Topic: Display TXT file content in a block?

[tfs]

I've been trying to figure out a way to display the content of a TXT file in a block, but have been stymied so far.

I want to allow someone (100% trustworthy) to display information on a forum.  They want to do so via a TXT file, which I can then use an FTP script on their machine to put wherever it needs to go on the forum.  When they want to change the content they merely publish a new TXT file.  So I thought I'd display a PHP or HTML block that pulls the content of that TXT file.

Has anyone done this before?  It should be simple, and I've tried a few variations of scripts that are all over the net, to no avail thus far.

[ccbtimewiz]

For SMF 2.0:

Code: [Select]

<?php

global $smcFunc;

// Your file, should be defined as a txt as you requested
$file = '/path/to/the/file/on/the/system/file.txt';

// Get the information from the file and then clean it
$output = file_get_contents($file);
$output = $smcFunc['htmlspecialchars'](trim($output), ENT_QUOTES);

echo $output;

?>

[tfs]

Thanks, that finally got it.  I found a tip on another site to maintain the formatting within the TXT file by using "pre" tag, though then it's displayed in a fixed-width font.

Code: [Select]

<?php
global $smcFunc;
// Your file, should be defined as a txt as you requested
$file = '/homepages/x/helpdesk/license.txt';

// Get the information from the file and then clean it
$output = file_get_contents($file);
$output = $smcFunc['htmlspecialchars'](trim($output), ENT_QUOTES);
echo '<pre>';
echo $output;
echo '</pre>';
?>

[ccbtimewiz]

If you want to keep the format of the text file, you can use nl2br()

Code: [Select]

<?php
global $smcFunc;
// Your file, should be defined as a txt as you requested
$file = '/homepages/x/helpdesk/license.txt';

// Get the information from the file and then clean it
$output = file_get_contents($file);
$output = $smcFunc['htmlspecialchars'](trim($output), ENT_QUOTES);
$output = nl2br($output);

echo $output;

?>

[tfs]

Nice... that works.  Now for the hard part.    What I've been ultimately trying to do is to incorporate this PHP code that displays a TXT file into an existing HTML block, so that it displays inside of a specific grid of a table.  This is the raw HTML I'm using.

Code: [Select]

<span class="upperframe"><span></span></span>
<div class="roundframe"><br>
<div style="text-align: center;"><big>If
your issue is critical, please call the office after filing a ticket
(555)555-1212 and ask for Technical Support. </big><br>
</div>
<br>
<table style="text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 95%;" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="6">
  <tbody>
    <tr>

      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(94, 123, 182); background-color: rgb(208, 220, 234); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">REMINDER: </span>the
first Thursday of
each month at 10am CT and repeating at 2pm CT, SD2 hosts webinar
discussion/training sessions on hot topics desired by our clients.
Webinar connection instructions are e-mailed to clients two days prior
to each meeting (also posted on sd2.patsong.com). We
hope you can join us! <em></em> </td>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(88, 13, 74); background-color: rgb(218, 195, 223); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><strong></strong><font><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></font><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 7/7, is our First Thursday
TechFest (User Forum) for July.&nbsp; </span>The current schedules
calls for the subject to be "Mapping Software" for people with no sense
of direction.<br>
      <br>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>

</table>
<br>
<table style="text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 95%;" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="6">
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(88, 13, 74); background-color: rgb(218, 195, 223); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><font><span style="font-weight: bold;">Check out our main page for important
random filler material!</span></font><br>
      <em></em> </td>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(94, 123, 182); background-color: rgb(208, 220, 234); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SD2 Patsong, Inc. (SD2)</span><br>
4444 N. Hello Ave., #224<br>

Los Angeles, CA&nbsp; 90503<br>
(555)555-1212 - Voice<br>
(888)555-1212 - Toll Free<br>
(555)555-1211 - Fax<br>
      <br>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>

