Creating Dynamic URLs

[jflash]

Hello all,

I feel dumb having to ask this question in the first place, but I just
can not figure it out. I am wanting to set my site up using dynamic
urls (I'm assuming that's what they're called, an example of what I
have in mind is index.php?page=[pagename]). However, I can not figure
out how to do this. I will eventually want to use SEF urls, but for now
I'll be content just to have the dynamic urls. If anyone can tell me
how to do this, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

[Ron Barnett]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

"jflash" <ki4hrg@gmail.c omwrote in message
news:1160227193 .004443.197310@ c28g2000cwb.goo glegroups.com.. .

Hello all,
>
I feel dumb having to ask this question in the first place, but I just
can not figure it out. I am wanting to set my site up using dynamic
urls (I'm assuming that's what they're called, an example of what I
have in mind is index.php?page=[pagename]). However, I can not figure
out how to do this. I will eventually want to use SEF urls, but for now
I'll be content just to have the dynamic urls. If anyone can tell me
how to do this, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

$page = $_REQUEST['page'];
if ($page == 'pageone') include './lib/pageone.php';

the url ( index.php?page=[pagename] )does not need the square brackets
note that the parameter names - in this case 'page' is case sensitive


HTH

Ron

[usenet+2004@john.dunlop.name]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

jflash:

I am wanting to set my site up using dynamic urls

Why?

At least you are thinking about URL design before publishing your
pages: that puts you ahead of the masses. Retrospective URL design
is, in a word, iffy.

(I'm assuming that's what they're called, an example of what
I have in mind is index.php?page=[pagename]).

'Dynamic URL' is a misleading though common term for URLs with query
parts. Misleading because there is nothing dynamic about URLs. That
example, we can say, is a relative reference consisting of a path and a
query part (square brackets aren't allowed in query parts). Nothing
more. What the server does with that URL is up to you, but the URL,
the string of characters, is not dynamic.

Couple of points on your example:

1. "Indexes" rarely are indexes. Are you sure there isn't a better
name? No name, even?

2. URL suffixes, unless you see the URL as pointing to a particular
representation of the resource, serve no purpose. It is generally of
no consequence to users whether you use PHP or some other language to
create your pages.

However, I can not figure out how to do this.

I think another poster has suggested one way.

I will eventually want to use SEF urls,

I can guess what you mean by that, but again I think the term is
misleading.

--
Jock

[jflash]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

Ron: I assume that I simply add that code to my 'initial' page
(index.php in the example I started with). However, I am curious how I
define a default page to load (i.e. in my index.php example, how would
I specify what page to include/what content to display in the event
that no parameters are entered)? Also, do I have to manually add each
page for the parameter to include in the file, or is there some way
that I can use a database for the list of parameters and their
corresponding pages?

Jock:

1. I had originally thought I could use dynamic URLs to pull content
from a database and display it on a page based on the parameters
defined in the URL. In any case, I hope that using the dynamic URLs
will make it easier for my users, particularly once I get search-engine
friendly URLs set up.

2. Actually, I already have a version of my site up, I mainly am doing
this because I am dooing a major overhaul for various other reasons,
and since I have been wanting to implement this for a while now, it
seems like a good time to do it.

3.1. I don't get what you're saying. I wasn't planning on using
index.php as the base file name, I just used it for an example.
Actually, now that you say it, I'm thinking I might use the 'index.php'
part of the URL to serve as a category, then define the specific page
later. I don't know, I'll decide that later.
3.2. I'm just using PHP because I know for a fact my server supports
it, and I see no reason to try anythign else and risk a lack of support
on the server end of things.

Thanks for the help!

On Oct 7, 11:11 am, usenet+2...@joh n.dunlop.name wrote:

jflash:
>

I am wanting to set my site up using dynamic urlsWhy?

