I want it so I can put all my variables in a file, say config.php and have a little admin thing to edit the values in the file without having to use a database. Is this possible all the file opening/writing tutorials don't seem to talk about this. What I want is to edit the already existing variables.

What is the problem exactly? You cannot read the file or parse the variables out of it or maybe you cannot process the POST request to save changes back to file?

Wel, I guess that parsing is the most challenging part here.

First you need to read the whole config file into a string using something like file_get_contents(). Next you have to write some regexp to preg_match_all(). I think it would look like the following:

PHP Code:

$re = "!^\s*\($[^\s]+)\s*=\s*(['"]?)(.*)\\1;$!i"; 


After you preg_match_all() you will have to use $1 and $3. Draw a form and process it, I suppose taht these two you can manage yourself.

You have a configuration file, which contains variables, however it sounds like you want to treat it as an ordinary file, where you can alter the information that's already saved in it, and then re-save the file with the new configuration.

It's possible, but how do you want to go about it?

I suggest the first thing you want to look at, is backing up the file you are about to change.

PHP Code:

copy('config.php', 'config.old.php'); // extension left as php so code is hidden 


That way, you can revert back to the old one, if it fails.

This is where you decide on handling what to do with the file.

I think the best way for you would be to create a form that mimics the variables and values of this configuration file, and allow yourself to make the changes using the form. When you submit the form, the changes you want will be made.

If possible, maybe you can find another solution for this? I don't think allowing a configuration file to be writable a good thing, to me if you did need to do this, then you should probably plan for your site to go down for maintenance while this happens, because you might have some unexpected results messing with the configuration in a live site.

You can also just include at the end of your config.php file another file that contains similar variables/values that has your changes in it, that way, if it's at the end of the configuration file, it will overwrite any existing variables with your information.


Cheers,

MC

Originally Posted by mastercomputers

then you should probably plan for your site to go down for maintenance while this happens, because you might have some unexpected results messing with the configuration in a live site

You never heard about development server? I think it is rather obvious to test the script in the sandbox before putting it into production.

mtishetsky,

I'm not saying he's just developing and testing this script out, I'm envisioning that when he has the script working and that he intends on using it, it would be put to use on a live site, so I'm suggesting he schedules these types of events to keep users aware and so he can take it off while the changes are made, unless altering the configuration file does not affect the site but even I don't trust changing the config while a live site is operating.

Sorry if I didn't make myself clear.


MC

I actually wrote a script to do this exact thing a few years ago. I'll be buggered if I can find it, though.

In reality, the smarter thing to do is just place all of your settings into a simple DB table called 'settings' or something. In your 'config' file, just have your DB connection settings and store the rest of the stuff in the DB. That way you don't need to worry about accessing, reading, rewriting etc. your config files.

Yeah I guess I should use a database, I just was trying to find any easier way around it but, that's ok thanks anyways.

http://www.webmaster-talk.com/php-fo...tml#post516788

The most simple way is to place the whole file contents into a single textarea, edit and save. Coding will take 5 minutes but you will have to take care of what you edit to avoid misspelling, missed quotes and other things of that kind.