How to make your own PHP template script

Many people ask how do you create a template system in PHP. It is true their are many different ways, but this will hopefully show you the basic understanding of this type of method.

First, let us understand the varibles in both the main .html page, and in the php scripts.

In this example <% main %> is the varible used in the main HTML template.

Next, the varibles in the index.php file are as follows:

1. $main

2. $content

3. $fd

4. $filename

5. $template

6. $action

The functions and commands within the index.php are as follows:

• function template();

• function home();

• fopen

• fclose

• global

• stripslashes

• eregi_replace

• echo

• switch

• default:

• break:

This type of scripting will make outputed varible $main match up with HTML <% main %>. The result is that you can output just about anything within a template.

Now, create three files (named below).

Filename: theme.htm

Filename: index.php

<?
function template($content) {
 global $main;
   $filename = "theme.htm";

   if(!$fd = fopen($filename, "r")) {
                $error = 1;
        }
   else {
      $template = fread ($fd, filesize ($filename));
      fclose ($fd);
      $template = stripslashes($template);
      $template = eregi_replace("<% main %>", "$main", $template);
      $template = eregi_replace("<% content %>", "$content", $template);
      echo "$template";
    } }

function home() {
global $main;
include ("test.php");
template("$data");
} 

switch($action) {
        default:  // default switch
        home();
        break;
}
?>

Filename: test.php

<?

$main .= ‘This is a test of the emergency boradcast system.<br>This is only a test’;

?>

Notice the test.php file having the $main .=. This would be normally an echo command, but echo is not longer needed, since it would not stream through the index.php in the <% main %> area of the template HTML file.

You can add more than one varible such as $main or <% main %>.

About the author

Written by Darren W..

Darren Hedlund is a freelance Web developer, writer, and data analyst. Darren has a degree in Computer Information Science and has spent the last 15 years developing application and environments from hand held, windows, web, virtual science, gaming, artificial intelligence and graphics design.

Darren's coding knowledge ranges from C+, Visual Basic, .NET, PHP, JSP, REXX, KIXX, and many others. His graphical and environmental knowledge stems in Macromedia Flash, 3D studio Max, Curious Labs Poser, Adobe Photoshop, and many others. Darren works in many platforms ranging from database, visual design, and, system development.

Website

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