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Parsing XML: XML to HTML using PHP!

DomainFunk.com — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:31:59 +0000

Lately I just finished scripting a nice little system that randomizes and publishes content based on an XML feed provided by partner content sponsor. While doing some research for this, I came to know I wasn’t the lone one who wanted to install such a system. The web app, for which I wrote this system, runs a script every week creating new .html files from an XML content feed and keeps creating these plain .HTML files on the fly, in essence growing my content library every week

Hope this comes in hand to you guys out there looking for this.

The Simple Parser

I needed a simple parser which would not need XSLT and the size of the parser would remain small. Since the parser would be placed as a cron job, I needed it to be simple and without the complexities of XSLT. So here is part of the code that made the parser worked.


$doc = new DOMDocument(); //We create a new DOM object.

$doc->load(’samplefeed.xml’,LIBXML_DTDLOAD|LIBXML_DTDATTR); //load all elements of the XML feed. Using LIBXML_DTDLOAD we  load external subset and use LIBXML_DTDATTR to set the default DTD attributes, both are PHP Lib XML constants.

$contentitems = $doc->getElementsByTagName( “books” ); // we are now fetching the elements, and with this statement fetching all elements enclosed within the  tags.
foreach($contentitems as $contentitem)

{
$titles = $contentitem->getElementsByTagName( “title” );

$title = $titles->item(0)->nodeValue; //we are not taking the values from each element nodes.
$authors = $metadata->getElementsByTagName( “byline” );

$author = $authors->item(0)->nodeValue;
$ISBNS = $metadata->getElementsByTagName( “isbn” );

$ISBN = $ISBNS->item(0)->nodeValue;
//below we are starting an HTML file and using a PHP variable to hold it.
$html = ‘
’;
/*main article starts here */
$html = $html.$title.”
”;

$html = $html.$author.”
”;

$html = $html.$ISBN.”
”;
$html =’

/*footer part of the html page */

’;
$ourFileName = “feedarticles/”.trim($title).”.html”; //keeping the title the same as

$ourFileName = str_ireplace(”?”,”",$ourFileName); //removing characters that get attached during char-set conversions or shall we say non-conversions.

$ourFileName = str_ireplace(”_”,”",$ourFileName);

$ourFileName = str_ireplace(”:”,”",$ourFileName);

$ourFileName = str_ireplace(”;”,”",$ourFileName);

$ourFileName = str_ireplace(”‘”,”",$ourFileName);
echo $ourFileName.” creating the file “; //Just echoing the statement while creating the file.

$ourFileHandle = fopen($ourFileName, ‘w’) or die(”can’t open file”); //init the file handle

fwrite($ourFileHandle, $html);//write the file.

fclose($ourFileHandle);//close the file handle.
}
?>
The XML Page
The below is the SampleFeed.xml file, with the fields that will be parsed.



Java Server Pages

SAMS

1234
Logistics

Tata Mcgraw Hil

5678



Note
Albeit, there are better and newer ways of parsing XML using PHP, this was suitable for me, because its pretty simple code  and it works wonders!
Resources
Here are both files zipped up, make sure the permissions are setup right for directories that you want to user write these files into. Here is the entire Simple XML Parser zip, that creates .html files from XML feeds.



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An Interview with, Twitters @DCTH’s founder, Chad Engle!
DomainFunk.com — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:37:48 +0000
  
 This week, we bring to you an interview, with design community innovator, amazingly talented, young designer, -  Mr. Chad Engle, Co-founder of  @DCTH or also known as Design Community Twitter Hours. @DCTH, is completely community driven, first of its kind on twitter, a community for designers, by designers and from designers! A great place to get your inspirations, doodles, and just mingle with a community of over a 1000 designers! 
 Some of Chad’s designs











The Interview!




