Adrian Callaghan`s Blog

sort a array by its value

Adrian — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:45:07 +0000

To sort an array by its value, similiar to mysql sort by just use

Code:



usort($array, create_function('$a, $b, $sortBy="distance"', 'return strnatcmp($a[$sortBy], $b[$sortBy]);'));

$array stores the array
$sortBy set the key to sort by

i.e

Code:



$array = array (
    1=>array('name'=>'me','location'=>'somewhere','distance'=>'200'),
    2=>array('name'=>'you','location'=>'somewhere','distance'=>'2')
    );

usort($array, create_function('$a, $b, $sortBy="distance"', 'return strnatcmp($a[$sortBy], $b[$sortBy]);'));
print_r($array);

will result in the array being re-ordered with location 2 now being in location 1 (preserving the keys)

styling form buttons with divs

Adrian — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:57:46 +0000

Styling a button inside a form with multiple div`s to achieve a curved button with click events etc, can be done relatively easy with the use of javascript.

For example:

firstly lets take a look at our raw code

Next we place the button within no script tags, so it only displays if javascript is switched off, so that
non javascript enabled browsers can still submit.

Now we add the javascript styled button

 

      
	<script type="text/javascript">
	
 
	script>

Then style your button accordingly with your css,

/* buy button */
#buyButtonRight{
	width:16px;
	height:44px;
	display:block;
	position:absolute;
	top:0;
	right:0;
	cursor:pointer;
	}
 
#buyButtonLeft{
	width:16px;
	height:44px;
	display:block;
	position:absolute;
	top:0;
	left:0;
	cursor:pointer;
	}
 
#buyButtonMid{
	height:24px;
	min-width:20px;
	/*max-width:300px;*/
	padding:13px 20px 7px 20px;
	display:block;
	position:relative;
	float:left;
	cursor:pointer;
	color:#ffffff; 
	font-size:13px; 
	text-decoration:none;
	}
 
 
/* normal */
#buyButtonLeft{background:url('images/add2bas_left.jpg');}	
#buyButtonMid{background:url('images/add2bas_mid.jpg');}	
#buyButtonRight{background:url('images/add2bas_right.jpg');}
 
/* hover */
#buyButtonMid:hover #buyButtonLeft{background:url('images/add2bas_left_hover.jpg');}
#buyButtonMid:hover {background:url('images/add2bas_mid_hover.jpg');}
#buyButtonMid:hover #buyButtonRight{background:url('images/add2bas_right_hover.jpg');}
 
/* click */
#buyButtonMid:active #buyButtonLeft{background:url('images/add2bas_left_click.jpg') no-repeat;}
#buyButtonMid:active {background:url('images/add2bas_mid_click.jpg');}
#buyButtonMid:active #buyButtonRight{background:url('images/add2bas_right_click.jpg');}

Job done

wordpress comment count as a button

Adrian — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:46:56 +0000

Styling the wordpress comment count as a button/icon etc can be tricky because the normal call to the comments

1	comments_popup_link(__('Comments (0)'), __('Comments (1)'), __('Comments (%)'));

formats the output as an anchor point with the correct link, alt tags etc already set up.

So in order to intercept this and then add you own anchor point with divs/imagery etc you need to make a custom request

 
// SQL
$SQL = "SELECT COUNT(*) AS Count FROM $wpdb->comments WHERE comment_approved='1'";
$SQL.= "AND comment_post_ID='".intval($post->ID)."'";
 
// Sort the array into a string prefixed with 'Comments '
list($comments) = $wpdb->get_results($SQL, ARRAY_A); 	
$comments='Comments ('.$comments['Count'].')';
 
// generate the alt and title tags
$alt = 'Comment on '.$post->post_title;
 
// echo the button if this is not a single and not a page
if (!is_single() && !is_page()) {
 
// anchor open
echo '.get_permalink($post->ID).'" alt="'.$alt.'" title="'.$alt.'">';
 
// complex formatting rules for the comment pop up, go here
echo $comments;
 
// anchor close
echo '';
}

The above does exactly the same, formats the link etc, but now you can access the anchor point directly and format it your own way.

ftp open in explorer by default in windows

Adrian — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:25:24 +0000

How to make explorer open by default when opening an ftp connection, I found can be easy..

