php to provide random html for an ssi? To change daily, weekly not just randomly?

What do I need in random.txt or what will be written to random.txt?
Must admit I am a little confused why I need to create another file for this to work?
Also, providing it does work, how to I set it to change from 12hour delay to 1 week delay, do I just change  $interval = '+12 hour'?
regards
Bangers

As I understood you need that "random" include stayed for some interval.
During that interval that include should not change?

If so, then for that time we should not generate new random number and use previous. (in you script random number is generating every time the page is included)
We store our generated random number in random.txt, and change it only after $interval has passed.

And yes, if you want interval to be 1 week just set $interval = "+1 week";

Got it,
I'll give a go then award the points hopefully,
thanks for the help
bangers

German_Rumm,
I know I awarded the points but the script doesn't seem to work now that I have actually tested it. Can you see why?
please reply asap
bangers

p.s There is no error message it's just that results are not parsed to the page,
cheers
Bangers

bangers3474,

can you post link to that file. the same that gets included via SSI?

http://www.boxhedge.com/sws/swimming-shop/randomdelay.php

regards
bangers

German_Rumm,

Hmmm, try adding
    echo $pageName;
before
    include($pageName);

What will you get?

echo $pageName; same result, nothing. The code is below.
Does it need a statement at the end to write the results to the page or is it already included?
cheers bangers


<?php

$directoryName="../swimming-reviews/comments-shop/";//remember to leave a trailing slash to the directory "../directory1/"

$pageExtension=".txt";// in this case, we are randomly displaying .txt files (note the ".")

function displayRandomDelay($dirname, $extension){
  $dirhandle = opendir($dirname) or die("ERROR opening ".$dirname);
  while (false !== ($file = readdir($dirhandle))) {
  global $SCRIPT_NAME ;

    if ( !@is_dir($file) && (substr_count($file,$extension) !=0) && ( substr_count($SCRIPT_NAME,$file)==0)) {
      $filelist[] = $file;
       
    }
  }
  closedir($dirhandle);
 
  srand((double)microtime()*1000000);
   
  $interval = '+12 hour'; // time delay, can be changed to +1 week or +24 hour etc
  $filename = 'random.txt'; // path to simple txt file which holds a random generated result for as long as specified

  if (!file_exists($filename)) touch($filename); // safeguard: if file does not exist, create it
  if (strtotime($interval, $mtime) < time()) { // random number "expired"
    $pageNumber = rand(0, sizeof($filelist) - 1); // create new random for next $interval
    file_put_contents($filename, $pageNumber); // this function is for PHP5 only
    // following line is for PHP4, uncomment it if necessary
    // $fp = fopen($filename, 'w'); fwrite($fp, $pageNumber); fclose($fp);
  } else {
    // use old random number
    $pageNumber = file_get_contents($filename);
  }
   
  $pageName=$dirname.$filelist[$pageNumber];
  echo $pageName;
  include($pageName);  
  return ;
 
  }
?>

p.s: I created a file called random.txt, in the same file as the php script, which is cmod 777.
I take it that's okay?
regards
Bangers

bangers3474,

Well, I noticed that in you script you never call your function :-)
Add
    displayRandomDelay($directoryName, $pageExtension);
before your last ?>

Now I've got an error message:
Fatal error: Call to undefined function: file_put_contents() in /homepages/12/d68570427/htdocs/sws/swimming-shop/randomdelay.php on line 27

Here's the script:

<?php

$directoryName="../swimming-reviews/comments-shop/";//remember to leave a trailing slash to the directory "../directory1/"

$pageExtension=".txt";// in this case, we are randomly displaying .txt files (note the ".")

function displayRandomDelay($dirname, $extension){
  $dirhandle = opendir($dirname) or die("ERROR opening ".$dirname);
  while (false !== ($file = readdir($dirhandle))) {
  global $SCRIPT_NAME ;

    if ( !@is_dir($file) && (substr_count($file,$extension) !=0) && ( substr_count($SCRIPT_NAME,$file)==0)) {
      $filelist[] = $file;
       
    }
  }
  closedir($dirhandle);
 
  srand((double)microtime()*1000000);
   
