PHP: Store input in .txt file and output to html page

Question

Using PHP I want to store user input from an html page in a .txt file and output that user input onto the same page.

However, nothing is showing up in either the .txt file or on the page div.

IN ADDITION: I'd like to have each new message display on a new div, I know this is somewhat of a different question, but I figured it could be related.

Any ideas on why this isn't working?

HTML:

The form itself:

<textarea name="msg" rows="5"></textarea>
<form id="post" name="post" action="storeText.php" method="post">
    <input class="button" type="submit" value="POST!"/>
</form>

Where I want to output on the same html page:

<div class="menuItem" >
    <?=$msg?>
</div>

PHP:

storeText.php

<?php       
$filename = 'posts.txt';
$msg = (isset($_POST['msg']) ? $_POST['msg'] : null);

    // Let's make sure the file exists and is writable first.
    if (is_writable($filename)) {

    // In our example we're opening $filename in append mode.
    // The file pointer is at the bottom of the file hence
    // that's where $somecontent will go when we fwrite() it.
    if (!$handle = fopen($filename, 'a')) {
        echo "Cannot open file ($filename)";
        exit;
    }

    // Write $somecontent to our opened file.
    if (fwrite($handle, $msg) === FALSE) {
        echo "Cannot write to file ($filename)";
        exit;
    }

    echo "Success, wrote ($msg) to file ($filename)";

    fclose($handle);

    } else {
    echo "The file $filename is not writable";
    }
?>

Woops... that could be my problem... my textarea is outside of the form... — neuquen
– neuquen, Commented Sep 12, 2013 at 23:01
I updated the html to reflect what it is currently. I suspect I need to put the textarea inside of the form, correct? — neuquen
– neuquen, Commented Sep 12, 2013 at 23:02
@Keven Add this just under $filename = 'posts.txt'; - chmod($filename, 0644); or use 0777 may help to solve file writing permissions if that is the case. — Funk Forty Niner
– Funk Forty Niner, Commented Sep 12, 2013 at 23:18

Funk Forty Niner · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-13 13:49:41Z

2

Give this a try.

There are two files, one for the submission(s) which posts from the same page and the DIV include display_div.php.

The way it's setup is that it will show the newest post on top.

PHP handler and form

<?php       
// check if the file first exists, if not create the file
if (!file_exists("posts.txt")) {
$fp = fopen('posts.txt', 'a+');
fwrite($fp, '');
chmod("posts.txt", 0644);

// you may have to use this one
// remember to comment out the one with 0644 if using this one
// chmod("posts.txt", 0777);
fclose($fp);
}

// check if "msg" is set
if(isset($_REQUEST['msg'])) {
$file = 'posts.txt';  
$str = $_POST['msg'] . "\n";
$temp = file_get_contents($file);
$content = $str.$temp;
file_put_contents($file, $content);

// echo success message
echo "Saved to $file successfully!";
echo "<br>";
echo "Previous messages:";
echo "<hr>";

// print out previous posts
$file = file_get_contents('posts.txt', true);
$lines = explode(PHP_EOL, $file);

foreach ($lines as $line) {
    if (strpos($line, '/') === false) {
        $line = htmlspecialchars($line . "\n");
        echo nl2br($line);
    }
}
exit;
} // end of if(isset($_REQUEST['msg']))

?>

<form id="post" name="post" action="" method="post">
<textarea name="msg" rows="5"></textarea>
<br>
<input class="button" type="submit" name="submit" value="POST!" />
</form>

<?php include 'display_div.php'; ?>

display_div.php

N.B.: You can get rid of Previous messages:<br> or replace it with your text.

<div class="menuItem" >
Previous messages:<br>
<?php
$file = file_get_contents('posts.txt', true);
$lines = explode(PHP_EOL, $file);

foreach ($lines as $line) {
    if (strpos($line, '/') === false) {
        $line = htmlspecialchars($line . "\n");
        echo nl2br($line);
    }
}
?>
</div>

answered Sep 13, 2013 at 13:49

Funk Forty Niner

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1 Comment

neuquen Over a year ago

Hey Fred. This has been helpful. I didn't copy it exactly, but I am in the process of mimicking the logic. In particular, I wanted to store and then print out a post line-by-line, so this has helped with that. I appreciate it! PS- I got it to post to the same page, but I am enhancing it now.

Amal · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-12 23:29:56Z

1

Change your HTML markup to the following:

<form id="post" name="post" action="storeText.php" method="post">
    <textarea cols="x" rows="x" name="msg"></textarea>
    <input class="button" type="submit" value="POST!"/>
</form>

You should now be able to write data to the file, provided the file has correct permissions and PHP has write access.

edited Sep 12, 2013 at 23:29

answered Sep 12, 2013 at 23:00

Amal

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5 Comments

neuquen Over a year ago

Guess what. I'm gonna have to take this check away... editing the if statement broke it...

neuquen Over a year ago

I stole this script directly from PHP: php.net/manual/en/function.fwrite.php Once I changed it back to the way they had it, it worked.

neuquen Over a year ago

You answered my original question. I'll leave the check there. Well, ALMOST all of it. I still can't output to the page...

neuquen Over a year ago

@AmalMurali I hit submit and the script shows up. I want the content to load on the same page, but it isn't.

Amal Over a year ago

@Keven: In that case, you could submit the form to itself.

Abhijith Babu · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-12 23:03:23Z

0

You seems to be missing an input.Please see below

<form id="post" name="post" action="storeText.php" method="post">
<textarea name="msg" cols="" rows=""></textarea>
<input class="button" type="submit" value="POST!"/>
</form>

Thanks

answered Sep 12, 2013 at 23:03

Abhijith Babu

867 bronze badges

2 Comments

neuquen Over a year ago

Yep, I realize I accidentally put the textarea outside of the form.

neuquen Over a year ago

It looks like the php is running, but I can't open my file. Is that a security issue?

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