I needed to make IE6 style FTP access without the extra pop up step, from a desktop shortcut at work and after much googling, and messing with the registery, attempting to make an ftp site open immediatly in explorer without the main browser opening (pre IE7), I found it can be simply done like this.

1. create a bat file (open notepad, save the file with the affix .bat, making sure .txt is not selected in the dropdown)
2. in the batch file add

1	start explorer ftp://USERNAME:PASSWORD@FTP_SERVER_ADDRESS

3. add the shortcut to the desktop, and style the icon

Now when the user clicks the shortcut, voila IE6 style FTP access without the extra step, much easier than poking around with the registery

Online md5 hasher

Adrian — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:41:00 +0000

MD5 Hasher, To generate an md5 hash just enter your text below .result { color:#000000; background:#677E64; font-size:15px; display:block; width:250px; height:40px; text-align:center; overflow:wrap; border:1px solid #94B89E; margin:20px 5px; padding:10px; }

How many days old am I?

Adrian — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:03:02 +0000

How many days old are you? Well just fill in your birthday below to find out! .result { color:#000000; background:#677E64; font-size:15px; display:block; width:250px; height:40px; text-align:center; overflow:wrap; border:1px solid #94B89E; margin:20px 5px; padding:10px; } 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd [...]

What is html?

Adrian — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:00:44 +0000

What is HTML and how does it work?

In simple terms and to just introduce HTML (and not technical), most pages that people view on the internet are simply text files, that are being displayed a special way within a browser, they simply have the affix .html instead of .txt.

Whatever your browser (Internet explorer, firefox, opera, safari etc) they will attempt to render the text document according to some rules contained within it.

The rules contained within the document are in the form of tags placed within a < and a >.

These tags specify the rules or “markup” language for the way the text should be displayed.

The tags (generally) must have an equal amount of opening and closing tags, and must be closed in order.

There are many different tags, with many different uses.

For example, to render text as a header, the tag would be

HEADER TEXT

The tagging or, “markup language” explains the latter part of the acroynm HTML or “Hyper”, “Text”, “Markup“, “Language“.

The foremost “Hyper” and “Text” relates to pages hyper linking to one another by clicking on special text.

Hyper text is created by embedding text, with an associated URL by use of a special tag (known as an anchor point).

The anchor point displays the text to the viewer but however when it is clicked it will redirect the browser to a new defined location, “Hyper”, “Text” through “Markup”, “Language”.

An anchor point would look something like TEXT THAT IS CLICKABLE

However, browsers do expect some basic rules to be followed relating to the way in which the HTML appears.

There are many more advanced rules, which are beyond the scope of this basic introduction, but the most important are the document consist of a Head and Body wrapped in a html root tag.

The head tells the browser information such as the title of the page, and the body would be the content, but however the page would display without this formatting.

For example:


       
               Hello World!
       
       
               Hello World!

WordPress blog to MU

Adrian — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:39:49 +0000

Upgrading to wordpress MU manually from an old blog.

At work I had to update an old wordpress installation from 2.3.2 all the way up to the latest version of WordPress Mu (Multi User).

I documented the method I used and placed it below here.
If you do decide to do this it is done entirely at your own risk.
ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP FIRST

Stage 1

Install Mu on its own database alongside your existing installation and database, within its own directory in the normal way.

Stage 2

Move the data across from Mu performing an upgrade, keeping all the data intact and wordpress Mu functioning correctly.

