Editing a .txt file Online & Reading

JediMaster · 26-03-2010, 17:06

I'm looking for a simple way to have access to a .txt file online. I want to have a Text File in a folder on my FTP. Then open a HTML/PHP page & it will show me the contents of the file in ASCII format & give me the option to edit Text & Save the file (ie update the file in FTP).

Say file had Numbers, I could open a page, edit numbers & then save it.

I have a PHP script that posts from a FORM to Text File, but on page load the Form is empty (ie it does not Read the Text File).

Any free scripts that do this?
Cheers

Richard M · 26-03-2010, 20:33

Gimme a min and I'll write a script for you...

---------- Post added at 19:33 ---------- Previous post was at 18:52 ----------

Here ya go.

Simple create the text file, modify the script to reflect the new filename, change the permissions so the webserver can read and write to it and you're done.

If you're not sure on the permissions thing, set it to 777 (all can read/write) - this should give the correct permissions to the file.
If you have shell access, do something like:

Code:

chown nobody:nobody textfile.txt

That should do it, if not find out which user Apache is running under by doing:

Code:

ps aux | grep httpd

OR

Code:

ps aux | grep apache

PHP Code:


			
<?php
// Stop the addslashes()
if (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) {
    $process = array(&$_GET, &$_POST, &$_COOKIE, &$_REQUEST);
    while (list($key, $val) = each($process)) {
        foreach ($val as $k => $v) {
            unset($process[$key][$k]);
            if (is_array($v)) {
                $process[$key][stripslashes($k)] = $v;
                $process[] = &$process[$key][stripslashes($k)];
            } else {
                $process[$key][stripslashes($k)] = stripslashes($v);
            }
        }
    }
    unset($process);
}
?>
<?php
// Edit this if you need to, change the filename to whatever you need
define ('TEXT_FILE', 'filename.txt');
define ('BYTES', 4096); // Expected max size of the file in bytes
$message = '<br />Edit the file and click Save.<br />';
?>
<html>
<head>
<title>Text Editor</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
if ($_POST['action'] == 'save') {

    $fileWrite = fopen(TEXT_FILE, "w");

    $text = $_POST['text'];
    fwrite($fileWrite, $text);
    $message = '<br />File saved, contents were: <pre>' . $text . '</pre><br />';
}
if (is_resource($fileWrite)) {
    fclose($fileWrite);
}
?>
<form action="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>" method="post">
<?php
$file = fopen(TEXT_FILE, "r");
echo '<textarea name="text" rows="12" cols="60">';
$contents = fread($file, BYTES);
echo $contents;
if (is_resource($file)) {
    fclose($file);
}
?>
</textarea>
<br />
<input type="hidden" name="action" value="save" />
<input type="submit" value="Save" />
</form>
<?php
echo $message;
?>
</body>
</html>

Rather elegant I feel, will have to remember to keep this one for my own use.

JediMaster · 28-03-2010, 12:04

Simply AMAZING

It's PERFECT

Cheers

Graham M · 28-03-2010, 12:08

PHP Code:


			
if ($_POST['action'] == 'save')

might throw an error on some servers depending on how they're configured

PHP Code:


			
if ((isset($_POST['action'])) && ($_POST['action'] == 'save'))

may correct that, I haven't tested it so my syntax might be wrong, I'm a bit out of practice

Kymmy · 28-03-2010, 12:14

There are other options on the web for example

http://phpanywhere.net/

Although designed for php files it should work with any text based file

Richard M · 28-03-2010, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham M

PHP Code:


			
if ($_POST['action'] == 'save')

might throw an error on some servers depending on how they're configured

PHP Code:


			
if ((isset($_POST['action'])) && ($_POST['action'] == 'save'))

may correct that, I haven't tested it so my syntax might be wrong, I'm a bit out of practice

Aye maybe, should only throw a warning or notice though and the script would work anyway.

You're most welcome Jedi.

Graham M · 28-03-2010, 15:32

It definitely would work, I'm just being picky

dev · 28-03-2010, 15:43

Better to use file_get_contents() too, then you don't need to guess at the maximum size of the file.

Richard M · 28-03-2010, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by dev

Better to use file_get_contents() too, then you don't need to guess at the maximum size of the file.

Probably, I mostly look at things in C these days where everything has to be just right. :P

mr_bo · 20-04-2010, 14:04

I have also used this script for a friend to update a news area written in flash to read dynamic text on her website easily.

The script is excellent and when uploaded and tested it works great, but after a short period of time the txt file address needs typing into address bar, hit f5 and then the news area updates, but updates instantly when files are uploaded.

Any ideas?

Graham M · 20-04-2010, 22:28

It's probably the browser caching the text file, is the Flash animation using an Iframe sort of thing?

mr_bo · 20-04-2010, 23:19

I don't know what Iframe is, but I think you're right about caching, just what to do without having to refresh the text file.

marrydavidson101 · 21-04-2010, 12:55

thanks for sharing this