Link submit

alexgeek · #1 Jul 12th, 2007, 22:26

Hello.
I would like a page that people can go onto type in a name of a site and the URL, then it appear in a table on the page.
Preferably without MySQL because I don't understand it well..
but if it has to that's okay.

Also if possible being able to apply a validation rule so that people can't spam the page with lemonparty.org and goatse.cs

thanks!

balaclave · #2 Jul 12th, 2007, 23:50

When links are submitted, append the URL and the title to a .txt file on a new line with some sort of separator, e.g. http://www.url.com|Title

To display the links:
Count the number of lines in the file.
e.g.

PHP: Select all


$file = urls.txt;

// file of URLs



$lines = file ($file);

// $lines is an array of lines in the file.



$num_lines = count ($lines);

// number of lines in file

Now, for each line, explode() it into the different parts and echo() it to the page.

e.g.

PHP: Select all


for ($i=0; $i<$num_lines; $i++){

// sets $i as zero; while $i is less than the number of lines in the file, this loop runs; add one to $i



$links = explode("|", $lines[$i]);

// splits the links into the bit before and after the separator 



$url = htmlspecialchars($links[0]);

$title = htmlspecialchars($links[1]);

// prevent some XSS



echo("<a href=\"$url\">$title</a><br>");

// echo the link in it's constituent parts.



}

This works, but it would probably be much easier just to use a database.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: Forgot you asked about validation.
When the user submits it, perform a quick check before adding the data to a file:

e.g.

PHP: Select all


$blacklist = array("lemonparty", "goatse", "etc");

foreach ($blacklist as $sites){

if (preg_match("/$sites/i", $url)){

die("cannot submit this url");

}

if (preg_match("/$sites/i", $title)){

die("cannot submit this title");

}

}

EDIT 2:
I have posted an alternative (better) way to display the links a bit further down in the topic.

EDIT 3
Commented the code to make it more readable.

pa007 · #3 Jul 12th, 2007, 23:54

What's the difference between echo and print. Are they interchangeable?

Pete.

balaclave · #4 Jul 13th, 2007, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by pa007

What's the difference between echo and print. Are they interchangeable?

Pete.

I have never thought about this before.
This seems to be one of the most referred to documents on the issue.

alexgeek · #5 Jul 13th, 2007, 00:12

utterly confused!
But I will read over it and test it.
Thanks!

pa007 · #6 Jul 13th, 2007, 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by balaclave

I have never thought about this before.
This seems to be one of the most referred to documents on the issue.

Pretty interesting, I suppose I won't go far wrong using print then. I haven't really used echo much but another book I have been reading through seems to use it all the time instead of print.

Thanks,

Pete.

balaclave · #7 Jul 13th, 2007, 12:20

I always use echo().

I just realised there is a problem with my code.
Using a colon as a seperator wouldn't work, because URLs have colons. :P
I changed it to a verticle line thing. ( | )

EDIT:
Forget that first post.
This works a lot better.

PHP: Select all


<?php

$file = "urls.txt";
// filename of link information

$lines = file ($file);
// puts each line of files in an array

foreach ($lines as $lines2 => $line) {
// loop that runs for each member of the array

    $links = explode("|", $line);
        // splits the links into the bit before and after the separator 

    $url = htmlspecialchars($links[0]);    
    $title = htmlspecialchars($links[1]);
    // prevent some XSS
    
    echo("<a href=\"$url\">$title</a><br>");
    // echo links

}

?>

EDIT 2
Commented the code.
The code in my first post in the topic is now working.

alexgeek · #8 Jul 13th, 2007, 15:45

Thanks for that

Gunna test it now.
and yeah I think that's about the only use for a pipe

alexgeek · #9 Jul 13th, 2007, 16:10

Okay it works perfectly

Just need to know how to set up a form so that people can submit a site to the file.
How do i do this?