>
At least you are thinking about URL design before publishing your
pages: that puts you ahead of the masses. Retrospective URL design
is, in a word, iffy.
>

(I'm assuming that's what they're called, an example of what
I have in mind is index.php?page=[pagename]).'Dynamic URL' is a misleading though common term for URLs with query

parts. Misleading because there is nothing dynamic about URLs. That
example, we can say, is a relative reference consisting of a path and a
query part (square brackets aren't allowed in query parts). Nothing
more. What the server does with that URL is up to you, but the URL,
the string of characters, is not dynamic.
>
Couple of points on your example:
>
1. "Indexes" rarely are indexes. Are you sure there isn't a better
name? No name, even?
>
2. URL suffixes, unless you see the URL as pointing to a particular
representation of the resource, serve no purpose. It is generally of
no consequence to users whether you use PHP or some other language to
create your pages.
>

However, I can not figure out how to do this.I think another poster has suggested one way.

>

I will eventually want to use SEF urls,I can guess what you mean by that, but again I think the term is

misleading.
>
--
Jock

[jflash]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

I forgot to mention one thing: how can I use this setup to call
information from a database. For example, I've seen this done where the
search query from a search on a site is entered into the URL and is
then searched for in the database. HOw, then, is this done if all of
the 'redirects' (for lack of a better word) have to be predefined?

On Oct 7, 5:10 pm, "jflash" <ki4...@gmail.c omwrote:

Ron: I assume that I simply add that code to my 'initial' page
(index.php in the example I started with). However, I am curious how I
define a default page to load (i.e. in my index.php example, how would
I specify what page to include/what content to display in the event
that no parameters are entered)? Also, do I have to manually add each
page for the parameter to include in the file, or is there some way
that I can use a database for the list of parameters and their
corresponding pages?
>
Jock:
>
1. I had originally thought I could use dynamic URLs to pull content
from a database and display it on a page based on the parameters
defined in the URL. In any case, I hope that using the dynamic URLs
will make it easier for my users, particularly once I get search-engine
friendly URLs set up.
>
2. Actually, I already have a version of my site up, I mainly am doing
this because I am dooing a major overhaul for various other reasons,
and since I have been wanting to implement this for a while now, it
seems like a good time to do it.
>
3.1. I don't get what you're saying. I wasn't planning on using
index.php as the base file name, I just used it for an example.
Actually, now that you say it, I'm thinking I might use the 'index.php'
part of the URL to serve as a category, then define the specific page
later. I don't know, I'll decide that later.
3.2. I'm just using PHP because I know for a fact my server supports
it, and I see no reason to try anythign else and risk a lack of support
on the server end of things.
>
Thanks for the help!
>
On Oct 7, 11:11 am, usenet+2...@joh n.dunlop.name wrote:
>

jflash:

>

I am wanting to set my site up using dynamic urlsWhy?

>

At least you are thinking about URL design before publishing your
pages: that puts you ahead of the masses. Retrospective URL design
is, in a word, iffy.

>

(I'm assuming that's what they're called, an example of what
I have in mind is index.php?page=[pagename]).'Dynamic URL' is a misleading though common term for URLs with query

parts. Misleading because there is nothing dynamic about URLs. That
example, we can say, is a relative reference consisting of a path and a
query part (square brackets aren't allowed in query parts). Nothing
more. What the server does with that URL is up to you, but the URL,
the string of characters, is not dynamic.

>

Couple of points on your example:

>

1. "Indexes" rarely are indexes. Are you sure there isn't a better
name? No name, even?

>

2. URL suffixes, unless you see the URL as pointing to a particular
representation of the resource, serve no purpose. It is generally of
no consequence to users whether you use PHP or some other language to
create your pages.

>

However, I can not figure out how to do this.I think another poster has suggested one way.

>

I will eventually want to use SEF urls,I can guess what you mean by that, but again I think the term is

misleading.

