Exercise 6 for chapter 2

scooter5 · August 25th, 2010, 11:03 AM

I have been trying to figure out how to implement the example code for the exercise that displays how many times a page has been viewed using functions. I have typed the code as shown but when I view the page it always just says I have viewed the page 1 time(s). I think somehow I need to initialize a counter for this to work. Below I have included the code for you to look at. I am enjoying the book so far and would greatly appreciate any help.

the code I have typed is as follows:

Code:

<?php
function display_times($num) {
echo '<h1>You have viewed this page ' . $num . ' time(s).</h1>';
}

//get the cookie value and add 1 to it for this visit
$num_times = 1;
if (isset($_COOKIE['num_times'])) {
$num_times = $_COOKIE['num_times'] + 1;
}

//set the value back to the cookie for the next time
setcookie('num_times', '&num_times', time() + 60);
?>
<html>
<head>
<title>Viewed Times</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
display_times($num_times);
?>
</body>
</html>

thanks again

scooter5 · August 26th, 2010, 01:45 PM

I GOT IT!!!!
I created a $_SESSION['counter'] = 0 in movie1.php
Then in moviesite.php I placed a condition on the $_SESSION['authuser'] that
would add 1 to $_SESSION['counter'] and save that value as a new variable "$viewed." Then the function reset the value of $_SESSION['counter'] to = $viewed.
It worked! PRODIGIOUSLY COOL!!!!

scooter5 · August 26th, 2010, 01:51 PM

Scratch the celebration.
the counter increments okay. but it goes back to zero when the authorized user logs out. oh well. back to the drawing board.

scooter5 · August 27th, 2010, 11:24 AM

found a function that works. although i don't understand why it works without the curly brackets. nothing like parading your ignorance in front of the world.
here is the code that seems to work:

Code:

<?php
session_start();  
if(isset($_SESSION['views'])) 
    $_SESSION['views'] = $_SESSION['views']+ 1;

else 
    $_SESSION['views'] = 1;

echo "views = ". $_SESSION['views'];
?>

hope somebody gets some help from this.