Thanks again!

pa007 · #10 Jul 13th, 2007, 16:15

Vertical line things "|" are your friend in JavaScript. The logical operator for 'or' is two vertical line things "||". I hate all of these stupid symbols those cos they are in ridiculous places on your keyboard. Can you get a key pad with just coding symbols on it? If you can't I'm going to make one. I don't know how but I will.

Pete.

alexgeek · #11 Jul 13th, 2007, 16:18

Actually I swear I saw one a while ago.
it was USB and about the size of the numpad on normal keyboards.
Not sure where I saw it though sorry!
My keyboards the worst, UK laptop keyboard, set up in US layout.
So when I want @ i have to do ".
annoying -_-

alexgeek · #12 Jul 13th, 2007, 16:54

Found a tutorial
should be okay for now

thanks!

balaclave · #13 Jul 13th, 2007, 16:59

Quote:

The logical operator for 'or' is two vertical line things "||"

That's the same in PHP.

Piping is one of the most powerful features of the *nix command console. It uses the pipe symbols.
See here.

Quote:

My keyboards the worst, UK laptop keyboard, set up in US layout.

You can fix that.

If you're using XP:
Start >> Control Panel >> Regional and Language Options >> Languages >> Details >> Select English (UK) >> Apply

Quote:

Just need to know how to set up a form so that people can submit a site to the file.
How do i do this?

HTML: Select all

 <FORM action="add.php" method="post">
    <P>
    Title: <INPUT type="text" name="title"><BR>
    URL: <INPUT type="text" name="url"><BR>
    <INPUT type="submit" value="Add link">
    </P>
 </FORM>

add.php:

PHP: Select all


<?php
$title = $_POST['title'];
$url = $_POST['url'];
// Get URL info

$title = htmlentities($title);
$url = htmlentities($url);
// Probably better to do the filter checking before adding, because IE parses text files and executes javascript in them....stupid IE.

$file = "urls.txt";

$blacklist = array("lemonparty", "goatse", "etc");
foreach ($blacklist as $sites){
   if (preg_match("/$sites/i", $url)){
      die("cannot submit this url");
   }
   if (preg_match("/$sites/i", $title)){
      die("cannot submit this title");
   }
}
//check against disallowed sites  

$urls = fopen($file, 'a') or die("Error!!");
fwrite($urls, "$url");
fwrite($urls, "|");
fwrite($urls, "$title");
fclose($urls);
// write to file

echo("Success! File added");

?>

This is untested at the moment.
I'm going out, I'll test it and fix anything that doesn't work.
(I think it will work.)

alexgeek · #14 Jul 13th, 2007, 17:04

you = lifesaver
fo sure

someone sticky this?
THANKS!
--------------
Just one thing

I need it to add to the text file on a different line.
at the moment it adds it to the same line e.g.
http://url.com/ |urlhttp://example.com/ |example.

when it needs to be,

http://url.com/ |url
http://example.com/ |example

I'm crap at php... so wouldn't know where to start

)

---------------------------------

Okay all fixed now

Thanks!

Code: Select all

$urls = fopen($file, 'a') or die("Error!!");
fwrite($urls, "\n");
fwrite($urls, "$url");
fwrite($urls, "|");
fwrite($urls, "$title");
fclose($urls);
// write to file

alexgeek · #15 Jul 13th, 2007, 17:47

Thanks balacave

Right everythings up and working

if you want to see,
go here http://www.alexgeek.co.uk/PHP/links.php
add your site if you like.
And I know I've asked for a lot...

but does anyone know how to set a time limit between submitting.
like the user submits an URL and needs to wait 30 seconds for another one.

balaclave · #16 Jul 13th, 2007, 23:49

Quote:

I need it to add to the text file on a different line.

Whooops!
Didn't have time to bug check before going out.

This should work for your time-check thing.
See you and your flat files. Grrrrrrr.

PHP: Select all


<?php

$time

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Link submit