Question

I want to understand how to use templating system and permalinks on php websites 😀 !..

let me describe my self more,

1.currently i have 20 files each have its own php logic (index.php,wizard.php,search.php etc)
ALL use same class’s and includes.(install.php include all the required for all class’s in my project abd u require_once(install.php) in all files)

i wana remodel my website into.

Analyze URL requested ---> IDENTIFY requested page ---> GET TEMPLATE for THIS PAGE -->MODIFY header(meta) and footer(javascript) ---> add logic ---> display page :D.

can some one put me on right learning track 😀 !. cuz i hv coded my website fully in oop and made all its content loads dynamically from MYSQL (simple small CMS) but i have no clue how to join template and php into index without repeating my self and create different file for each page in my web ! (each file do different jobs of course like file users.php does login and registration and userprofile etc)

Hope my english wassnt too too bad and u could understand my question 😀 !

My current approach so far:

Mysql table : page_tbl
columns: pagename,LogicFile,templateFile,MetaTag.

index.php?pagename

will check if not already cached or not listed for chacing it will :

Mysql:SELECT * WHERE pagename='$_GET['page']'

loginfiles = cars.php,search.php (will be exploded with , and included)
Template files = will be also exploded and modified according to MetaTag.
Metatag: Serialized assoc array with [‘name’]=[‘value’];

Then i start buffer output , replace template with new descriptions and keywords(auto generated)
include logic files
include footer.php (which include the scripts)

am i near to correct rout or still far away ? or am did i lose my track and over killing

Answer 1

If you are unsure whether you want to write your own, or use an existing one.

• It is going to be a quite possibly very rewarding experience but a very time consuming one to write your own.
• If you have a task at hand that you need to be solved, use an existing one.

That being said there are plenty of templating systems, smarty being the most long-lived one. You can find a short discussion on 5 popular ones at phpbuilder.

You also have entire Frameworks that you might want to consider. They are more than just a templating system, where database stuff, ajax helpers etc are included. Zend, CakePHP, and Codeigniter being popular ones. You can find comparisons of these at phpframeworks.