>

--
Jock

[Colin Fine]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

jflash wrote:

>>
>On Oct 7, 11:11 am, usenet+2...@joh n.dunlop.name wrote:
>>

>>jflash:
>>>I am wanting to set my site up using dynamic urlsWhy?
>>At least you are thinking about URL design before publishing your
>>pages: that puts you ahead of the masses. Retrospective URL design
>>is, in a word, iffy.
>>>(I'm assuming that's what they're called, an example of what
>>>I have in mind is index.php?page=[pagename]).'Dynamic URL' is a misleading though common term for URLs with query
>>parts. Misleading because there is nothing dynamic about URLs. That
>>example, we can say, is a relative reference consisting of a path and a
>>query part (square brackets aren't allowed in query parts). Nothing
>>more. What the server does with that URL is up to you, but the URL,
>>the string of characters, is not dynamic.
>>Couple of points on your example:
>>1. "Indexes" rarely are indexes. Are you sure there isn't a better
>>name? No name, even?
>>2. URL suffixes, unless you see the URL as pointing to a particular
>>representatio n of the resource, serve no purpose. It is generally of
>>no consequence to users whether you use PHP or some other language to
>>create your pages.
>>>However, I can not figure out how to do this.I think another poster has suggested one way.
>>>I will eventually want to use SEF urls,I can guess what you mean by that, but again I think the term is
>>misleading.
>>--
>>Jock

>

I forgot to mention one thing: how can I use this setup to call
information from a database. For example, I've seen this done where the
search query from a search on a site is entered into the URL and is
then searched for in the database. HOw, then, is this done if all of
the 'redirects' (for lack of a better word) have to be predefined?
>
On Oct 7, 5:10 pm, "jflash" <ki4...@gmail.c omwrote:

>Ron: I assume that I simply add that code to my 'initial' page
>(index.php in the example I started with). However, I am curious how I
>define a default page to load (i.e. in my index.php example, how would
>I specify what page to include/what content to display in the event
>that no parameters are entered)? Also, do I have to manually add each
>page for the parameter to include in the file, or is there some way
>that I can use a database for the list of parameters and their
>correspondin g pages?
>>
>Jock:
>>
>1. I had originally thought I could use dynamic URLs to pull content
>from a database and display it on a page based on the parameters
>defined in the URL. In any case, I hope that using the dynamic URLs
>will make it easier for my users, particularly once I get search-engine
>friendly URLs set up.
>>
>2. Actually, I already have a version of my site up, I mainly am doing
>this because I am dooing a major overhaul for various other reasons,
>and since I have been wanting to implement this for a while now, it
>seems like a good time to do it.
>>
>3.1. I don't get what you're saying. I wasn't planning on using
>index.php as the base file name, I just used it for an example.
>Actually, now that you say it, I'm thinking I might use the 'index.php'
>part of the URL to serve as a category, then define the specific page
>later. I don't know, I'll decide that later.
>3.2. I'm just using PHP because I know for a fact my server supports
>it, and I see no reason to try anythign else and risk a lack of support
>on the server end of things.
>>
>Thanks for the help!

[Top posting fixed]

I don't fully understand what you are asking, but it seems to me that
you have an imperfect understanding of how CGI works.

A CGI script (such as a PHP program on a website) is a program that
generates as output the HTML that the web server will send to the browser.

Usually, the script takes arguments from the URL (usually the part after
the '?') to decide what to display, and very often it will obtain some
of the data on the page from a database.

Often, the script is capable of producing utterly different pages
depending on the input: for example, many CGI scripts display
information relating to a particular key in the database (a particular
site, person, company, date or whatever) and if called without the key
will display a different page that asks the user to specify the key.
Then the 'Submit' from that will go to the *same* script, but this time
with the data it needs.

If the URL has no CGI arguments, the program must cope with that case
and do something appropriate, for example request the information
intneeds as in the previous paragraph.

If you want not just to generate distinct pages, but to go to different
existing pages, you can do it by generating a HTTP header that redirects
to the appropriate page.

Does this help, or have I misunderstood your issue?

