relative path / absolute path

[Jerry M. Gartner]

Greetings:

What is the best way to resolve paths within a document regardless of what
path it is opened under? For example: I have x.php and it contains <img
src="images..." >, (amongst other things, like php code), which resolves the
correct image path when opened under / but when x.php is read into a file
under /dir the image no longer resolves, for obvious reasons. With absolute
paths, this isn't an issue but it is with relative paths. Although I can
think of a kludge, or two, I figure that there is a more elegant solution.
Thanks in advance.

--

Regards,

Jerry M. Gartner

[David Haynes]

Re: relative path / absolute path

Jerry M. Gartner wrote:[color=blue]
> Greetings:
>
> What is the best way to resolve paths within a document regardless of what
> path it is opened under? For example: I have x.php and it contains <img
> src="images..." >, (amongst other things, like php code), which resolves the
> correct image path when opened under / but when x.php is read into a file
> under /dir the image no longer resolves, for obvious reasons. With absolute
> paths, this isn't an issue but it is with relative paths. Although I can
> think of a kludge, or two, I figure that there is a more elegant solution.
> Thanks in advance.
>[/color]
If I understand you correctly, this is really a web server issue and is
handled by the 'Alias' function in Apache (other servers may call it
something else). This function allows you to set a path prefix - say,
/images - and have all references to an image resolve to the same place.

So in your code you would have <img src="/images/foo.gif"> and it would
resolve to /my_web/images/foo.gif regardless of where it was referenced
in your web document tree.

Aliases may also be used for css, javascript or any other commonly
shared code elements.

Hope this helps.
-david-

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

Re: relative path / absolute path

Jerry M. Gartner wrote:[color=blue]
> Greetings:
>
> What is the best way to resolve paths within a document regardless of what
> path it is opened under? For example: I have x.php and it contains <img
> src="images..." >, (amongst other things, like php code), which resolves the
> correct image path when opened under / but when x.php is read into a file
> under /dir the image no longer resolves, for obvious reasons.[/color]
<snip>

I don't understand your problem. But, I prefer relative path and
had no issues with it.

--
<?php echo 'Just another PHP saint'; ?>
Email: rrjanbiah-at-Y!com Blog: http://rajeshanbiah.blogspot.com/

[Jan Thomä]

Re: relative path / absolute path

On Sun, 18 Jun 2006 10:24:20 GMT Jerry M. Gartner wrote:[color=blue]
> [...] For example: I have x.php and it contains <img
> src="images..." >, (amongst other things, like php code), which resolves the
> correct image path when opened under / but when x.php is read into a file
> under /dir the image no longer resolves, for obvious reasons. With absolute
> paths, this isn't an issue but it is with relative paths.[/color]

Well to be on the safe side use absolute paths, this will definitely work.
To keep your scripts maintainable, make a configuration file where you will
put the paths in. E.g

config.php

$IMG_BASE_URL=" http://www.my-domain.com/images/";


and in your php files you write...

<img src="<?php echo $IMG_BASE_URL; ?>myImage001.jp g"/>

That way you can even change the image path later on (e.g. put all images
on a different server or load them with a script for load balancing or
whatever) and they will always work. I use this solution for my sites (well
in fact i use some method) like

function imglnk( $filename ) {
global $IMG_BASE_URL;
return $IMG_BASE_URL.$ filename;
}

and then
<img src="<?php imglnk( "myImage001.jpg " );?>/>

which isn't that kludgy and allows for arbitrary changes of the image
structure later on.

Best regards,
Jan Thomä

[Colin McKinnon]

Re: relative path / absolute path

Jan Thomä wrote:
[color=blue]
> On Sun, 18 Jun 2006 10:24:20 GMT Jerry M. Gartner wrote:[color=green]
>> [...] For example: I have x.php and it contains <img
>> src="images..." >, (amongst other things, like php code), which resolves
>> the
>> correct image path when opened under / but when x.php is read into a
>> file
>> under /dir the image no longer resolves, for obvious reasons. With
>> absolute paths, this isn't an issue but it is with relative paths.[/color]
>
> Well to be on the safe side use absolute paths, this will definitely work.
> To keep your scripts maintainable, make a configuration file where you
> will put the paths in. E.g
>[/color]
<snip>
I would second this approach - in larger applications this has often been
one of the first 'include' files I've implemented, usually declaring the
path both in terms of its URL and the filesystem namespace:

// note - be consistent about trailing dir seperator
$image_url_pref ix="http://my.server.com/~colin/project/images/";
$image_file_pre fix="/home/colin/public_html/project/images/";
....

