使用表单和PHP读取和修改存储在单独文件中的值

Question

I'm new to PHP so excuse me in advance! I have done the following code to show two different buttons depending on if $status in the file vars.php is set 1 or 0 using . So far so good.

The problem: I now trying to make a very simple page with two option fields to set the $status in the vars.php. I want the script to read what the value of $status is and pres-select the corresponding option box, and have a submit button that saved either 1 or 0 to $status.

It sounds so simple, but I can't get this it to work.. I don't want to use a database, the file can be txt, xml or whatever. Please anyone help me!

Below is the IF script that just checks for the status value 1 or else.

<?php include 'vars.php'; ?>
<?php if ($status == "1") { ?>
<a class="button" href="pageA.php">Read more</a>
<?php } else { ?>
<a class="button" href="pageB.php">Read more</a>
<?php } ?>

What I'm trying to create is a tiny form with two options where I can swap the $status value between 1 and 0 (with the form option being pre-selected with whatever value $status has). When I press update it should overwrite the $status value in the vars.php.

Answer 1

I would use JSON.

vars.json:

{
    "status": 1
}

then on your PHP:

<?php
$json = json_decode(file_get_contents("vars.json"));
$href = ($json->status) ? "pageA.php" : "pageB.php";
?>
<a class="button" href="<?= $href ?>">Read more</a>

UPDATE: if you want to have a form set these variables without you having to manually modify the JSON data, then create another file, call it anything you want, we'll say form.php and place this inside:

 <?php
 $json = json_decode(file_get_contents("vars.json"));
 if (isset($_POST['status'])) {
    $json->status = (int)$_POST['status'];
    file_put_contents('vars.json', json_encode($json));
 }
 ?>
 <form method="post">
     <label>Status</label>
     <select name="status">
        <option value="1" <?= ($json->status) ? "selected" : "" ?>>TRUE</option>
        <option value="0" <?= (!$json->status) ? "selected" : "" ?>>FALSE</option>
     </select>
     <input type="submit"/>
 </form>