How this is done

1. On your old blog`s database rename the following tables

	from				       to
	-----------------------------------------------------------------
	wp_comments		       wp_1_comments
	wp_links			       wp_1_links
	wp_options		       wp_1_options
	wp_postmeta		       wp_1_postmeta
        wp_posts		               wp_1_posts
	wp_terms			       wp_1_terms
	wp_term_relationships       wp_1_term_relationships
	wp_term_taxonomy	       wp_1_term_taxonomy

2. Copy only these tables across from the MU database to the old blog database.

	wp_blogs
	wp_blog_versions
   -->	wp_posts 		(THIS CAN BE OVER WRITTEN BECAREFULL)
	wp_registration_log
	wp_signups
	wp_site
	wp_site_categories

3. Alter the table wp_users in the old database by adding the following fields to its structure

	Field		        Type		  Collation	  Attributes	Null   	default   Extra
	----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	spam 		tinyint(2)					        No	        0
	deleted		tinyint(2)					        No	        0

4. Add the following information into the table wp_1_options in the old database

	option_id	blog_id		option_name			option_value			        autoload
	--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	75		0		avatar_default			        mystery				        yes
	68		0		avatar_rating			        G				                yes
	84		0 		close_comments_days_old		14				                yes
	83		0		close_comments_for_old_posts	0				                yes
	88		0 		comments_per_page		        50				                yes
	116		0		current_theme			        (the value from the database)	yes
	107		0		dashboard_widget_options   	(the value from the database)	yes
	97		0		dismissed_update_core		a:0:{}				                yes
	76		0		enable_app			        0				                yes
	77		0		enable_xmlrpc			        0				                yes
	99		0		fileupload_url			        (the value from the database)	yes
	82		0		image_default_align						                        yes
	80		0		image_default_link_type		file				                yes
	81		0		image_default_size						                        yes
	79		0		large_size_h			        1024				                yes	
	78		0		large_size_w			        1024				                yes
	74		0		medium_size_h			        300				                yes
	73		0		medium_size_w			        300				                yes
	108		0		nonce_salt			                (the value from the database)	yes
	87		0		page_comments			1				                yes
	100		0		post_count			        1				                yes
	61		0		random_seed			        (the value from the database)	yes
	67		0		show_avatars			        1				                yes
	92		0		sticky_posts			        a:0:{}				                yes
	85		0		thread_comments			0				                yes
	86		0		thread_comments_depth		5				                yes
	72		0		thumbnail_crop			        1				                yes
	71		0		thumbnail_size_h		        150				                yes
	70		0		thumbnail_size_w		        150				                yes
	106		0		update_themes			        (the value from the database)	yes
	69		0		upload_url_path							                        yes
	91		0		use_ssl				        0				                yes
	95		0		widget_rss			                a:0:{}				                yes
	94		0		widget_text			        a:0:{}				                yes
	102		0		WPLANG								                        yes
	98		0		wp_1_user_roles			(the value from the database)	yes

5. alter the value of upload_path in wp_1_options in the old database to wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files

The blog will now be active

…but the back office is broken!, to fix this….

6. in wp_usermeta change every entry of wp_capabilities to wp_1_capabilities (use the mysql below)

1	UPDATE wp_usermeta SET meta_key='wp_1_capabilities' WHERE meta_key='wp_capabilities'

7. create some extra fields based upon the user (run the php code below)

// custom code for upgrade
 
list($maxId) = $wpdb->get_results( 'SELECT max(umeta_id) AS startPoint FROM wp_usermeta', ARRAY_A);
foreach ($wpdb->get_results( 'SELECT ID FROM wp_users', ARRAY_A) AS $userId){
 
	echo 'Updating user: '.$userId['ID'].'
';
 
