Connect to database and variables in a javascript

[carol]

Hi,
I´m implementing some external javascript code in our store to track user behaviour. But I cannot get the values of the variables to be shown.

I´m putting the code in a new file in includes/modules/pages/product_info/jscript_track.php
and in another javascript in a new file in ../modules/pages/shopping_cart/jscript_trackcart.php
The javascript is shown correctly, but the variables don´t show anything.

The variables I would like to show in the javascript on the productpage:
Product name, product model and product price.
I tried the following parts of code to show them: <?php echo $products_name ?>, <?php echo $products_model ?> and <?php echo $products_price ?> but this didn´t work. I suppose the connection with the database and a query is missing.

The variables I would like to show in the javascrip on the shoppingcartpage:
Product ID, Quantity, Price of the product in the cart. If there are more products in the cart also the same data of the other products.

How do I connect to the database, from these files? And can anyone help me with how to put the sql query?

Thanks,

[DrByte]

You said you're using v1.3.8a. But, that old version from 2006 contains some serious security flaws which were corrected in a newer version.

THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO IS UPGRADE TO A MODERN VERSION OF ZEN CART !!!!!!

After you have done that, then you can continue your customizations as needed.

[allthingsidLeroy]

I´m putting the code in a new file in includes/modules/pages/product_info/jscript_track.php
and in another javascript in a new file in ../modules/pages/shopping_cart/jscript_trackcart.php

I'm pretty sure php and Javascript don't "work" with each other. So, if you're trying to load a Javascript script from a php file, I don't know that it will work.

What are you trying to echo out here:

I tried the following parts of code to show them: <?php echo $products_name ?>, <?php echo $products_model ?> and <?php echo $products_price ?> but this didn´t work. I suppose the connection with the database and a query is missing.

If you're working with Javascript, why are you trying to echo out php variables?

Also, I'm almost 100% positive that anything that's done in Javascript is plain-text and readable by the client. Connecting to a database from Javascript itself would be a huge security flaw. How about transferring JSON data to your secure server which would then handle the input and database connection?

[gjh42]

I have used a jscript_xxx.php file to run a script in certain conditions (set by PHP tests), in the Ultimate Fade-in Slideshow mod.
You would need to be accessing PHP variables that are available to the current page, and since the jscript will run before many other PHP files, you need to make sure those variables have been set before html_header.php runs.

[gjh42]

Yes, you could do some SQL queries in the PHP part of your file before the script if necessary to look up info. That would not be accessible from the javascript when it runs; only the resulting values of your lookups would be output with the js.
Some of the info you want may be accessible from the $_SESSION or $_GET variables without going to the database.

When you have updated and are ready to continue with customization, come back and ask for details on doing this.

[carol]

Yes, I know I should update to the newest version of Zencart. That´s a big project and planned for september. However in the meantime we are connecting to an third party software and I would like to implement some customer tracking already.

Any help, on how to display the variables in the javascript is appreciated!

[gjh42]

Feeding the values into the javascript is trivial - for example:

var mygallery=new fadeSlideShow({
    wrapperid: "fadeshow1", //ID of blank DIV on page to house Slideshow
    dimensions: [250, 180], //width/height of gallery in pixels. Should reflect dimensions of largest image
    imagearray: [
        ["includes/templates/your_template/images/yourimage0.jpg", "", "", "<?php echo FADESHOWTEXT_1_IMG00;?>"],
        ["includes/templates/your_template/images/yourimage1.jpg", "", "", "<?php echo FADESHOWTEXT_1_IMG01;?>"],
        ["includes/templates/your_template/images/yourimage2.jpg", "http://some-url.com", "_new", "<?php echo FADESHOWTEXT_1_IMG02;?>"],

FADESHOWTEXT_1_IMG00 is a constant set in a language define file. A variable would be echoed in the same way. By the time the javascript runs, all it knows is that there is text in the array (or a link or product id, etc.)

I would first do a debug echo of the variable you want to use, to see if it passes a correct value at execution (look at view source if the page doesn't finish loading). If it doesn't work, then you need to find the info another way. For the product info page, the product id will be passed in $_GET['products_id'] even if it is not yet available in $products_id. From that, you can use a ZC lookup function to get other info about the product. For the shopping cart, a lot of info is held in (I think) the cart object... I would have to research exactly how to access it. Someone else will probably have that ready to hand.

[RodG]

I'm pretty sure php and Javascript don't "work" with each other.

I'm pretty sure you are right.

PHP is processed by the server.
JavaScript is processed by the client.

This makes a huge difference in what variables can be expected at any given time/place.

Cheers
Rod

[gjh42]

Right - the javascript will be output to the browser with the values of the PHP variables at the instant when the file is run on the server; these will be static text/numbers/whatever when the js operates on them.

[RodG]

Right - the javascript will be output to the browser with the values of the PHP variables at the instant when the file is run on the server; these will be static text/numbers/whatever when the js operates on them.

Sounds good to me, as I'm sure it does to all of us that have dealt with PHP and JavaScript.

It sometimes takes a while for this 'penny to drop' for the less experienced though, or for those with experience with one, but not the other.

Even with experience, I often find myself having to take a step back and take another look at what it is I'm trying to achieve, and whether it be serverside (PHP) or client side (JavasScript).

As you have correctly implied, a PHP serverside 'variable' becomes a client side 'static'. Conversely, a javascript 'variable' becomes a serverside 'static' when inserted as a POST/GET variable.

At least that is the way *I* keep the expectations clear in my head (my head is a scary place to be though, so this may not work with everyone) <g>

Cheers
Rod