Here is the interview, that was taken via email  and we are very thankful to Mr. Chad Engle, for sparing the time for us and this interview. We wish Chad, best of luck on all his aspirations and Thanks again! 
 A small bio about yourself?
My name is Chad Engle I am a full-time Graphic Designer for Charles Ryan Associates in Charleston, WV. I am 22 years old and have been in the field for such a short time but I feel like I have grown as a designer/person more than I can put words to.  I have been trying to extend my network through online connections such as twitter, facebook and linked-in. I have learned that in this field that it is all about who you know and have connections to. You can connect with me more at @chadengle
1. Hi Chad, so tell us something about you and your experience as a designer/artist?
I am a recent graduate from Marshall University and I have been in the full time world for about 6-7 months. I worked on several freelance projects while I was in college as well as having many different internships and work experiences along the way.
2. From tweets, its pretty clear that you want a podium, a community of designers to get together and talk about design and share ideas and resources, sorry to be brute, but the question being, why? And what do you plan to instill with this and when will you call it a success?
The why? I think that we as designers need feedback. We need places to bounce ideas of and learn from each other. It also pushes us as a community to challenge each other and move our designs into creative and innovative solutions. I think this has already been a huge success. When I started DCTH (Design Community Twitter Hours) I had no idea that I would even have 50 people interested. I have 1,000 followers that are on the twitter account for DCTH. I feel like the design community has grown more tight nit (those that have connected thus far) I think that this service will only continue to grow with time and will hopefully blossom into conferences and meetings.
3. Tell us about your design inspirations?
I think inspiration can be found in anything. I see architecture, photography, a coffee cup, anything that sparks that creative switch in your brain. I draw inspiration from all of my RSS feeds that I read and through my peers. There are many great designers that I draw inspiration from and even student work. Again, its what makes you “think” creatively. 
4. Any Specific tools that you use, that elevate your design process, help you get the picture from your head to your selected medium?
I have recently been reading a book called “Beyond Disruption” Changing the Rules in the marketplace. It talks about defying convention through the design and marketing process. I think we as designers need to implement this idea.  This mindset helps me push past the first stereotypical designs. I also have a Macbook Pro and Adobe Creative suite that helps me implement my ideas to a digital medium. 
5. Any words on designers block? Or lack of inspiration? How does a designer like you cope in such circumstances?
I think sometimes that you need to take a break to push through the block. I like to take a 15 minute break from technology when this happens. No iPhone, twitter, computer. Just me and maybe a cup of coffee. I feel when you take this “tech break” you can clear your head and then move forward with what you need to do. I also think that RSS feeds and surfing the internet help you get inspired again and continue to work.
6. There are a lot of design communities online, any according to you is just specifically for designers, helping you acheive your ideas of single collective of designers?
I think that any network is just as good as another. It just depends how much you put into connecting with others. If you do not have twitter I would suggest going and signing up for an account. There is a whole slew amazing people to draw inspiration from, pick there brains and just plain connect.
7. According to you, what are the incentives a designers looks forward to, money not being one of these, when he or she finishes acheiving the design?
Knowing that this piece of design communicates the best possible outcome. 
8. How do you start your design process for a client?
The first thing I do is brainstorm. I try to rack the clients brain as much as possible to see where they want to go and make sure that we are on the same page before I even start with the design process. Communication is key when it comes to working with others. Do not be afraid to ask questions. 
9. How do you approach a client and what if you have to convince him or her to actually go with you on the design consultations, rather than their inputs?
I think that you have to be able to communicate with your client that you are the person that knows about the design. My favorite saying is: “You don’t buy a guard dog and bark for it, let your designer do the barking.”
10. According to you, what are the pre-requisites for some one who wants to become a designer?
I feel very strongly about having higher education in the field. Ther are several talented self-taught designers but, I feel that with having higher education in the field you bring yourself to a higher awareness level which allows you to push your designs and your clients. 
11. Would you categorize, webdesign, logo design and the derivatives as the new age paintings with each designer being an artist?
I had a real hang-up with this concept in college.
12. According to you, who is the ‘Leonardo-da-vinci’ of the webdesign arena?
That’s hard to answer. I am not sure if anyone has really stepped forward at this point that could be compared to Da Vinci.
13. Does it get hard to make a living as a designer? 