Of course, you'll then realise that the included file itself has a relative
and absolute path....but the advantage of this approach is that you can use
the path relative to one of the directories declared in the include_path
config file setting which removes the problem.

C.

[Jerry Stuckle]

Re: relative path / absolute path

Jerry M. Gartner wrote:[color=blue]
> Greetings:
>
> What is the best way to resolve paths within a document regardless of what
> path it is opened under? For example: I have x.php and it contains <img
> src="images..." >, (amongst other things, like php code), which resolves the
> correct image path when opened under / but when x.php is read into a file
> under /dir the image no longer resolves, for obvious reasons. With absolute
> paths, this isn't an issue but it is with relative paths. Although I can
> think of a kludge, or two, I figure that there is a more elegant solution.
> Thanks in advance.
>[/color]

First of all, this isn't a PHP question - <img statements are html, whether
they're included in PHP or not. Now - if you were talking about include(),
require_once(), etc., you 'd be talking php.

The easiest way I've found is to just use absolute URL's for the images - i.e.

<img src="/images...">

Works everyplace on the site and you don't need to include extra files.


--
=============== ===
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attgl obal.net
=============== ===

[Geoff Muldoon]

Re: relative path / absolute path

jstucklex@attgl obal.net says...[color=blue]
> Jerry M. Gartner wrote:[color=green]
> >
> > What is the best way to resolve paths within a document regardless of what
> > path it is opened under? For example: I have x.php and it contains <img
> > src="images..." >, (amongst other things, like php code), which resolves the
> > correct image path when opened under / but when x.php is read into a file
> > under /dir the image no longer resolves, for obvious reasons. With absolute
> > paths, this isn't an issue but it is with relative paths. Although I can
> > think of a kludge, or two, I figure that there is a more elegant solution.
> > Thanks in advance.
> >[/color]
>
> First of all, this isn't a PHP question - <img statements are html, whether
> they're included in PHP or not. Now - if you were talking about include(),
> require_once(), etc., you 'd be talking php.
>
> The easiest way I've found is to just use absolute URL's for the images - i.e.
>
> <img src="/images...">
>
> Works everyplace on the site and you don't need to include extra files.[/color]

And in some circumstances (particularly with images) will result in more
efficient client-side caching.

GM

[Geoff Berrow]

Re: relative path / absolute path

Message-ID: <rrWdnYXXsKRASQ jZnZ2dnUVZ_t2dn Z2d@comcast.com > from Jerry
Stuckle contained the following:
[color=blue]
>The easiest way I've found is to just use absolute URL's for the images - i.e.
>
> <img src="/images...">
>
>Works everyplace on the site and you don't need to include extra files.[/color]

I've always found a problem with that when working offline. How do you
get around that?

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

[Jerry Stuckle]

Re: relative path / absolute path

Geoff Berrow wrote:[color=blue]
> Message-ID: <rrWdnYXXsKRASQ jZnZ2dnUVZ_t2dn Z2d@comcast.com > from Jerry
> Stuckle contained the following:
>
>[color=green]
>>The easiest way I've found is to just use absolute URL's for the images - i.e.
>>
>> <img src="/images...">
>>
>>Works everyplace on the site and you don't need to include extra files.[/color]
>
>
> I've always found a problem with that when working offline. How do you
> get around that?
>[/color]

Don't know what problem you would have, unless you're trying to load the file
directly instead of through a webserver.

I always use a webserver for testing, though. Even have one going on my main
development system.

--
=============== ===
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attgl obal.net
=============== ===

[Bent Stigsen]

Re: relative path / absolute path

Geoff Berrow wrote:
[color=blue]
> Message-ID: <rrWdnYXXsKRASQ jZnZ2dnUVZ_t2dn Z2d@comcast.com > from Jerry
> Stuckle contained the following:
>[color=green]
>>The easiest way I've found is to just use absolute URL's for the images -
>>i.e.
>>
>> <img src="/images...">
>>
>>Works everyplace on the site and you don't need to include extra files.[/color]
>
> I've always found a problem with that when working offline. How do you
> get around that?[/color]

Aah, easily "fixed": DocumentRoot "/"

:)

--
/Bent

[Chung Leong]

Re: relative path / absolute path

Jan Thomä wrote:[color=blue]
> Well to be on the safe side use absolute paths, this will definitely work.
> To keep your scripts maintainable, make a configuration file where you will
> put the paths in. E.g
>
> config.php
>
> $IMG_BASE_URL=" http://www.my-domain.com/images/";[/color]

If you have ever had to use a reverse-proxy on a web application, you'd
realize what an evil absolute paths are.