	// execute all the querys
	for ($queryNumber=0; $queryNumber<3;){
 
		switch ($queryNumber){
			case 0: 
				$SQL1 = "INSERT INTO wp_usermeta (umeta_id, user_id, meta_key, meta_value) VALUES ("; 
				$SQL2 = ", ".$userId['ID'].", 'comment_shortcuts', 'false');"; 
				$queryNumber++; 
				break;
			case 1: 
				$SQL1 = "INSERT INTO wp_usermeta (umeta_id, user_id, meta_key, meta_value) VALUES ("; 
				$SQL2 = ", ".$userId['ID'].", 'admin_color', 'fresh');"; 
				$queryNumber++;
				break;
			case 2: 
				$SQL1 = "INSERT INTO wp_usermeta (umeta_id, user_id, meta_key, meta_value) VALUES ("; 
				$SQL2 = ", ".$userId['ID'].", 'source_domain', 'YOURBLOGDOMAIN');"; 
				$queryNumber++;
				break;
			default:
				die('Query out of bounds exception:  '.$queryNumber);
			}
 
		// check the slot is available
		$check = $wpdb->get_results('SELECT * FROM wp_usermeta WHERE umeta_id='.$maxId['startPoint'], ARRAY_A);
		while (!empty($check)) { 
			$maxId['startPoint']++; 
			echo 'Incrementing to: '.$maxId['startPoint'].'
';
			$check = $wpdb->get_results('SELECT * FROM wp_usermeta WHERE umeta_id='.$maxId['startPoint'], ARRAY_A);
			}
 
		$SQL = $SQL1.$maxId['startPoint'].$SQL2;
		echo 'Executing query '.$queryNumber.'       : ';
 
		echo $wpdb->query($SQL) ? 'Success': 'Failed';
		echo '
';		
		}
	echo '
';
	}

8. point the MU config.php to the old database, you will need to change the permissions from 644 to 666 use CHMOD
or duplicate the config file, alter it, rename the old config file, and then rename the new file as config.php

9. Log into the back office goto to settings->permalinks and click save, your posts/pages can now be found

Your upgrade should now be complete and you can go ahead and delete the MU database installation, not your old but now upgraded database.

I will be happy to answer any questions, and comments as always, are welcome

Additionally:
Ensure that both the field umeta_id in table wp_usermeta and the field ID in table wp_users are set to auto_increment.

Table pagination example PHP

Adrian — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:58:06 +0000

Table Pagination in PHP can be easily achieved with this function.

It is designed to be used in conjunction with the database class found here but can be used standalone with any suitable array.

The idea of this function is to quickly output the results of a multi-dimensioned associative array, with the minimuim of fuss.
This is ideal for repetitive back office dutys, but however, there are arguments which can be passed depending upon the level of control required to change the functionality or format.

A beginners step by step example can be found here
and the source code here

Database class for php

Adrian — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:51:12 +0000

Database class for php

$dataBase = new DB();
(instaniates the database ready for CRUD)

$result = $dataBase->getQuery(‘SELECT * FROM FOO WHERE bar=1′);
($result contains a multidimensional associative array)

$id = $dataBase->setQuery(‘DELETE FROM FOO WHERE bar=1′);
($id contains the row id of the last update, can be left out)

To settup the class

// database
define ('HOST',		'localhost');
define ('NAME',		'NAME_OF_DATABASE');
define ('USER',		'USER_NAME');
define ('PASS',		'PASSWORD');
 
// Error messages
define ('ERRS',		false); // Meaningfull error messages on or off (mainly SQL related)
define ('MESSAGE',		'The server encountered an internal error');// Default message
define ('admin_email', 'someone@somewhere.com');// email errors to

Errors can be set to display on or off (uses a generic message) it then emails full details to the administrator of the fault.