Colin

[Ron Barnett]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

"Colin Fine" <news@kindness. demon.co.ukwrot e in message
news:egalj3$lfp $1$8302bc10@new s.demon.co.uk.. .

jflash wrote:

>>>
>>On Oct 7, 11:11 am, usenet+2...@joh n.dunlop.name wrote:
>>>
>>>jflash:
>>>>I am wanting to set my site up using dynamic urlsWhy?
>>>At least you are thinking about URL design before publishing your
>>>pages: that puts you ahead of the masses. Retrospective URL design
>>>is, in a word, iffy.
>>>>(I'm assuming that's what they're called, an example of what
>>>>I have in mind is index.php?page=[pagename]).'Dynamic URL' is a
>>>>misleadin g though common term for URLs with query
>>>parts. Misleading because there is nothing dynamic about URLs. That
>>>example, we can say, is a relative reference consisting of a path and a
>>>query part (square brackets aren't allowed in query parts). Nothing
>>>more. What the server does with that URL is up to you, but the URL,
>>>the string of characters, is not dynamic.
>>>Couple of points on your example:
>>>1. "Indexes" rarely are indexes. Are you sure there isn't a better
>>>name? No name, even?
>>>2. URL suffixes, unless you see the URL as pointing to a particular
>>>representati on of the resource, serve no purpose. It is generally of
>>>no consequence to users whether you use PHP or some other language to
>>>create your pages.
>>>>However, I can not figure out how to do this.I think another poster
>>>>has suggested one way.
>>>>I will eventually want to use SEF urls,I can guess what you mean by
>>>>that, but again I think the term is
>>>misleading .
>>>--
>>>Jock

>>

>

I forgot to mention one thing: how can I use this setup to call
information from a database. For example, I've seen this done where the
search query from a search on a site is entered into the URL and is
then searched for in the database. HOw, then, is this done if all of
the 'redirects' (for lack of a better word) have to be predefined?

On Oct 7, 5:10 pm, "jflash" <ki4...@gmail.c omwrote:

Ron: I assume that I simply add that code to my 'initial' page
(index.php in the example I started with). However, I am curious how I
define a default page to load (i.e. in my index.php example, how would
I specify what page to include/what content to display in the event
that no parameters are entered)? Also, do I have to manually add each
page for the parameter to include in the file, or is there some way
that I can use a database for the list of parameters and their
corresponding pages?
>
Jock:
>
1. I had originally thought I could use dynamic URLs to pull content
from a database and display it on a page based on the parameters
defined in the URL. In any case, I hope that using the dynamic URLs
will make it easier for my users, particularly once I get search-engine
friendly URLs set up.
>
2. Actually, I already have a version of my site up, I mainly am doing
this because I am dooing a major overhaul for various other reasons,
and since I have been wanting to implement this for a while now, it
seems like a good time to do it.
>
3.1. I don't get what you're saying. I wasn't planning on using
index.php as the base file name, I just used it for an example.
Actually, now that you say it, I'm thinking I might use the 'index.php'
part of the URL to serve as a category, then define the specific page
later. I don't know, I'll decide that later.
3.2. I'm just using PHP because I know for a fact my server supports
it, and I see no reason to try anythign else and risk a lack of support
on the server end of things.
>
Thanks for the help!

>
[Top posting fixed]
>
I don't fully understand what you are asking, but it seems to me that you
have an imperfect understanding of how CGI works.
>
A CGI script (such as a PHP program on a website) is a program that
generates as output the HTML that the web server will send to the browser.
>
Usually, the script takes arguments from the URL (usually the part after
the '?') to decide what to display, and very often it will obtain some of
the data on the page from a database.
>
Often, the script is capable of producing utterly different pages
depending on the input: for example, many CGI scripts display information
relating to a particular key in the database (a particular site, person,
company, date or whatever) and if called without the key will display a
different page that asks the user to specify the key. Then the 'Submit'
from that will go to the *same* script, but this time with the data it
needs.
>
If the URL has no CGI arguments, the program must cope with that case and
do something appropriate, for example request the information intneeds as
in the previous paragraph.
>
If you want not just to generate distinct pages, but to go to different
existing pages, you can do it by generating a HTTP header that redirects
to the appropriate page.
>
Does this help, or have I misunderstood your issue?
>
Colin

Hi Jock,

The explanation Colin has given is absolutely correct but I suspect you are
still floundering ?

referring back the code example I gave

$page = $_REQUEST['page'];
if ($page == 'pageone') include './lib/pageone.php';

This needs to be inserted as you guessed in index.php
calling index.php with a parameter 'page' i.e. //index.php?page= something
will cause the $_REQUEST array to contain an element 'page' with a value
'something'
having extracted the key / value pair from the array it as in the example
you can do whatever you like with the 'something' - you can simply haul in
another static page, or call a routine that uses 'something' as the key to
extract data from a database.
the absence of a parameter is simply the default call for the page
index.php, so I would assume that it was a screen with some data entry that
would then be used in a subsequent call. - All this is simple HTML / HTTP
and not really PHP at all.

