using a button to change table contents.

demtro · #1 02-Feb-2003, 14:30

In brief here is what I have. I use tables for my entire website. I hate frames to please do not reccomend them. my index page has a 3 row 1 column table in it. in the 2 outer cells I have the buttons. The inner cell will contain data. I would like to set it up so when I click on one of the buttons, it takes an include file and places it in the center cell. and removes the include file that is currently there. Basically so I have one HTML page that loads with the logo and all the buttons. and when you click on a button to view the content. it places that content in the center cell. Any help would be appreciated. the site is www.countrysmokehouse.net. so you can see the current layout. I really need to get this done so i hope somebody can help me. Thanks

i can be reached at [removed]

JdS · #2 02-Feb-2003, 17:36

Hi demtro,

I couldn't find the 3 rows / 1 column table on the page. Instead I found a 1 row and 3 column table.

Anyway, to do what you want to do, you should use some kind of server-side scripting e.g. ASP, perl or PHP (just to name a few).

Perhaps it might be possible to achieve the effect you want just using JavaScript but I don't think that will be very scalable for the long term.

Generally, posting your email address on message boards or forum posts is one sure way to get a lot of junk in your mailbox. So I will remove it before the spam bots that 'patrol the area', find it...

demtro · #3 02-Feb-2003, 17:51

I am sorry you are correct. I fat fingered the numbers. It is a 3 column 1 row table. I am thinking about using PHP to do it. but i need some guidence. I am just moving into using an actual language other then HTML to design a website, but i am not quite there yet. Any sample code you might offer or a website that might be able to lead me in the right direction would be most appreciative. Also I am willing to link to anybodys website from that site if they help me as a thank you for the help.

JdS · #4 02-Feb-2003, 17:56

Sure demtro, this is why this board is up - to help anybody.

One question you're going to want to ask yourself:

Database or Flatfile?

demtro · #5 02-Feb-2003, 17:59

For Now Flatfile. I really don't want to go the database route at this time. We are only at the current host for about 1 year and then moving to somebody else. So for the first year the site is up I want to keep it as easy as possible. In fact I have been working on the actual files I want to include in the center cell. So when i get the information I need I can just insert the code and we are close to done. Thanks You are all so kind.

demtro · #6 02-Feb-2003, 18:01

Also I am using Dreameweaver MX to design the site. I thought this might be important information.

JdS · #7 02-Feb-2003, 18:15

Okay then, let's say you have 1 file: index.php

PHP Code:


<?php

// index.php //

if( !isset($_GET['f']) ):
  // the user is at our homepage, so show him the default page
  $file2include = 'home';
else:
  // the user has selected a sub page
  switch( $_GET['f'] ):
    case 'about':
      $file2include = 'aboutus';
      break;
    case 'privacy':
      $file2include = 'privacy';
      break;
    default:
      $file2include = 'home';
  endswitch;
endif;

// now we include the 'article' to the page
require_once( './includes/'.$file2include.'.inc.php' );
?>

something like that?

so links on your website look like:

http://www.countrysmokehouse.net/
http://www.countrysmokehouse.net/?f=about
http://www.countrysmokehouse.net/?f=privacy
or
http://www.countrysmokehouse.net/index.php
http://www.countrysmokehouse.net/index.php?f=about
http://www.countrysmokehouse.net/index.php?f=privacy

demtro · #8 02-Feb-2003, 18:29

JDS This is great It is what I was looking for. Thank you. There is one other questions I have. What is needed to get the button to execute the code and load the right include? Or am I already missing something? So far we have the code that tells it we are going to include a file and it lists the files to include within the code. I just modify it for all my buttons. But what tells the code wen the button is pressed to load that specific page? Sorry if these are really newbie questions but I really need to get this done. Thanks again. You are being most kind.

JdS · #9 02-Feb-2003, 18:35

Right now, one of your button is linked like this:

HTML Code:


<a href="beefjerky.htm"><img src="Images/beefjerky.jpg" width="90" height="48" border="0"></a>

to have the php+include work, you change that to:

HTML Code:


<a href="/index.php?f=beefjerky"><img src="Images/beefjerky.jpg" width="90" height="48" border="0"></a>

and you have one file in your 'includes' folder named 'beefjerky.inc.php' i.e.

Code:

/home/demtro/public_html/includes/beefjerky.inc.php

JdS · #10 02-Feb-2003, 18:39

Quote:

Originally posted by JdS

PHP Code:
<?php // I just changed this line from the code sample above // to insert a missing dot require_once( './includes/'.$file2include.'.inc.php' ); ?>

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using a button to change table contents.

Code sample correction