PHP comment blocks don't work properly in RapidPHP

[qbuster]

Using the block and line comments in RapidPhp as in the following code doesn't work.

Code: Select all

function show_letter_form() {
  global $mymp_title, $mymp_fullname, $mymp_constituency, $postcode, $my_email, $mymp_email;
  $postcode = strtoupper($postcode);
  $my_email = "will@Lurchfield.uk";
  echo "<b>Generate a letter to your MP</b><p>
Enter your name and address, and optionally your telephone number, as you wish them
to appear on the letter. Also add your email address if you would like to send the letter by email to your MP. When you click on <I>Generate Letter</I> your letter will
be displayed in a new window ready for printing, or for you to cut and paste into
your word processor. Don't forget to turn off headers and footers if you are printing it! <I> //This information will not be used without your permission.
</I><p>\n";

echo "<form>
<input>
<input>
<input>
<table><tr>
<td><b>Please enter your personal contact details:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
/*
<td>Your MP:</td><td><b>$mymp_title $mymp_fullname ($party)</b></td></tr>
<tr>
*/
<td>Your Constituency:</td><input>
<tr>
<td>Your Name:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Address:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td></td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td></td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Postcode:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Telephone:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Email:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td><input></td>
</tr></table>
</form><p><hr>\n";
}

The result is that the /* */ and // are seen in preview. Can anyone spot where I am going wrong?

Thanks

Will

[MikeyB]

Hi Will,

This is not a RapidPHP problem, but just the way programming languages work.

You see the comment tags (/* */ and //) because they are within your echo commands.

PHP (and any other language) will simply ignore any code and commands within an echo or print command, and display the entire contents in the browser.

You could try HTML comment tags (<!-- ... -->) as it will be the browser that will be parsing the code at that point.
Can't try it myself as have no way of testing PHP here.

Code: Select all

function show_letter_form() {
  global $mymp_title, $mymp_fullname, $mymp_constituency, $postcode, $my_email, $mymp_email;
  $postcode = strtoupper($postcode);
  $my_email = "will@Lurchfield.uk";
  echo "<b>Generate a letter to your MP</b><p>
Enter your name and address, and optionally your telephone number, as you wish them
to appear on the letter. Also add your email address if you would like to send the letter by email to your MP. When you click on <I>Generate Letter</I> your letter will
be displayed in a new window ready for printing, or for you to cut and paste into
your word processor. Don't forget to turn off headers and footers if you are printing it! <I> <!-- This information will not be used without your permission. -->
</I><p>\n";

echo "<form>
<input>
<input>
<input>
<table><tr>
<td><b>Please enter your personal contact details:</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<!--
<td>Your MP:</td><td><b>$mymp_title $mymp_fullname ($party)</b></td></tr>
<tr>
-->
<td>Your Constituency:</td><input>
<tr>
<td>Your Name:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Address:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td></td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td></td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Postcode:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Telephone:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td>Email:</td><td><input></td>
</tr><tr>
<td><input></td>
</tr></table>
</form><p><hr>\n";
}

[qbuster]

Hi Will,

This is not a RapidPHP problem, but just the way programming languages work.

You see the comment tags (/* */ and //) because they are within your echo commands.

PHP (and any other language) will simply ignore any code and commands within an echo or print command, and display the entire contents in the browser.

You could try HTML comment tags (<!-- ... -->) as it will be the browser that will be parsing the code at that point.

Thanks Mikey, that makes perfect sense - I thought it might be down to something I was missing!

Cheers

Will