read a file into an array and display selected items

Arrays example from a Well House Consultants training course
More on Arrays [link]

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This example references the following resources:
http://www.wellho.net/course/phfull.html

Source code: simgrep.php Module: H106


<?php

/* One of the really useful 'little' applications of PHP is in
filtering data to present to the user, who selects which data
he needs through a form.  As the data set grows in size, you can
add sorting and pagination. */

# This example uses a text file of data but the application is
# easily changed to handle data from a database.

/* To add to this 'shell'
1. Sorting
2. Statement of "0 records matched"
3. Pagination
4. Input validations */

if ($_REQUEST[proggers]) {  // IF THE FORM IS FILLED IN ...

$source = "$_SERVER[DOCUMENT_ROOT]/data/stdcodes.xyz";
$lookfor = stripslashes($_REQUEST[proggers]);

$rubbers = array();
foreach (file($source) as $employee) {
        if (preg_match("/$lookfor/i",$employee)) {
                # Potential reformat of $employee
                $outst = htmlspecialchars($employee);
                array_push($rubbers,$outst);
                }
        }

sort($rubbers);
$reply = "Looking for <b>".htmlspecialchars($lookfor)
        . "</b><br /><br />"
        .  implode("<br />",$rubbers);

} else { // IF THE FORM IS NOT FILLED IN ...

$reply = "<b>The answer will appear here when you submit the form</b>";

}

/* Following is the look and feel of the page.  This could
usefully be split out into a separate file (template)
========================================================= */
?>
<html>
<head>
<title>Looking up places or dialling codes</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Using PHP to extract data from a source</h1>
This is a sample PHP application written during our
<a href=http://www.wellho.net/course/phfull.html>PHP course</a>
which shows how a simple script can be used to provide the
user with data extracted from a data file or SQL database.<br /><br />
<b>Call it "webgrep" if you like!</b><br /><hr />
This example reads a file of around 5000 telephone dialling codes
and the place or service they are associated with. Please enter
part of a code or a place or service name on the form, and submit the
form, and I'll tell you about all the matches.<br /><br />
<form>Look for: <input name=proggers> and
<input type=submit value=go!></form><br /><br />
<?php print ($reply) ; ?>
<hr />
Copyright statement, other links, etc ...
</body>
</html>

Learn about this subject

This module and example are covered on the following public courses:
* Learning to program in PHP
* PHP Programming
* Beginning PHP - weekend course / hobby / club / leisure users
* PHP Programming
* Learning to program in PHP
Also available on on site courses for larger groups

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Other Examples

This example comes from our "Arrays" training module. You'll find a description of the topic and some other closely related examples on the "Arrays" module index page.

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