Not at all. It is just like anything else I just depends on how much work you put into it.
14. Can web developer become a webdesigner?
I think one could. It just depends on how much they want to become a designer and learn about it.
15. Tell us something about DCTH.
This whole idea spawned off a random conversation with a friend Adelle Charles and Graham Smith. 
16. What made you start this community?
I felt that there was a gap in this area in the design community and figured why not try to change it.
17. What are your objectives, goal and mission with DCTH?
To connect with as many designers as possible and bring information to those who ask for it.
18. Why twitter.com for DCTH?
It seems to be a great forum for connectivity.
19. When will you call DCTH to be successful?
It already has been successful and will become more and more successful.
20. Any future ideas of innovation, for the design community?
There are several but I am going to keep them secret to peak suspense! ?
21. Any favorite websites where you derive or have derived design inspirations from?
I think a very solid network to find really amazing designs is the Behance Network. (behance.net) I feel that the designers that have portfolios on there are very high quality work. They have a very minimal site design so the work really stands out. 
22. For a design community, what is right mixture required for it to become successful?
I think the main indgredient for a community to become successful is involvment of the people. The strong community support that I have had from DCTH has been amazing. People have scheduled college classes around it, stayed up way late over seas to participate and just been amazing in getting more people involved. I am very humbled.
23. What kind of marketing strategies you use to attract designers and creatives to your community?
Personal connections. I have been following and trying to connect with as many designers as possible on @DCTH I think that people want to connect with others. It just depends if they will come out of there shell to connect with others. 
24. How do you mange your personal life, career and the community?
I think they are one in the same. I am a designers regardless of what I am doing. It effects my decisions and how I carry myself. Just be yourself throughout everything you do and people will love you for it.
25. What do you look for in a community like DCTH?
Involvement. I would love to have a conference one day where designers meet, listen to speakers and mingle with each other. Telling design stories and sharing personal connections with each other.
26. What would a newbie designer, on joining the community find as a resource or help on DCTH?
I think people new and old will find things to help them. Even if it just connecting with other designers. In this industry if you do not keep up with the times you will be left behind, plain and simple.
27. Any head way with the community innovating? And how can we help to get you there?
Yes every week there is more headway. There is a site up that will soon be finished http://DCTH.info You can help my by telling one designer about DCTH. If everyone tells one designer about DCTH the community involvment will be amazing.
28. Ever felt a design let you down? And, if yes how did you cope?
Yes. Every designer has felt this before. You have to know when to let go of a design and know that you cannot always make each thing innovative. Just try to keep your style and make it the best it can. Don’t let it get you down.
29. Any tips for newbies to market their talents?
Network. I can’t even imagine what happened before the world of the internet or the world of twitter. I have connected with so many designers/creatives that I only would have dreamed of before this.
30. Any comments, suggestions, anything you might want to add, that we might have forgotten?
No. I think you pretty much put me on the hot seat for as much information that you could pick out of my brain! I need to go take a break now. Haha Thank you very much for the interview and I wish you the best of luck in your ventures.
Are you a designer/creative? 
Get in touch with the DCTH community here. 

Soon to come DCTH website.

Connect with Chad.

Don’t have a twitter account?



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Photoshop: Day turns to night!
DomainFunk.com — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:07:38 +0000
  
A quick photoshop video tutorial to convert day pictures/images into night pictures/images. Pretty Simple and straight forward. 

    
      
      
      
      
      
      
        Photoshop Tutorial: Day to Night
      
      
      
    




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Photoshop – Tutorials : Adding effects to Text
DomainFunk.com — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:24:29 +0000
  
As a webmaster, its often that I use Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator for various web and design endeavors. From logo designs to website layouts. In this Video article we are going to see how to give effects to your text using Adobe Photoshop.
Note: The video tutorial is first such tutorial for the website and being so is still raw. Please excuse our experimentation with various video and screen capture tools. 





 Adding Effects to Text

    
      
      
      
      
      
      
        The Flash plugin is required to view this object.
      
      
      
    

Do leave some feedback. Thanks again. 
Photoshop Fractal Brush Resource
Free Fractal Photoshop Brushes@

http://getbrushes.com/fractal-photoshop-brushes

http://qbrushes.com/photoshop-swirls-brushes/photoshop-fractal-brush/

http://free-brushes.com/2008/11/29/hi-res_fractal_brushes.html



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