</table>
<br>
<table style="text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 95%;" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="6">
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(94, 123, 182); background-color: rgb(208, 220, 234); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">REMINDER: </span>the
first Thursday of
each month at 10am CT and repeating at 2pm CT, SD2 hosts webinar
discussion/training sessions on hot topics desired by our clients.
Webinar connection instructions are e-mailed to clients two days prior
to each meeting (also posted on sd2.patsong.com). We
hope you can join us! <em></em> </td>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(88, 13, 74); background-color: rgb(218, 195, 223); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><strong></strong><font><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></font><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>
<?php
global $smcFunc;
// Your file, should be defined as a txt as you requested
$file = '/homepages/x/helpdesk/license.txt';

// Get the information from the file and then clean it
$output = file_get_contents($file);
$output = $smcFunc['htmlspecialchars'](trim($output), ENT_QUOTES);
$output = nl2br($output);

echo $output;
?><br>
      <br>

      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
</div>

<span class="lowerframe"><span></span></span>
But I have been unable to use PHP inside of that table to display a TXT file.  The PHP is embedded within the bottom right grid of the table, and yet nothing appears.  But if I display the PHP via a PHP block, the text appears.

[ccbtimewiz]

Make a new PHP block, and put this as the content:

Code: [Select]

<?php

echo '
<span class="upperframe"><span></span></span>
<div class="roundframe"><br>
<div style="text-align: center;"><big>If
your issue is critical, please call the office after filing a ticket
(555)555-1212 and ask for Technical Support. </big><br>
</div>
<br>
<table style="text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 95%;" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="6">
  <tbody>
    <tr>

      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(94, 123, 182); background-color: rgb(208, 220, 234); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">REMINDER: </span>the
first Thursday of
each month at 10am CT and repeating at 2pm CT, SD2 hosts webinar
discussion/training sessions on hot topics desired by our clients.
Webinar connection instructions are e-mailed to clients two days prior
to each meeting (also posted on sd2.patsong.com). We
hope you can join us! <em></em> </td>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(88, 13, 74); background-color: rgb(218, 195, 223); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><strong></strong><font><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></font><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 7/7, is our First Thursday
TechFest (User Forum) for July.&nbsp; </span>The current schedules
calls for the subject to be "Mapping Software" for people with no sense
of direction.<br>
      <br>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>

</table>
<br>
<table style="text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 95%;" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="6">
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(88, 13, 74); background-color: rgb(218, 195, 223); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><font><span style="font-weight: bold;">Check out our main page for important
random filler material!</span></font><br>
      <em></em> </td>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(94, 123, 182); background-color: rgb(208, 220, 234); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SD2 Patsong, Inc. (SD2)</span><br>
4444 N. Hello Ave., #224<br>

Los Angeles, CA&nbsp; 90503<br>
(555)555-1212 - Voice<br>
(888)555-1212 - Toll Free<br>
(555)555-1211 - Fax<br>
      <br>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>

</table>
<br>
<table style="text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 95%;" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="6">
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(94, 123, 182); background-color: rgb(208, 220, 234); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">REMINDER: </span>the
first Thursday of
each month at 10am CT and repeating at 2pm CT, SD2 hosts webinar
discussion/training sessions on hot topics desired by our clients.
Webinar connection instructions are e-mailed to clients two days prior
to each meeting (also posted on sd2.patsong.com). We
hope you can join us! <em></em> </td>
      <td style="border: 1px solid rgb(88, 13, 74); background-color: rgb(218, 195, 223); vertical-align: top; width: 24%;"><strong></strong><font><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></font><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>';

global $smcFunc;
// Your file, should be defined as a txt as you requested
$file = '/homepages/x/helpdesk/license.txt';

// Get the information from the file and then clean it
$output = file_get_contents($file);
$output = $smcFunc['htmlspecialchars'](trim($output), ENT_QUOTES);
$output = nl2br($output);

echo $output;

echo '<br>
      <br>

      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
</div>

<span class="lowerframe"><span></span></span>';

?>

[tfs]

I'm truly impressed with your prowess and generosity.  Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!!!  This is actually something I can really use. 

I hope I can return the favor some day!

Now... I'm off to study just what's happening in that PHP, and to learn to tweak it here and there.