Cheers

Ron

[jflash]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

OK, I am now fairly thoroughly confused. What I am asking is for a way
to have a page which can display information from a database filtered
and/or sorted based on arguments supplied by the user in the URL. I
wish I could explain it better, but that's the best way I know how.
Anything else that I need to know, I suppose I can figure out later.
Right now, I'm just trying to get the sorting/filtering down.

On Oct 8, 11:19 am, "Ron Barnett" <ron.REM...@RJB arnett.co.uk.RE MOVE>
wrote:

"Colin Fine" <n...@kindness. demon.co.ukwrot e in messagenews:ega lj3$lfp$1$8302b c10@news.demon. co.uk...
>

jflash wrote:

>

>On Oct 7, 11:11 am, usenet+2...@joh n.dunlop.name wrote:

>

>>jflash:
>>>I am wanting to set my site up using dynamic urlsWhy?
>>At least you are thinking about URL design before publishing your
>>pages: that puts you ahead of the masses. Retrospective URL design
>>is, in a word, iffy.
>>>(I'm assuming that's what they're called, an example of what
>>>I have in mind is index.php?page=[pagename]).'Dynamic URL' is a
>>>misleading though common term for URLs with query
>>parts. Misleading because there is nothing dynamic about URLs. That
>>example, we can say, is a relative reference consisting of a path and a
>>query part (square brackets aren't allowed in query parts). Nothing
>>more. What the server does with that URL is up to you, but the URL,
>>the string of characters, is not dynamic.
>>Couple of points on your example:
>>1. "Indexes" rarely are indexes. Are you sure there isn't a better
>>name? No name, even?
>>2. URL suffixes, unless you see the URL as pointing to a particular
>>representatio n of the resource, serve no purpose. It is generally of
>>no consequence to users whether you use PHP or some other language to
>>create your pages.
>>>However, I can not figure out how to do this.I think another poster
>>>has suggested one way.
>>>I will eventually want to use SEF urls,I can guess what you mean by
>>>that, but again I think the term is
>>misleading.
>>--
>>Jock

>

I forgot to mention one thing: how can I use this setup to call
information from a database. For example, I've seen this done where the
search query from a search on a site is entered into the URL and is
then searched for in the database. HOw, then, is this done if all of
the 'redirects' (for lack of a better word) have to be predefined?

>

On Oct 7, 5:10 pm, "jflash" <ki4...@gmail.c omwrote:
>Ron: I assume that I simply add that code to my 'initial' page
>(index.php in the example I started with). However, I am curious how I
>define a default page to load (i.e. in my index.php example, how would
>I specify what page to include/what content to display in the event
>that no parameters are entered)? Also, do I have to manually add each
>page for the parameter to include in the file, or is there some way
>that I can use a database for the list of parameters and their
>correspondin g pages?

>

>Jock:

>

>1. I had originally thought I could use dynamic URLs to pull content
>from a database and display it on a page based on the parameters
>defined in the URL. In any case, I hope that using the dynamic URLs
>will make it easier for my users, particularly once I get search-engine
>friendly URLs set up.

>

>2. Actually, I already have a version of my site up, I mainly am doing
>this because I am dooing a major overhaul for various other reasons,
>and since I have been wanting to implement this for a while now, it
>seems like a good time to do it.

>

>3.1. I don't get what you're saying. I wasn't planning on using
>index.php as the base file name, I just used it for an example.
>Actually, now that you say it, I'm thinking I might use the 'index.php'
>part of the URL to serve as a category, then define the specific page
>later. I don't know, I'll decide that later.
>3.2. I'm just using PHP because I know for a fact my server supports
>it, and I see no reason to try anythign else and risk a lack of support
>on the server end of things.

