variation of FireFly's "Online Users" hack

[TECK]

i want to change this hack to make it use images instead of numbers. an easy way to do would be to make one zillion gif files named 1.gif, 2.gif.... 894.gif. ;) however, a much more elegant solution would be to create all the digits individually, then have them replace the actual values. so if i have 89 members online the 2 digits will be replaced by 8.gif and 9.gif.

i'm not sure what is the exact aproach on this. can you spare few minutes of your time and give me a solution?
please, post a code example in this thread.

i attached a picture, so you see actually what i try to achieve.
thanks for taking the time to help me solve this problem.

[Reeve of shinra]

I think it has something to do with png file types. I dont know much about it except that you can have scripts in php place a value over an image.

*shrug* its a start.

[Reeve of shinra]

flash can also be updated dynamically .. so that might be another option for you ...

[TECK]

unfortunatelly, the font is extremly small. in flash, it will be invisible. the only way i see it is by using the little digits i made. it should be a way to call and replace them individually, using if arguments. i honestly dont know how to do it. help is apreciated. thanks.

[Admin]

Here's one way to do that. $number holds the number you want to turn into images:
$number = 123;
$images = '<img src="' . implode('.gif"><img src="', preg_split('//', (string) $number, -1, PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY)) . '.gif">';
(the preg_split() call is taken from PHP's manual)
For that number you'll get this output:
<img src="1.gif"><img src="2.gif"><img src="3.gif">

[TECK]

i'm the happiest guy in the world.. you saved me a ton of work firefly!!!!! thank you so much!!!
i will try it tonight....

[TECK]

so i can use this function with basically every numbers listed in VB, like for example posts/threads right?

[Admin]

Yup.

[TECK]

thanks for the the help, firefly.

[TECK]

ok, now firefly(or any experienced hacker)... i have another prob... when i try to replace the number of threads in forumhome, i get stuck. here's what i did:
i opened functions.php and located the $threadcount. then i got amased with the + in there:$threadcount+=$getchildforum[threadcount];if it wouldnt be that +, i would do this:$threadcount=$getchildforum[threadcount];
$threadcountimage='<img src="'.implode('.gif"><img src="',preg_split('//',(string) $threadcount,-1,PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY)).'.gif">';can i do this?$threadcount+=$getchildforum[threadcount];
$threadcountimage='<img src="'.implode('.gif"><img src="',preg_split('//',(string) $threadcount+,-1,PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY)).'.gif">';can you explain to me please what the + do?
thanks alot.

[Neo]

well here is a example:

$var1 += $var2

now this is using the +=

this is what it would look like but do the same thing with out the +=

$var1 = $var1 + $var2

[TECK]

ok.. i understand.. then the code will not work the way i put it..
it will look for 89.gif instead of 8.gif 9.gif

what is the solution?
thanks for your help.

[Zzed]

I just ran that little code snippet. It does create a string with 8.gif and 9.gif.

[Admin]

Don't touch that part of the code. Create the images string after the loop, not inside.

[TECK]

so it will look like?if ($getchildforum[parentid]==$forumid) {
$threadcount+=$getchildforum[threadcount];
}
$threadcountimage='<img src="'.implode('.gif"><img src="',preg_split('//',(string) $threadcount+,-1,PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY)).'.gif">';let me know if it correct. thanks.

[TECK]

nope.. is better this way: $forumslist.=",$getchildforum[forumid]";
}
$DB_site->free_result($getchildforums);
$threadcountimage='<img src="'.implode('.gif"><img src="',preg_split('//',(string) $threadcount+,-1,PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY)).'.gif">'; am i correct?

[TECK]

nope. not working.. getting parse errors all over the place. :(
i tried also single quoted.. same result.

[TECK]

ok.. i think i got it:$forumslist.=",$getchildforum[forumid]";
}
$DB_site->free_result($getchildforums);
$threadcountimage='<img src="'.implode('.gif"><img src="',preg_split('//',(string) $threadcount,-1,PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY)).'.gif">';i forgot about the +, there is no need to have it there.. thanks alot ZZed.
i will let you all know tomorrow if it worked. ;)

[Admin]

Create a function to do that stuff... i.e:
function num2img ($number, $path = '') {
return '<img src="' . implode('.gif"><img src="', preg_split('//', (string) $number, -1, PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY)).' . gif">';
}
Stick that in functions.php and then just use it like this:
$threadcountimage = num2img($threadcount);

[TECK]

thanks alot firefly. :)
excellent idea the function.

btw, i'm trying the "answer through email"... ;)

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[Chris M]

Cool Hack idea nakkid...

I suppose if you like having all those number pictures, its ok...Doesnt it take longer to load the images than just text?

Satan

[TECK]

nope.. not if you use it as digits..
and what's up with the satan thing?

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