself) it has lost the values to, $_POST['filename'] and $_POST['contents'].

 

Or is your suggestion that originalform.php is the only file I need?? (Sorry to be so dense.)

Perhaps if you have a small (but complete) toy example?

 

Harvey

   

[lemmin]

In the <form> that has the overwrite button, include a hidden field with the other values:

//modification of mgallforever's code
<?php
echo "<form method=POST action=\"writetofile.php\">";
if(file_exists("/path/to/the/file.txt")){
echo "The file exists, would you like to overwrite it?<br>
<input type=submit name=\"overwrite\" value=\"yes\">
<input type=submit name=\"overwrite\" value=\"no\">\n";
}else {
echo "File doesn't exist, would you like to create it?<bR>
<input type=submit name=\"create\" value=\"yes\">
<input type=submit name=\"create\" value=\"no\">\n";
}
echo <input type=HIDDEN name=\"filename\" value=\"" . $_POST['filename'] . "\">
       <input type=HIDDEN name=\"contents\" value=\"" . $_POST['contents'] . "\">";
echo "</form>";
?>

 

Then those two values won't be lost.

[harvey]

Seems to work! Thanks much for your help. Harvey