>

>Thanks for the help!

>

[Top posting fixed]

>

I don't fully understand what you are asking, but it seems to me that you
have an imperfect understanding of how CGI works.

>

A CGI script (such as a PHP program on a website) is a program that
generates as output the HTML that the web server will send to the browser.

>

Usually, the script takes arguments from the URL (usually the part after
the '?') to decide what to display, and very often it will obtain some of
the data on the page from a database.

>

Often, the script is capable of producing utterly different pages
depending on the input: for example, many CGI scripts display information
relating to a particular key in the database (a particular site, person,
company, date or whatever) and if called without the key will display a
different page that asks the user to specify the key. Then the 'Submit'
from that will go to the *same* script, but this time with the data it
needs.

>

If the URL has no CGI arguments, the program must cope with that case and
do something appropriate, for example request the information intneeds as
in the previous paragraph.

>

If you want not just to generate distinct pages, but to go to different
existing pages, you can do it by generating a HTTP header that redirects
to the appropriate page.

>

Does this help, or have I misunderstood your issue?

>

ColinHi Jock,

>
The explanation Colin has given is absolutely correct but I suspect you are
still floundering ?
>
referring back the code example I gave
>
$page = $_REQUEST['page'];
if ($page == 'pageone') include './lib/pageone.php';
>
This needs to be inserted as you guessed in index.php
calling index.php with a parameter 'page' i.e. //index.php?page= something
will cause the $_REQUEST array to contain an element 'page' with a value
'something'
having extracted the key / value pair from the array it as in the example
you can do whatever you like with the 'something' - you can simply haul in
another static page, or call a routine that uses 'something' as the key to
extract data from a database.
the absence of a parameter is simply the default call for the page
index.php, so I would assume that it was a screen with some data entry that
would then be used in a subsequent call. - All this is simple HTML / HTTP
and not really PHP at all.
>
Cheers
>
Ron

[Pedro Graca]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

jflash top-posted:

OK, I am now fairly thoroughly confused. What I am asking is for a way
to have a page which can display information from a database filtered
and/or sorted based on arguments supplied by the user in the URL. I
wish I could explain it better, but that's the best way I know how.
Anything else that I need to know, I suppose I can figure out later.
Right now, I'm just trying to get the sorting/filtering down.

Can you make a page that displays "Hello, <USER>!" when <USERcomes
from the query string?

Suppose I go to http://www.yourserver.com/hello.php?user=Pedro
The "hello.php" script would be something like

<?php
if ((isset($_GET['user'])) && ($_GET['user'] != '')) {
echo "Hello, {$_GET['user']}!";
} else {
echo "Hello, anonymous!";
}
?>

It's just about the same thing when you want to use data from the query
string for database selection/sort. You just need to get the data and
incorporate it in the SQL commands (*after validating the data*).

--
File not found: (R)esume, (R)etry, (R)erun, (R)eturn, (R)eboot

[Colin Fine]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

jflash wrote:

OK, I am now fairly thoroughly confused. What I am asking is for a way
to have a page which can display information from a database filtered
and/or sorted based on arguments supplied by the user in the URL. I
wish I could explain it better, but that's the best way I know how.
Anything else that I need to know, I suppose I can figure out later.
Right now, I'm just trying to get the sorting/filtering down.
>
On Oct 8, 11:19 am, "Ron Barnett" <ron.REM...@RJB arnett.co.uk.RE MOVE>
wrote:

>"Colin Fine" <n...@kindness. demon.co.ukwrot e in messagenews:ega lj3$lfp$1$8302b c10@news.demon. co.uk...
>>

