[SOLVED] Using php & css for alternate colours?

[Mr Chris]

Hi Guys,

 

I have a query whereby I select all entries in a database using a while statement:

 

<?php
  $SQL = "select * from blah";  
       $result = mysql_query($SQL) OR die(mysql_error()); 
       $bg = ($bg=='white_div' ? 'grey_div' : 'white_div'); 
       while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))
    { 
      echo '<div class="$bg">' . "\n";
      echo '<span class="comments_text">'. $row['opening_paragraph'] .'</span>' . "\n";
      echo '</div>' . "\n";
     }
?>

 

However, what I want to do is make each row outputted an alternative colour in the background, hence declaring the variable $bg in the code which holds names of styles in my CSS design.

 

Could anyone help, as I don't quite understand how this is done?

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[nikefido]

<?php
  $bg = 'white_div';
  $SQL = "select * from blah";  
       $result = mysql_query($SQL) OR die(mysql_error()); 
       //$bg = ($bg=='white_div' ? 'grey_div' : 'white_div');    --- i know i'm making an equivalent code here:
       if($bg ==='white_div') {
          $bg = 'grey_div';
       } else {
          $bg = 'white_div';
       }
       while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))
    { 
      echo '<div class="$bg">' . "\n";
      echo '<span class="comments_text">'. $row['opening_paragraph'] .'</span>' . "\n";
      echo '</div>' . "\n";
     }
?>

 

the trick here is to define $bg prior to your conditional statement - note that your first color is going to be grey rather than white - you can switch the original $bg definition to change that to be white first if you want.

[Mr Chris]

Thanks,

 

But when I view the source of the page it shows:

 

<div class="$bg">

 

For each element?

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[foreverhex]

all you have to do is change this:

echo '<div class="$bg">' . "\n";

with this:

echo '<div class="' . $bg . '">' . "\n";

[nikefido]

you didn't escape your quotes:

 

 

<?php
  $bg = 'white_div';
  $SQL = "select * from blah";  
       $result = mysql_query($SQL) OR die(mysql_error()); 
       //$bg = ($bg=='white_div' ? 'grey_div' : 'white_div');    --- i know i'm making an equivalent code here:
       if($bg ==='white_div') {
          $bg = 'grey_div';
       } else {
          $bg = 'white_div';
       }
       while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))
    { 
      echo '<div class=\"{$bg}\">' . "\n";
      echo '<span class=\"comments_text\">'. $row['opening_paragraph'] .'</span>' . "\n";
      echo '</div>' . "\n";
     }
?>

[Mr Chris]

Thanks Guys,

 

Sorry to be a pain, but it just makes all of the elements outputted grey_div not doing alternatives?

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[DyslexicDog]

 

<?php
$bg = 'white_div';
$SQL = "select * from blah";
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))
{
$result = mysql_query($SQL) OR die(mysql_error());

if($bg ==='white_div') {
	$bg = 'grey_div';
} else {
	$bg = 'white_div';
}

echo "<div class=\"$bg\"> \n";
echo '<span class="comments_text">'. $row['opening_paragraph'] .'</span>' . "\n";
echo '</div>' . "\n";
}
?>

 

There was a logic problem in your code. If you want the color to alternate you must include your if statement in the loop so it can flip flop.

[kenrbnsn]

The "if" statement needs to be within the "while" statement:

<?php
  $bg = 'white_div';
  $SQL = "select * from blah";  
       $result = mysql_query($SQL) OR die(mysql_error()); 
       //$bg = ($bg=='white_div' ? 'grey_div' : 'white_div');    --- i know i'm making an equivalent code here:
       while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))
    { 
       $bg = ($bg == 'white_div')?'grey_div':'white_div';
      echo '<div class="' . $bg . '">' . "\n";
      echo '<span class="comments_text">'. $row['opening_paragraph'] .'</span>' . "\n";
      echo '</div>' . "\n";
     }
?>

 

Ken

 

[Mr Chris]

Thanks all!