newbie to php...if url contains x then do y

**caradeporra** · November 10th, 2010

Ok,

Wasn't sure where to turn. I have basically no php experience. While being a novice I do have a basic understanding of programming - just no experience(meaning if I see the code I can figure out what it does and modify it but don't know enough to write from scratch

Ok, to the point - I am trying to make my links for my simple html/css site in an include file so I can easily update/add/remove links and change it for all pages. The problem is I also have classes so that when on one page that tab is all caps and a different color etc. In an include file though I will need to code it to do that.

Here is the current include file:

Code:

<ul>
<li class="normal"><a href="ContactUs.shtml"><img src="images/ContactUs.jpg" /></a></li>
<li class="normal"><a href="Upcoming.shtml">Upcoming Auctions</a></li>
<li class="normal"><a href="Seller.shtml">Seller Benefits</a></li>
</ul>

I am looking for something that would say - If current url == "ContactUs.shtml" then class="current"

Basically determine what page is active and make that class the "current" class.

Any help?
Thanks in advance!

Carade

**l0rb** · November 11th, 2010

Are you looking for HttpMessage::getRequestUrl ?

**caradeporra** · November 11th, 2010

After some googling this is what I came across:

Code:

<?php if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']=='/Upcoming' ) {$Upcoming = 'active'} else {}? {echo $Upcoming} ?>

I declared the variable in advance to be 'normal'

Code:

<?php $Upcoming = 'normal' ?>

and the code should change the variable to be 'active' if the url contains '/Upcoming'... I put the echo $Upcoming in there for debugging to see if it is changing that variable. Unfortunately it is changing that variable no matter what the url contains.

I also have not figured out how to take the

Code:

<li class="active/normal">

to insert the variable so that it would be

Code:

<li class="$Upcoming">

Can someone explain how to implement the php variable into that html/css statement?

thanks

**Mmmbopdowedop** · November 12th, 2010

I think the easiest way, or the way I tend to use is like this;

You can declare the value of a variable in a url via ?variable=value

For example;

index.php?page=this

Would be able to be retrieved via php by;

PHP Code:


<?php

$page = $_GET['page'];

?>

So you'd do something like:

PHP Code:


<li class="<?php echo $page; ?>">adasdas</li>

It's a bit vague, but hopefully reading this will give you a better idea and something to toy around with.

**caradeporra** · November 14th, 2010

Thank you so much sir!

That is exactly the tip I needed. Got it all squared away with your get method and set up if statements and it is working like a charm.

5 stars for your answer and a million dollars - well, maybe not a million dollars.

* * * * * 5 STARS * * * * (now 10!)