>>jflash wrote:
>>>>On Oct 7, 11:11 am, usenet+2...@joh n.dunlop.name wrote:
>>>>>jflash:
>>>>>>I am wanting to set my site up using dynamic urlsWhy?
>>>>>At least you are thinking about URL design before publishing your
>>>>>pages: that puts you ahead of the masses. Retrospective URL design
>>>>>is, in a word, iffy.
>>>>>>(I'm assuming that's what they're called, an example of what
>>>>>>I have in mind is index.php?page=[pagename]).'Dynamic URL' is a
>>>>>>misleadin g though common term for URLs with query
>>>>>parts. Misleading because there is nothing dynamic about URLs. That
>>>>>example, we can say, is a relative reference consisting of a path and a
>>>>>query part (square brackets aren't allowed in query parts). Nothing
>>>>>more. What the server does with that URL is up to you, but the URL,
>>>>>the string of characters, is not dynamic.
>>>>>Couple of points on your example:
>>>>>1. "Indexes" rarely are indexes. Are you sure there isn't a better
>>>>>name? No name, even?
>>>>>2. URL suffixes, unless you see the URL as pointing to a particular
>>>>>representa tion of the resource, serve no purpose. It is generally of
>>>>>no consequence to users whether you use PHP or some other language to
>>>>>create your pages.
>>>>>>However , I can not figure out how to do this.I think another poster
>>>>>>has suggested one way.
>>>>>>I will eventually want to use SEF urls,I can guess what you mean by
>>>>>>that, but again I think the term is
>>>>>misleading .
>>>>>--
>>>>>Jock
>>>I forgot to mention one thing: how can I use this setup to call
>>>informatio n from a database. For example, I've seen this done where the
>>>search query from a search on a site is entered into the URL and is
>>>then searched for in the database. HOw, then, is this done if all of
>>>the 'redirects' (for lack of a better word) have to be predefined?
>>>On Oct 7, 5:10 pm, "jflash" <ki4...@gmail.c omwrote:
>>>>Ron: I assume that I simply add that code to my 'initial' page
>>>>(index.ph p in the example I started with). However, I am curious how I
>>>>define a default page to load (i.e. in my index.php example, how would
>>>>I specify what page to include/what content to display in the event
>>>>that no parameters are entered)? Also, do I have to manually add each
>>>>page for the parameter to include in the file, or is there some way
>>>>that I can use a database for the list of parameters and their
>>>>correspondi ng pages?
>>>>Jock:
>>>>1. I had originally thought I could use dynamic URLs to pull content
>>>>from a database and display it on a page based on the parameters
>>>>defined in the URL. In any case, I hope that using the dynamic URLs
>>>>will make it easier for my users, particularly once I get search-engine
>>>>friendly URLs set up.
>>>>2. Actually, I already have a version of my site up, I mainly am doing
>>>>this because I am dooing a major overhaul for various other reasons,
>>>>and since I have been wanting to implement this for a while now, it
>>>>seems like a good time to do it.
>>>>3.1. I don't get what you're saying. I wasn't planning on using
>>>>index.php as the base file name, I just used it for an example.
>>>>Actually, now that you say it, I'm thinking I might use the 'index.php'
>>>>part of the URL to serve as a category, then define the specific page
>>>>later. I don't know, I'll decide that later.
>>>>3.2. I'm just using PHP because I know for a fact my server supports
>>>>it, and I see no reason to try anythign else and risk a lack of support
>>>>on the server end of things.
>>>>Thanks for the help!
>>[Top posting fixed]
>>I don't fully understand what you are asking, but it seems to me that you
>>have an imperfect understanding of how CGI works.
>>A CGI script (such as a PHP program on a website) is a program that
>>generates as output the HTML that the web server will send to the browser.
>>Usually, the script takes arguments from the URL (usually the part after
>>the '?') to decide what to display, and very often it will obtain some of
>>the data on the page from a database.
>>Often, the script is capable of producing utterly different pages
>>depending on the input: for example, many CGI scripts display information
>>relating to a particular key in the database (a particular site, person,
>>company, date or whatever) and if called without the key will display a
>>different page that asks the user to specify the key. Then the 'Submit'
>>from that will go to the *same* script, but this time with the data it
>>needs.
>>If the URL has no CGI arguments, the program must cope with that case and
>>do something appropriate, for example request the information intneeds as
>>in the previous paragraph.
>>If you want not just to generate distinct pages, but to go to different
>>existing pages, you can do it by generating a HTTP header that redirects
>>to the appropriate page.
>>Does this help, or have I misunderstood your issue?
>>ColinHi Jock,

