Edit a .PHP file using PHP

Question

I have example language file en.php

<?php

$language = array(
    "language_code" => "en",
    "language_name" => "English",


);

These language files replace replace certain things in template files to support multi-language.

Is there a way to add stuff into the array using PHP?
So I do something in the settings, e.g. add a new language value and the PHP adds this to the file en.php and saves it.

I wonder if this is possible because it can be quite complicated I guess. If it is possible, a slight suggestion to do so would be appreciated. I don't have much experience editing files in php.

If it would be better, I could change the language format to XML if that makes it easier.

Thanks

and yes XML is defiantly easier and faster and makes more sense to use. — user529649
– user529649, Commented Aug 19, 2011 at 12:31
Because there are more than one en.php language files, and I am a lazy administrator. Also, the PHP itself adds new language values when a new module is added to site. — Matej
– Matej, Commented Aug 19, 2011 at 12:35
@mkram0: then you will go and learn how to edit XML from web articles and books if you have. feel free to come back and ask if you got stack some any where. — user529649
– user529649, Commented Aug 19, 2011 at 12:35

Matej · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-19 16:02:57Z

5

Instead of storing data in php code (or XML), use JSON. Load the data with:

$json = file_get_contents('en.json');
if ($json === false) throw new Exception('Cannot read file!');
$language = json_decode($json, true); // true tells json_decode to export as array ;)

and store it with:

$json = json_encode($language);
if (file_put_contents('en.json', $json) === false) {
  throw new Exception('Can not store language');
}

If you really insist on storing your data as a php program, use the var_export function:

$phpCode = "<?php\n\n" . '$language = ' . var_export($language, true) . ';';
if (file_put_contents('en.php', $phpCode) === false) {
    throw new Exception('Can not store language');
}

There's no need to use XML, since it would be slower and more complicated than JSON. Also, you should generally not store translations in a (relational) database, since the round trip time and repeated query parsing and evaluation are prone to slow down your application.

edited Aug 19, 2011 at 16:02

Matej

9,8738 gold badges52 silver badges68 bronze badges

answered Aug 19, 2011 at 12:38

phihag

289k75 gold badges475 silver badges489 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Matej Over a year ago

this is excelent and far easy. Thanks a lot

Bas Slagter · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-19 12:44:03Z

0

Why don't you introduce an xml file (or a database) where you store the possible languages and use that instead of the array you are describing?

answered Aug 19, 2011 at 12:44

Bas Slagter

9,9479 gold badges50 silver badges81 bronze badges

1 Comment

Saic Siquot Over a year ago

what about the performance of this way when you load 20 or more values from DB

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Edit a .PHP file using PHP

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related