It can be downloaded from here

Code below

 
class DB{
/* 
DESCRIPTION:	Object class, Handles all database requests and returns content accordingly
 
WRITER:			Adrian Callaghan 120808
INSTANIATION:	new DB()                    requires HOST,NAME,USER,PASS,ERRS,MESSAGE values to be set prior (config)
 
 
API:
 
	MODIFIERS:
				setStateClose()				// sets the mySql connection to close
				setQuery($arg)				// executes a query without returning any results, used for insert, create etc,  
											// returns the ID of the last auto-increment
				setErrMessage($err)			// displays and emails, the sql error
				setDataBase($database)		// sets dataBase, leave arg blank to set back to the default 
	ACCESSORS:
				getQuery($arg)				// executes sql query from $arg and returns result as a '2d assoc array'
				getStateOpen()				// returns details about the currently open connection
				*/
 
 
 
 
	var $mySqlHost;
	var $dataBase;
 
 
 
 
	function __construct() {
		$this->mySqlHost = @mysql_connect(HOST, USER, PASS);
		if (!$this->mySqlHost) {
			$this->setErrMessage('Access Error','Error',mysql_error(),$SQL);
			}
		$this->setDataBase();
		}
 
 
 
	// Accesors	
	function getQuery($SQL){
		// executes a query
		$result = @mysql_query($SQL);
		if (!$result) {
			$this->setErrMessage('Sql Error','Invalid query',mysql_error(),$SQL);
			}
		// create a 2D array of results
		$return = array();
		while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)) $return[] = $row;
		return $return;
		}
 
 
 
	function getStateOpen(){
		// returns an array of details about the open connection
		$return['DB']['host']=$this->mySqlHost;
		$return['DB']['database']=$this->dataBase;
		}
 
 
 
	// Modifiers
	function setDataBase($dataBaseName=NAME){
		$this->dataBase = @mysql_select_db($dataBaseName,$this->mySqlHost);
		if (!$this->dataBase) {
			$this->setErrMessage('I/O Error','Error',mysql_error(),$SQL);
			}
		}
 
 
	function setStateClose() {
		// closes current connection
		mysql_close($mySqlHost);
		}
 
 
 
 
	function setQuery($SQL){
		// executes a query without returning any results, used for insert, create etc, returns the ID of the last auto-increment
		$result = @mysql_query($SQL);
		if (!$result) {
			$this->setErrMessage('Sql Error','Invalid query',mysql_error(),$SQL);
			}
		$return = mysql_insert_id();
		return $return;
		}
 
 
 
 
	function setErrMessage($message, $errName, $err, $SQL){
		// displays and emails, the sql error
 
		if (ERRS){
			?>
			 echo $message; ?>
			
			
				 echo $errName; ?>:  echo $err; ?>
				

				Whole query:  echo $SQL; ?>
			
			
		 }
		else { ?>
			 echo MESSAGE; ?>
			
		 } 
 
		// email message
		$Name = $_SERVER['SERVER_NAME']; //senders name 
		$email = "noreply@".$_SERVER['SERVER_NAME']; //senders e-mail adress 
 
		//mail body 
		$mail_body = 
		''.$_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'].' error
'.
		$err.'
'. 
		'Request details
'.
		'Script filename and query string: '.$_SERVER['SCRIPT_FILENAME'].'?'.$_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'].'
'.
		'Server name: '.$_SERVER['SERVER_NAME'].'
'.
		'User details
'.
		'IP ADDRESS: '.$_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'].' : '.$_SERVER['REMOTE_PORT'].'
'.
		'Time: '.date("D dS M,Y h:i a").'
'
		;
 
		$subject = $_SERVER['SERVER_NAME']." Error"; //subject 
 
		$header = 'MIME-Version: 1.0' . "\r\n";
		$header.= 'Content-type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1' . "\r\n";		
		$header.= "From: ". $Name . " <" . $email . ">\r\n"; 
 
 
		// send mail, and die
		$sent = @mail(admin_email, $subject, $mail_body, $header) ;
 
		if ($sent) $display.='The administrator has been notified
';
		else $display.='Please notify the administrator '.admin_email.'
';
 
		$display.='Please call back again later
';
		die($display);
		}	
	} ?>