php query string displays text

younghistorians · 10-19-2004, 03:32 PM

Hi all,

I'm looking for a simple way to have text displayed based on a query string. For example, if someone visits index.php?name=tom, then a message defined by me will be displayed, like I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH! Somewhere I would be able to specify a name, and a message to be displayed with that (based on the name).

Would this be easier to hardcode into a single php script, or should I use a MYSQL database?

How would I do this?

Thanks!

Rivux · 10-19-2004, 03:46 PM

This could be done with a database, flat files or even hardcoded into the php file. Depends on two things, how many of these name/message combos will you be creating and how often will you be updating them?

younghistorians · 10-19-2004, 04:24 PM

I'll be creating maybe 50-75 of these name/message combos. They will be updated about every 2 weeks. I don't mind a hardcoded script except for the fact that as of now I dont know how to write it.

littleFella · 10-19-2004, 05:20 PM

with 50 to 70 names I wouldn't bother with a database, a flat text file will do just fine

younghistorians · 10-19-2004, 05:33 PM

I've decided to just do it like this:

Code:

<?php

if($HTTP_GET_VARS['bio'] == 'cow')
{
$name = "Brian";
$age = "old";
$message = "j00 r3@11y 1i/<3 h@10 2 @10+ @Nd +h@+ \/\/i11 b3 @ $\/\/33+ g@M3. h0\/\/3v3r, i h@v3 gM@i1. ";
}
elseif($HTTP_GET_VARS['bio'] == 'phil')
{
$name = "Phil";
$age = "35";
$quote = "What?";
}
elseif($HTTP_GET_VARS['bio'] == 'tom')
{
$name = "Tom";
$age = "14";
$quote = "I like PHP";
}


?>

<html>
<body>
Hi <?php echo "$name" ?>...<?php echo "$message" ?>

</body>
</html>

How can I define a message for a user not in the list of users? i.e. a random non-registered visitor not known/recognized by me? Kinda like a catchall?

hatchet · 10-19-2004, 06:57 PM

if (!isset($bio)) {
$name = "anonymous";
$message="message";
}

younghistorians · 10-20-2004, 03:50 PM

Great, thanks!

Is there any way I can add another fuction to this code to count (in a flat text file) the number of times the query has been accessed? In other words, a counter counting the number of times that bio has been viewed?

younghistorians · 10-20-2004, 05:23 PM

Never mind, ive figured out basically what i need to know.

thanks all!