How can i call a php file that does some processing?

[yawningMonk]

Hi,

I am having alot of difficulties trying to understand how to add a php file which does some processing and then returns me to the referring page.

For instance:

I have a file e.g. myFile.php

Which does some processing and at the end, executes a return to the referring page e.g.

header("Location: $referer");
exit;


Because i want to follow zencart's data /coding structure as close as possible

My question is:

1) Should i define the link as:

index.php?main_page=myFile.php&a=1&b=2 ...

or

index.php?main_page=myFile&a=1&b=2 ...


i.e. with or without the .php ending? and why the difference?

(I know the in the function: zen_href_link() the variable that does this is called $static)


2) Where do i put myFile or myFile.php so that it gets called properly?? Bearing in mind that it just executes some php code and is not a 'template' page or a displayed page?


Please if anyone can give me some hints, i would be extremely grateful!

Thanks in advance.

yM

[swguy]

Don't think "call" and "return" like a programming language; this is a preprocessing step done by your web server, so think "include," as in Apache SSI.

Look up "include" and "require" on php.net (or in your favorite PHP book) and you'll see how it works.

Good luck,
Scott

[yawningMonk]

Thanks SWGuy,

...my question is really to do with zencart rather than a php programming issue.


I just would like to know where, amongst the zencart directory structures, should i put myFile.php so that one of these href link will find myFile?

index.php?main_page=myFile&a=1&b=2 ...


Another way of looking at it is:

"If i click on that link, what are the sequence of files do ZC loads (include) to display myFile"


Thanks in advance.

[swguy]

You're asking a couple of questions here, so I'm going to give a couple of answers. :)

1) This seems like a new page. If it's a completely new page you're introducing, look at the About Us contribution in the downloads area for an example of how to do this.
2) This seems like the modification of an existing page. If you're just including some code into an existing page, just use include or require. Put the new code as close as possible to the old code, in a template folder - mostly so you'll remember where you put it three months from now.

Hope this helps,
Scott