Thanks alot.
That really gaved me a vivid image of how to do it.
--- In php-objects@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Larry Helms" <larr_helms@...> wrote:
>
> What I would do is:
>
> 1. Create a 'template file'... something like:
>
> __TODAY__
>
> Invoice #: __INVOICE_NUMBER__
> Amount: __INV_AMT__ (__CURRENCY__)
>
> etc... etc... etc...
>
> 2. Then in your Invoice Processing routine, read the whole
> template file into a string.
>
> $template = file_get_contents ($template_file_name);
> // file_get_contents is a standard PHP function.
>
> 3. For each invoice:
>
> $invoices = db_get_invoices ($todays_date);
>
> // Your db routine should return an array of invoice
> // numbers. I'm assuming that invoices are generated
> // daily, hence the use of 'todays_date' a variable
> // containing todays date... in whatever format you
> // prefer to use. You might even consider making the
> // routine NOT require the date, and defaulting
> // to todays date, if none is passed.
>
> foreach ($invoices as &$invoice_number)
> {
> $text = '';
> $isok = format_invoice ($template, $invoice_number, $text);
>
> if ( $isok )
> {
> $isok = output_invoice ($text);
>
> if ( ! $isok )
> {
> // handle errors appropiately...
> // write to log file or something.
> }
> }
> else
> {
> // handle errors appropiately...
> // write to log file or something.
> }
> }
>
> // The function format_invoice should be written in
> // such a manner that it looks up all the necessary
> // information from the database and performs multiple
> // str_replaces... until all dynamic fields in the
> // template have been replaced with actual values.
> // The WHOLE thing is then returned to the calling
> // routine where it is handled appropriately.
>
> // The function output_invoice might then append the
> // contents (e.g. the invoice) to a file, which is
> // then later printed... and then the invoices
> // snail mailed to customers... it all depends on what
> // you intend on doing with
>
> format_invoice might look something like this:
>
> format_invoice ($template, $invoice_number, &$text)
> {
> $isok = true;
>
> $isok = db_lookup_invoice ($invoice_number, $invoice_values);
>
> // db_lookup_invoice returns an array of ALL the values
> // associated with a particular invoice number
>
> if ( $isok )
> {
> $rtn_str = $template;
>
> $rtn_str = str_replace ('__TODAY__', $todays_date,
$rtn_str);
> $rtn_str = str_replace ('__INVOICE_NUMBER__',
$invoice_number, $rtn_str);
> $rtn_str = str_replace ('__INV_AMT__',
$invoice_values['amount'], $rtn_str);
> $rtn_str = str_replate ('__CURRENCY__',
$invoice_values['currency'], $rtn_str);
> .
> .
> .
> $text = $rtn_str; // put the rtn_str into $text
where
> // the calling routine will have
> // access to it.
> }
>
> return $isok; // return a success status to
calling routine
> // tells the calling routine
whether THIS routine
> // succeeded or not.
> }
>
