Pulll Down menu referencing a list

This is the code I am using at the moment for my pull down menu. It works great. I was wondering if it is possible to have the pull down menu reference a list file instead of entering each item separately like I did below. The reason is that if I make changes to the list file, it will be easier for me to maintain the pull down menu. Especially if I have the drop down code appearing on several pages on my web site.

Right now if I made a change to my links below and I have this code in three separate pages on my web site, I would have to make three separate changes. If I had my pull down menus referencing the same list file, then all I would have to do is make changes to that list file and all of my three pull down menus would reflect the changes made.

I know that there must me an answer to this question. Thanks!!


<select name="select15" onChange="window.open(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value,'_blank')"" style="width: 100%;">
<option selected>MUSIC</option>
<option value="http://www.apple.com/">Apple</option>
<option value="http://www.nfo.net/">Big Band database</option>
<option value="http://www.ottawacarsija.com/"">Bosnian Radio</option>
<option value="http://www.chuo.fm"">CHUO-FM</option>
<option value="http://www.classicmoviemusicals.com"">Classic Movie Musicals</option>
<option value="http://www.downbeat.com"">Downbeat Magazine</option>
<option value="http://www.drummerworld.com"">Drummerworld</option>
<option value="http://www.inamellowtone.blogspot.com/"">In A Mellow Tone</option>
<option value="http://www.jazz.com/"">Jazz</option>
<option value="http:/www.jazzreview.com/"">Jazz Review</option>
<option value="http:/www.jazzstandards.com/"">Jazz Standards</option>
<option value="http://www.musicweb-international.com/RiseandFall/index.htm"">Popular Music</option>
<option value="http:/www.redhotjazz.com/"">Red Hot Jazz Archive</option>
<option value="http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/"">Songwriters Hall Of Fame</option>
<option value="http://www.touchemusic.se/"">Touche Music</option>
</select>

You could use an include? SO on each page you have:

PHP: Select all

<?php include('dropdown.php'); ?>

And then in dropdown.php have:

Code: Select all

<select name="select15" onChange="window.open(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value,'_blank')"" style="width: 100%;">
<option selected>MUSIC</option>
<option value="http://www.apple.com/">Apple</option> 
<option value="http://www.nfo.net/">Big Band database</option> 
<option value="http://www.ottawacarsija.com/"">Bosnian Radio</option> 
<option value="http://www.chuo.fm"">CHUO-FM</option> 
<option value="http://www.classicmoviemusicals.com"">Classic Movie Musicals</option> 
<option value="http://www.downbeat.com"">Downbeat Magazine</option> 
<option value="http://www.drummerworld.com"">Drummerworld</option> 
<option value="http://www.inamellowtone.blogspot.com/"">In A Mellow Tone</option> 
<option value="http://www.jazz.com/"">Jazz</option> 
<option value="http:/www.jazzreview.com/"">Jazz Review</option> 
<option value="http:/www.jazzstandards.com/"">Jazz Standards</option> 
<option value="http://www.musicweb-international.com/RiseandFall/index.htm"">Popular Music</option> 
<option value="http:/www.redhotjazz.com/"">Red Hot Jazz Archive</option> 
<option value="http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/"">Songwriters Hall Of Fame</option> 
<option value="http://www.touchemusic.se/"">Touche Music</option>
</select>

And then when you needed to add an option you would change just the one file!

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Thanks for the quick reply!! Much appreciated. I am totally new to all this HTML stuff so I need a lot of hand holding. How do I create a dropdown.php file to hold all of my option values?

If you go to my web site (www.mcran.com), you will see at the bottom of my home page I have three pull down menus. These menus also appear in the sidebar of some of my other pages as well as at the bottom of my Interviews page.

If I understand correctly, All I have to do is create a php file for Music, one for computer, and the third for Shows each with their own .php file. Then all I have to do is update for example the Music.php file and all of my music pull down menus will reflect this change? If that is the case, this is exactly what I am looking for.

Yep. Take your drop down into the new PHP file, and were it was, put:
<?php include('file.php'); ?>

Noting that your pages must end with .php for thsi to work. Good luck, and any problems just post again

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I am using a Mac so do I just have to go into a text editor, put the drop down info in there and save it as Music.php? That's it?

Yep. Then add the include in your page. Good luck

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Thanks! Does the for example music.php file have to reside in a specific location on my hard drive?

Thanks for understanding my concerns. I am so new to all this stuff.

Is this acceptable syntax?

<?php*include('http://www.myserver.com/files/music.php');*?>

Almost there! Where have you got the * from!

<?php include('yourfile.php'); ?>

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