I'm trying to create a simple server side include for my php pages so I can include my logo and footer on each page. I don't have any problems when I use an include that is relative to the document, such as:

<?php require_once('includes/logo.html'); ?>

But when I try to create an include that is relative to the site root (virtual include), I keep getting errors. Here is the code I am trying to use:

<?php virtual('/includes/logo.html'); ?>

I get an error that states:

Fatal error: Call to undefined function virtual() in site path....

I'm trying to use virtual php includes because this makes it easier when creating new pages, even when they are in another directory.

Is there a limitation to using virtual php includes? Any suggestions on what the virtual include example above should look like if this is possible? Thank you for any suggestions.

Because the path you give without a prefix / is relative to the actual script place.
If you add an / at the beginning, it means that the path will be absolute from the root of the server, not the root of your web site.

If your site is being served via apache, you have access to the absolute value of your site root folder in $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT']

So, to solve this, simply include with this:

PHP Code:

<?php 
require_once($_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/includes/logo.html'); 
?>

Is there a limitation to using virtual php includes?

No, except sanity.
In absolute, you could put 1 line of your program in 1 file, and use include to assemble the final script, but that would be pretty insane, wouldn't it?

virtual is only supported if PHP is installed as an apache module (not CGI)