1.)Do you guys use an IDE to edit your PHP?
2.)If so, what do you use?
3.)What is the best free IDE for PHP?


4.)This is an HTML question, I want to save a file through a dialog box that picks the directory and stuff. Is that possible using the <input type="file" ...> tag?

Personally I like to handcode all of my PHP.. I use Crimson Editor, which is available free from http://www.crimsoneditor.com.

That being said I think that Zend offers a PHP IDE.. which can be found at http://www.zend.com. I *think* they offer a shareware version for free.

Not sure on your last question, perhaps using JavaScript or VBScript...

: )
Rich

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Smiling Souls
http://www.smilingsouls.net
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Oh also, <input type="file" ...> won't work, this is for outgoing files.. won't work to prompt the user to save a file. That much I can say.

:D
Rich

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Smiling Souls
http://www.smilingsouls.net
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Thanks for replying! I just downloaded Crimson, I was using PHPEdit (it was OK but not great).

I want to make a save file feature. Basically I'm storing a XML file with the a blob field in Sybase database, I want to be able to save it to a file. I know how to write a file but I'd like to have a nice dialog to pick the directory and stuff. Anybody know how?

Oh Ok, If you want to prompt the use to save a download..

<?php

// download.php
// MIME type, i.e. text/plain text/html application/msword image/pjpeg.. etc

header("Content-type: MIME TYPE HERE");
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=proposed file name here");

echo $body; // File contents here

?>

This will present the user with a save as dialouge.

The Zend Studio IDE was actually pretty cool I went ahead and downloaded it. For some reason I thought it was more WYSIWYG-ish.. it does have some pretty cool features. One being a kickass debugger.

Some things I noticed that it picks up on:
Use of assignment in a conditional statement
If you create a variable but don't use it (perhaps as the result of a typo or logic error)
Unsafe use of Global variables.
.. plenty more I'm sure..

It has a window that contains every PHP function complete with argument lists and return values, and if you right click on the function there's a link to the online manual entry for that function.

They say the shareware version which is fully function for, I dunno, 22 days, then supposedly a few "advanced" features cease to fuction. Is it worth $200? Personally I would wait for a future version with more bells and whistles before paying that much for it. What can I say, I'm a tight wad! I don't think its as cool as crimson just yet. The extra debugging and whatnot is cool and all, but productivity wise it could be a little better. Like support other language syntax, the ability to undock parts of the application for multiple monitor usage.. and well Crimson is free!

Just my two cents!

:D'
Rich

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Smiling Souls
http://www.smilingsouls.net
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ok, that works great! But I'm trying to call a PHP function from with a JavaScript function, but I keep getting errors. Is it possible?

<script language="javascript">
function save_dialog()
{
    <?php save_file(); ?>
}
</script>

Remember PHP is a server-side language and Javascript is a client-side language.. Its possible but not with the way you're thinking of it. You need to call on the server side process from JavaScript.

I would do something like the following..

<script language='javascript' type='text/javascript'>

window.open('download.php?args=args', 'download', 'width=200, height=200');

</script>

I think that because the download script creates a download that presents the user with a save as dialouge that the window will disappear once download begins.

: )
Rich


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Smiling Souls
http://www.smilingsouls.net
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Oh sorry, and you can call on that with a JavaScript function of course...

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Smiling Souls
http://www.smilingsouls.net
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::