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

Re: relative path / absolute path

Geoff Berrow wrote:[color=blue]
> Message-ID: <rrWdnYXXsKRASQ jZnZ2dnUVZ_t2dn Z2d@comcast.com > from Jerry
> Stuckle contained the following:
>[color=green]
> >The easiest way I've found is to just use absolute URL's for the images - i.e.
> >
> > <img src="/images...">
> >
> >Works everyplace on the site and you don't need to include extra files.[/color]
>
> I've always found a problem with that when working offline. How do you
> get around that?[/color]

Glad to see professor after long time; hope economy is fine
there. I don't understand what sort of problem are you facing. But, in
HTML instead of using <img src="/images/..." />, if you use <img
src="images/..." /> you'll be better off.

--
<?php echo 'Just another PHP saint'; ?>
Email: rrjanbiah-at-Y!com Blog: http://rajeshanbiah.blogspot.com/

[Andy Jeffries]

Re: relative path / absolute path

On Sun, 18 Jun 2006 20:18:19 -0400, Jerry Stuckle wrote:[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>>The easiest way I've found is to just use absolute URL's for the images
>>>- i.e.
>>>
>>> <img src="/images...">
>>>
>>>Works everyplace on the site and you don't need to include extra files.[/color]
>>
>> I've always found a problem with that when working offline. How do you
>> get around that?
>>[/color]
> Don't know what problem you would have, unless you're trying to load the
> file directly instead of through a webserver.
>
> I always use a webserver for testing, though. Even have one going on my
> main development system.[/color]

Exactly, particularly as this is a PHP newsgroup - the next complaint will
be "when I work offline, my PHP doesn't execute, it just prints the
source code" :-)

Cheers,


Andy

--
Andy Jeffries MBCS CITP ZCE | gPHPEdit Lead Developer
http://www.gphpedit.org | PHP editor for Gnome 2
http://www.andyjeffries.co.uk | Personal site and photos

[Jerry Stuckle]

Re: relative path / absolute path

R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah wrote:[color=blue]
> Geoff Berrow wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Message-ID: <rrWdnYXXsKRASQ jZnZ2dnUVZ_t2dn Z2d@comcast.com > from Jerry
>>Stuckle contained the following:
>>
>>[color=darkred]
>>>The easiest way I've found is to just use absolute URL's for the images - i.e.
>>>
>>> <img src="/images...">
>>>
>>>Works everyplace on the site and you don't need to include extra files.[/color]
>>
>>I've always found a problem with that when working offline. How do you
>>get around that?[/color]
>
>
> Glad to see professor after long time; hope economy is fine
> there. I don't understand what sort of problem are you facing. But, in
> HTML instead of using <img src="/images/..." />, if you use <img
> src="images/..." /> you'll be better off.
>
> --
> <?php echo 'Just another PHP saint'; ?>
> Email: rrjanbiah-at-Y!com Blog: http://rajeshanbiah.blogspot.com/
>[/color]

Doesn't validate in HTML 4.01 (strict or transitional).

--
=============== ===
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attgl obal.net
=============== ===

[Jerry M. Gartner]

Re: relative path / absolute path

I understand that this is a php group. Thus the post. The question is
relevant to php as I am writing a rather ugly php application - the post
from Jan was just what I was looking for. I appreciate everyone's input.

--

Regards,

Jerry M. Gartner

"Jerry Stuckle" <jstucklex@attg lobal.net> wrote in message
news:rrWdnYXXsK RASQjZnZ2dnUVZ_ t2dnZ2d@comcast .com...[color=blue]
> Jerry M. Gartner wrote:[color=green]
>> Greetings:
>>
>> What is the best way to resolve paths within a document regardless of
>> what path it is opened under? For example: I have x.php and it contains
>> <img src="images..." >, (amongst other things, like php code), which
>> resolves the correct image path when opened under / but when x.php is
>> read into a file under /dir the image no longer resolves, for obvious
>> reasons. With absolute paths, this isn't an issue but it is with
>> relative paths. Although I can think of a kludge, or two, I figure that
>> there is a more elegant solution. Thanks in advance.
>>[/color]
>
> First of all, this isn't a PHP question - <img statements are html,
> whether they're included in PHP or not. Now - if you were talking about
> include(), require_once(), etc., you 'd be talking php.
>
> The easiest way I've found is to just use absolute URL's for the images -
> i.e.
>
> <img src="/images...">
>
> Works everyplace on the site and you don't need to include extra files.
>
>
> --
> =============== ===
> Remove the "x" from my email address
> Jerry Stuckle
> JDS Computer Training Corp.
> jstucklex@attgl obal.net
> =============== ===[/color]