  $interval = '+12 hour'; // time delay, can be changed to +1 week or +24 hour etc
  $filename = 'random.txt'; // path to simple txt file which holds a random generated result for as long as specified

  if (!file_exists($filename)) touch($filename); // safeguard: if file does not exist, create it
  if (strtotime($interval, $mtime) < time()) { // random number "expired"
    $pageNumber = rand(0, sizeof($filelist) - 1); // create new random for next $interval
    file_put_contents($filename, $pageNumber); // this function is for PHP5 only
    // following line is for PHP4, uncomment it if necessary
    // $fp = fopen($filename, 'w'); fwrite($fp, $pageNumber); fclose($fp);
  } else {
    // use old random number
    $pageNumber = file_get_contents($filename);
  }
   
  $pageName=$dirname.$filelist[$pageNumber];
  echo $pageName;
  include($pageName);  
  return ;
 
  }
  displayRandomDelay($directoryName, $pageExtension);
?>

Don't worry about that I uncommented the php 5 stuff and it worked.
However the results parse the contents of a file as well as the file name at the begining, is there anyway of removing the reference to the file name?
reagdrs
Bangers

p.s once this is sorted out  post to https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21417117/random-results-parsed-on-a-daily-or-weekly-basis.html and I'll give you another 500 points

Just removed the echo $pageName; which got rid of that.
However have now noticed there is no delay to the randomising no matter how many hours I set it to, it can't be writting to random.txt
regards
bangers

bangers3474,

Hmm, script does not get file modification date. Correct this line:
      if (strtotime($interval, $mtime) < time()) { // random number "expired"
to
      if (strtotime($interval, filemtime($filename)) < time()) { // random number "expired"

Hi

 Why do loop the directory first, you should setup a place holder check it's time then and only then loop to get the new include file if needed!

I'll give my example!

usage....
$dir = './path/to/include/files';
$ext = '.html';
$time = 4;
$file = 'default.html';

random_include ( $dir, $ext, $time, $file );

where as....

$dir = the directory to read from (do not include the trailing '/') windows = c:/path/to/include/files, linux = ./path/to/include/files
$ext = the file extension of the file to include ( .html ) including the '.' <= period
$time = in hours (1, 12, 24)
$file = a default file name, (used if no file is found in the directory)




// script

<?

function random_include ( $path, $type, $hours, $default )
{
      $holder = 'placeholder' . $type;
      $hours  = ( $hours * 3600 );

      $io = '';

      if ( file_exists ( $path . '/' . $placeholder ) )
      {
            if ( ( $hours + filemtime ( $path . '/' . $placeholder ) ) > time () )
            {
                  $io = fread ( fopen ( $path . '/' . $placeholder, 'r' ), filesize ( $path . '/' . $placeholder ) );
            }

            clearstatcache ();
      }

      if ( empty ( $io ) )
      {
            $io = new_random_type ( $path, $type, $holder, $default );
      }

      include_once ( $path . '/' . $io );
}

function new_random_type ( $dir, $ext, $holder, $other )
{
      $list = array ();
      $real = '';

      if ( $io = @opendir ( $dir ) )
      {
            while ( ( $file = readdir ( $io ) ) !== false )
            {
                  if ( $file != '.' && $file != '..' )
                  {
                        $real = $io . '/' . $file;

                        if ( is_file ( $real ) && ! preg_match ( '!placeholder!', $file ) )
                        {
                              if ( get_extension ( $file, $ext ) )
                              {
                                    $list[] = $file;
                              }
                        }
                  }
            }

            closedir ( $io );
      }

      if ( empty ( $list ) )
      {
            $insert = $default;
      }
      else
      {

            $real = array_rand ( $list )

            $insert = $list[$insert];
      }

      $io = fopen ( $dir . '/' . $holder, 'w' );
      fputs ( $io, $insert );
      fclose ( $io );

      return ( $insert );
}

function get_extension ( $name, $end )
{
      return ( ( substr ( $name, strrpos ( $name, '.' ) ) == $end ? true : false ) );
}


?>


Suzanne

Hi

In the script......

I made changes to $var(s) that I did not change everywhere, here is the script fixed....

