Run applications from links

[Miguel]

Hello

I'm using PHP to build a menu of links based on information stored on
database.
There is a table with two fields. One regards the name of the
application (Appname) and the other one the corresponding link (lnk).
My PHP code looks like:

<?php
…
while (odbc_fetch_row ($rs))
{
$app=odbc_resul t($rs,"Appname" );
$lnk=odbc_resul t($rs,"lnk");
echo "<li><a href='$lnk'>$ap p</a></li>";
}
…
?>

The problem is that $lnk can simply be either a web link or a
reference to an application (.exe), which is server side. In that
case, $lnk is something like:
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft
shared\AccessRu ntime\Office10\ MSACCESS.EXE" /Runtime
"\\PTmacc\wmrep orts\Macc\Macc. mde" /cmd server=PTmacc, database=macc4

When $lnk is a web link, the application works as I want, but if not,
the application isn't executed. The ‘path' is assumed as a web link
and the browser tries to open it.

Does any PHP function that allows opening applications from a normal
link. I know exec() function but I really don't know if it works as I
wish. Besides I think it's not possible to make something like:

<?php
…
echo "<li><a href='exec('$ln k')'>$app</a></li>";
…
?>

Does anybody who can help me please?

Thanks.
Regards,
Miguel

[Dank]

Re: Run applications from links

On 19 May 2004 03:09:43 -0700, Miguel <albanomiguel@i ol.pt> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hello
>
> I'm using PHP to build a menu of links based on information stored on
> database.
> There is a table with two fields. One regards the name of the
> application (Appname) and the other one the corresponding link (lnk).
> My PHP code looks like:
>
> <?php
> …
> while (odbc_fetch_row ($rs))
> {
> $app=odbc_resul t($rs,"Appname" );
> $lnk=odbc_resul t($rs,"lnk");
> echo "<li><a href='$lnk'>$ap p</a></li>";
> }
> …
> ?>
>
> The problem is that $lnk can simply be either a web link or a
> reference to an application (.exe), which is server side. In that
> case, $lnk is something like:
> "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft
> shared\AccessRu ntime\Office10\ MSACCESS.EXE" /Runtime
> "\\PTmacc\wmrep orts\Macc\Macc. mde" /cmd server=PTmacc, database=macc4
>
> When $lnk is a web link, the application works as I want, but if not,
> the application isn't executed. The ‘path' is assumed as a web link
> and the browser tries to open it.
> Does any PHP function that allows opening applications from a normal
> link. I know exec() function but I really don't know if it works as I
> wish. Besides I think it's not possible to make something like:
>
> <?php
> …
> echo "<li><a href='exec('$ln k')'>$app</a></li>";
> …
> ?>
>
> Does anybody who can help me please?
>
> Thanks.
> Regards,
> Miguel[/color]

Exec is what you need to use, if you want someone to click a link to
launch a server-side program, make the link pass a value e.g.

http://www.blah.com/blah.php?launch=1

then just pass it through some if statements to pick the program:

if($_GET["launch"] == 1 echo exec(ping www.google.com);

you can't use php functions from the client side, php is *server side* so
you need to get the logic working over on the server.

HTH.

--
If we can't play God, who will?