CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phpincludedreamweaver
WithFlyingColors
WithFlyingColors

Reputation: 2760

Using includes in php

I have a file that is called header (the header of my site).. I use that file in all my site. The problem is that it has this include in it:

include_once("../untitled/sanitize_string.php");

which means that a mistake may be thrown, depending on who calls the header file.

I have directories, subdirectories and subdirectories to the subdirectories.. is there a simple way to prevent this from happening.. Instead of taking the satize string include and placing it on every page and not in the header file

Warning: require_once(/untitled/sanitize_string.php) [function.require-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in C:\xampp\htdocs\PoliticalForum\StoredProcedure\User\headerSite.php on line 7

Fatal error: require_once() [function.require]: Failed opening required '/untitled/sanitize_string.php' (include_path='.;C:\xampp\php\PEAR') in C:\xampp\htdocs\PoliticalForum\StoredProcedure\User\headerSite.php on line 7

Upvotes: 0

Views: 1626

Answers (5)

catalin.costache
catalin.costache

Reputation: 3163

For php 5.3 you can do:

include_once(__DIR__ . '/../untitled/sanitize_string.php');

where __DIR__ is the directory for the current file

For older versions you can use

include_once(dirname(__FILE__) . '/../untitled/sanitize_string.php');

where __FILE__ is the path for the current file

Lets say you have the following structure:

/app/path/public/header.php
/app/path/public/user/profile.php
/app/path/untitled/sanitize_string.php

If your header.php includes santitize_script.php with a relative path like so:

include_once("../untitled/sanitize_string.php");

the php interpreter will try to include that file RELATIVELY to the current working dir so if you will do a request like http://localhost/header.php it will try to include it from /app/path/public/../untitled/sanitize_string.php and it will work.

But if you will try to do a request like http://localhost/user/profile.php and profile.php includes header.php, than header.php will try to include the file from /app/path/public/user/../untitled/sanitize_string.php and this will not work anymore. (/app/path/public/user beeing the current working dir now)

That's why is a good practice to use absolute paths when including files. When used in header.php, the __DIR__ and __FILE__ constants will always have the same values: /app/path/public and /app/path/public/header.php respectively no matter where header.php will be used thereafter

Upvotes: 4

Lewis LaCook
Lewis LaCook

Reputation: 104

You're going to have to use absolute paths here, as opposed to relative. I often set up some constants to represent important directories, using the old Server vars. Like so:

define('MY_DIR',$_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'].'/path/to/yer/dir');

Then, modify your include statement:

include_once(MY_DIR.'/your_file.php');

Upvotes: 1

Visionary Software Solutions
Visionary Software Solutions

Reputation: 3848

You may consider setting a global include path while using include.

Upvotes: 5

genesis
genesis

Reputation: 50976

Use absolute path as yes123 said.

include_once(dirname(__FILE__)."/../untitled/sanitize_string.php");

Upvotes: 1

dynamic
dynamic

Reputation: 48101

Use absolute path...

include_once('/home/you/www/include.php');

Upvotes: 1

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