php code before html

**perseus** · 09 November 2009, 06:52 PM

I am a Xara Xtreme 5 advanced user and would like to insert php code in a placeholder or using any other method (from xx5 or xwd) before the <html> tag.

I have used the <head> command in placeholders (Thanks covoxer) and use it extensively, but for a certain script I need to insert code before the <html> tag.

It would be nice to have a list of tricks for placeholders targeted to PHP programmers like myself.

Xara Xtreme is amazing!!

Thanks

**ckh** · 09 November 2009, 09:12 PM

If you are a php programmer, it shouldn't be any problem to just open up the html file with a text editor and insert the php code you need.

**steve.ledger** · 09 November 2009, 09:35 PM

Chris, the problem with this approach is that each time you re edit/update your main .xar or .web file and re export, those hand edits are lost.
Placeholders preserve inserted scripts and snippets.

**dcollard** · 18 November 2009, 04:47 PM

Hear, hear, Perseus. I have the same probelem (and have accidentally started another thread on the subject). The guy who said a competent php programmer should be able to had edit clearly hasn't tried this with dozens of files where the intiial code is overwritten by Web Designer. IN my case (prob yours too) I need session_start() before any html code (in fact before anything). It's so annoying it's stopping me using Web Designer for some projects that I would otherwise be real happy to use it on. Come on Xara give us a fix!

**covoxer** · 18 November 2009, 08:04 PM

We'll cerainly shall.

**ab29** · 19 November 2009, 12:21 PM

I suppose you export your page into .htm ?

**dcollard** · 31 March 2010, 12:41 PM

Further to your comment "We certainly shall" when I asled for a fix to the problem of including php code at the very beginning of a file is this ability in Web Designer 6? If so I cannot find it.

**StevenWWinters** · 31 March 2010, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by covoxer

We'll cerainly shall.

John,

I don't know if Xara is thinking in this direction at all, but with proper enhancement, XWD would make an incredible CMS front end. A designer/web programmer could build the shell/template out of reusable script components for headers/footers/sidebars/menu's using include files. The inner content could then be updated by anyone (not requiring the techie skills), but having sufficient layout, graphic, and writing skills. Routine website maintenance could be handled by the end users, which is what CMS systems are great for.

This would remove the limitation of XWD being used for smaller sites only and open it up to a larger market.

Just wishing.....