>The explanation Colin has given is absolutely correct but I suspect you are
>still floundering ?
>>
>referring back the code example I gave
>>
>$page = $_REQUEST['page'];
>if ($page == 'pageone') include './lib/pageone.php';
>>
>This needs to be inserted as you guessed in index.php
>calling index.php with a parameter 'page' i.e. //index.php?page= something
>will cause the $_REQUEST array to contain an element 'page' with a value
>'something'
>having extracted the key / value pair from the array it as in the example
>you can do whatever you like with the 'something' - you can simply haul in
>another static page, or call a routine that uses 'something' as the key to
>extract data from a database.
>the absence of a parameter is simply the default call for the page
>index.php, so I would assume that it was a screen with some data entry that
>would then be used in a subsequent call. - All this is simple HTML / HTTP
>and not really PHP at all.
>>
>Cheers
>>
>Ron

>

To do the sorting and filtering, you need to generate SQL queries based
on the arguments, and pass them to your database system.

Look at the examples in http://www.php.net/manual/en/ref.mysql.php.

Your query will be this sort of thing:

$query = "SELECT field1, field2, field3 FROM table WHERE ".
"match1 = '{$_GET['data1']}' AND ".
"match2 = '{$_GET['data2']}'";

from
index.php?data1 =xxx&data2=yyy

Colin

[Todd]

Re: Creating Dynamic URLs

In your example you could set up the index.php file as below:

<?php
//index php
//this is the shell for your page.
echo "<!DOCTYPE html";
echo "PUBLIC \"-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN\"";
echo "\"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd\">";
echo "<html xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml\" xml:lang=\"en\"
lang=\"en\">";
echo "<head>";
echo " <meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html;
charset=utf-8\" />";
echo " <title>Dummy Title</title>";
echo "</head>";
echo "<body>";

if (isset($_GET['con'])) {
$con = $_GET['con'] . ".inc";
} else {
$con = "nocontent.inc" ;
}
require $con;

echo "</body>";
echo "</html>";
?>

Then another file named hello.inc.
<?php
//hello.inc
if (isset($_GET['user'])) {
$user = $_GET['user'];
echo "<p>Hello there $user</p>";
} else {
echo "<p>Hello there mysterious stranger</p>";
}
?>

You would then call this page:

http://yourserver.yourdomain/index.php?cont=hello&user=Phil

Of course you would have to have a file nocontent.inc that would handle
requests that do not have the cont set.

You could then do things like create a form page ... say getuserqry called
by: http://yourserver.yourdomain/index.php?cont=getuserqry
then when this form posts the action is:

http://yourserver.yourdomain/index.php?cont=showuser

showuser.inc would use the post variables and perform some action (say query
a database) and present the data to the user.

I hope this all makes sense to you and is in line with what you are asking.

"Pedro Graca" <hexkid@dodgeit .comwrote in message
news:slrneiimni .dls.hexkid@ID-203069.user.ind ividual.net...

jflash top-posted:

>OK, I am now fairly thoroughly confused. What I am asking is for a way
>to have a page which can display information from a database filtered
>and/or sorted based on arguments supplied by the user in the URL. I
>wish I could explain it better, but that's the best way I know how.
>Anything else that I need to know, I suppose I can figure out later.
>Right now, I'm just trying to get the sorting/filtering down.

>
Can you make a page that displays "Hello, <USER>!" when <USERcomes
from the query string?
>
Suppose I go to http://www.yourserver.com/hello.php?user=Pedro
The "hello.php" script would be something like
>
<?php
if ((isset($_GET['user'])) && ($_GET['user'] != '')) {
echo "Hello, {$_GET['user']}!";
} else {
echo "Hello, anonymous!";
}
?>
>
It's just about the same thing when you want to use data from the query
string for database selection/sort. You just need to get the data and
incorporate it in the SQL commands (*after validating the data*).
>
--
File not found: (R)esume, (R)etry, (R)erun, (R)eturn, (R)eboot