replace a specific line in a php file

[techdaemon]

Hi. I'm just a noob in php. I need to know how I can replace a specific line of text in a php file. For example, in a php file below named conf.php, I want 'used_dir' => 'files/',, which is in the third line, to be replaced with 'used_dir' => 'new_files/',. How can i do this? Any reply will be appreciated.

<?php
$options = array (
'used_dir' => 'files/',
'login' => true,
);
?>

PS: I was thinking I can apply file_get_contents() and file_put_contents() functions in this but I don't have an idea how to.

techdaemon Reviewed by techdaemon on 25th Sep 2010. replace a specific line in a php file Hi. I'm just a noob in php. I need to know how I can replace a specific line of text in a php file. For example, in a php file below named conf.php, I want 'used_dir' => 'files/',, which is in the third line, to be replaced with 'used_dir' => 'new_files/',. How can i do this? Any reply will be appreciated. <?php $options = array ( 'used_dir' => 'files/', 'login' => true, ); ?> PS: I was thinking I can apply file_get_contents() and file_put_contents() functions in this but I don't Rating: 5

[NucleA]

<?php

//Get content of your php file.
$buffer = file_get_contents('yourphpfile.php');

//Replace using RegEx
$buffer = preg_replace("/'used_dir' => 'files\/'/", "'used_dir'=> 'new_files'", $buffer);

//output.
echo $buffer;

?>

[techdaemon]

what if line no. 3 is not always 'used_dir' => 'files/', but a variable that changes? what im trying to do exactly is creating a form using another php file to edit conf.php. so i was wondering if i can do this method

(1) chmod conf.php to 777, read and copy the file with file_get_contents()
(2) create a new file called conf_new.php and write in it the copied content using file_put_contents()
(3) replace line no. 3 with something else
(4) delete conf.php with unlink(),
(5) rename conf_new.php to conf.php

[NucleA]

it simple, just add the variable name in the regular expression!

[techdaemon]

i dont want to edit that file in filemanager or ftp!

[NucleA]

dude, you donot need to edit the file manually, when adding a variable in the regEx, it will automatically be updated.

[Gavo]

change the config like that and define $new when you want to use dir new_files ?

<?php 
if ($new==1) {
$options = array ( 
'used_dir' => 'new_files/', 
'login' => true, 
); 
}

else
{
$options = array ( 
'used_dir' => 'files/', 
'login' => true, 
);
} 
?>

[Loget]

@NucleA and Gav0: When posting PHP code please use the [PHP] tag, it makes it easier to read. I've edited your posts and put the [PHP] tag in them.

[mRAza]

<?php


$options = array ( 
'used_dir' => 'files/', 
'login' => true, 
); 
$newname = "newname"; // Here enter new name u wants 
echo preg_replace("/[a-zA-Z0-9]+/",$newname,$options['used_dir']);

?>

[Hyperz]

Am I the only one that has noticed the real problem? Why would you hard-code settings in the first place. Editing PHP files is not how you should change settings. Either use a database or plain text (XML?) to store and alter settings. You don't need to travel trough China in order to cross the street. Programming is all about logic. Think logically .