Sorry

<?

function random_include ( $path, $type, $hours, $default )
{
     $holder = 'placeholder' . $type;
     $hours  = ( $hours * 3600 );

     $io = '';

     if ( file_exists ( $path . '/' . $holder ) )
     {
          if ( ( $hours + filemtime ( $path . '/' . $holder ) ) > time () )
          {
               $io = fread ( fopen ( $path . '/' . $holder, 'r' ), filesize ( $path . '/' . $holder ) );
          }

          clearstatcache ();
     }

     if ( empty ( $io ) )
     {
          $io = new_random_type ( $path, $type, $holder, $default );
     }

     include_once ( $path . '/' . $io );
}

function new_random_type ( $dir, $ext, $holder, $other )
{
     $list = array ();
     $real = '';

     if ( $io = @opendir ( $dir ) )
     {
          while ( ( $file = readdir ( $io ) ) !== false )
          {
               if ( $file != '.' && $file != '..' )
               {
                    $real = $io . '/' . $file;

                    if ( is_file ( $real ) && ! preg_match ( '!placeholder!', $file ) )
                    {
                         if ( get_extension ( $file, $ext ) )
                         {
                              $list[] = $file;
                         }
                    }
               }
          }

          closedir ( $io );
     }

     if ( empty ( $list ) )
     {
          $insert = $default;
     }
     else
     {

          $real = array_rand ( $list )

          $insert = $list[$insert];
     }

     $io = fopen ( $dir . '/' . $holder, 'w' );
     fputs ( $io, $insert );
     fclose ( $io );

     return ( $insert );
}

function get_extension ( $name, $end )
{
     return ( ( substr ( $name, strrpos ( $name, '.' ) ) == $end ? true : false ) );
}


?>


Suzanne

German_Rumm,
I do not receive any results with the change (I also don't receive an error message). Any more thoughts?
Regards
Bangers

Suzanne,
Just going to give your script a go now,
cheers
Bangers

mensuck,
what and where do I need to change your script? so that I point to my files/default file have the right extension and time?:

I am but a simple man who needs to be told where things are..typical,
regards
bangers

German_Rumm & mensuck,
Just to let you know I will except both your correct scripts. If they both work I'll award 500 points by opening another question and accepting you post to the question.
regards
lee

p.s (German_Rumm I have already done this for you)

bangers3474,

Just tell me, does it work now?

No.

German_Rumm,
I do not receive any results with the change (I also don't receive an error message). Any more thoughts?
Regards
Bangers

Any more thoughts?
Regards
Bangers

bangers3474,

Wait a little. I'm writing you modification of the script, will post it in a few minutes.

bangers3474,

Here you go. A little more secure script and simpler to understand.
Set $directory, $extension, $interval, $filename to your values and give it a go. If there are some error messages - post them here.

<?php
    $directory = 'Q_21403331'; // directory, in what to look for "comments"
    $extension = '.txt'; // "comment" extension
   
    $interval = '+30 second'; // random number regeneration interval
    $filename = 'random.txt'; // name of file in which to store random number
   
    error_reporting(E_ALL);
    function getFileList($dir, $ext) {
        $fileList = array();
       
        if (substr($dir, -1) != '/') $dir .= '/';
        $dh = opendir($dir) or die("Error: Could not open directory ".$dir);
        while (false !== ($file = readdir($dh))) {
            $fullPath = $dir.$file;
            if (!is_dir($fullPath) && substr($file, -strlen($ext)) == $ext) {
                $fileList[] = $fullPath;
            }
        }
        closedir($dh);
        return $fileList;
    }
   
    $fileList = getFileList($directory, $extension);
    if (file_exists($filename)) {
        if (strtotime($interval, filemtime($filename)) < time()) {
            $randomIndex = array_rand($fileList);
            $fp = @fopen($filename, 'w');
            if ($fp === false) {
                die('Error: Could not open '.$filename.' for writing');
            }
            if (@fwrite($fp, $randomIndex) === false) {
                die('Error: Can not write to '.$filename);
            }
            fclose($fp);
        } else {
            $randomIndex = file_get_contents($filename);
        }
        if (isset($fileList[$randomIndex]) && file_exists($fileList[$randomIndex])) {
            readfile($fileList[$randomIndex]);
        } else {
            echo 'File could not be included (doesn\'t exist?)';
        }
    } else {
        die ('Error: Could not find '.$filename);
    }
?>

Example of this script is here: http://www.car.ee/EE/Q_21403331.php
Source code - here: http://www.car.ee/EE/Q_21403331.php?showSource=1

To quote the words of Ronald McDonald "I'm lovin' it!"

Post to the question I opened on this topic and I'll sort you out with another 500 points.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21417117/random-results-parsed-on-a-daily-or-weekly-basis.html

regards
Bangers.

p.s I might have to develop a bespoke content management system in php with a mysql database, would you be interested in the development if it came up. and would you be able to give me a quote - what's your going rate!

Thanks for all the help
Bangers

bangers3474,

Thanks! :-)
Contact me by MSN or email - it's in my member's profile :-)