Using this information to customize the page is now easy. For example, let’s say that I have a database of ads. I only want the ads
specific to the state of Wisconsin to be shown to visitors from Wisconsin. So I write a short if statement that says if the visitor is
from Wisconsin, then display the Wisconsin ads. Like this:
specific to the state of Wisconsin to be shown to visitors from Wisconsin. So I write a short if statement that says if the visitor is
from Wisconsin, then display the Wisconsin ads. Like this:
<?php
if( $thelead[state] == WI) {
//code to display Wisconsin ads
} else {
//code to display random generic ads
}
?>
Now that we know how to use the collected information, let’s see how to collect the information.
Collecting information on visitors is accomplished utilizing the various forms on a web site. For example, a web site that sells products online could use this application to grab the state from a visitor during the
check out procedure or when a visitor subscribes to an email newsletter. The point is, information is only gathered from an existing form.
This is done by using the
the data being collected (in our case state), the value of the data being collected (in our case the visitors two digit state abbreviation), and finally
the value of the cookie that identifies the visitor.
check out procedure or when a visitor subscribes to an email newsletter. The point is, information is only gathered from an existing form.
This is done by using the
addItem() method of the lead class. The addItem() method takes as arguments the database column to storethe data being collected (in our case state), the value of the data being collected (in our case the visitors two digit state abbreviation), and finally
the value of the cookie that identifies the visitor.
Again, you must instantiate the class, verify the cookie is set and then add the data to the database.
<?php
mylead
= new lead("dbhost", "database", "dbusername", "dbpassword", "leadstablename");
if(!isset(
$HTTP_COOKIE_VARS[lead])) {
$sid = $mylead->setCookie();
$result = $mylead->additem("state", $state, $sid);
} else {
$result = $mylead->additem("state", $state, $HTTP_COOKIE_VARS[lead]);
}
?>
That’s all there is to it. The nice thing about this application is that you can define what information you would like
to collect and it is saved and retrieved from the database using the same class methods each time. One thing I did not go over was error handling.
Error handling is accomplished by using the error class internal to the leads class. The
the error information in it. The error information is $result->errno, the error number 1 for success and 0 for failure,
to collect and it is saved and retrieved from the database using the same class methods each time. One thing I did not go over was error handling.
Error handling is accomplished by using the error class internal to the leads class. The
additem() method will return an object with allthe error information in it. The error information is $result->errno, the error number 1 for success and 0 for failure,
$result->errstr, an explanation of the error, and$result->method, the method that the error occurred in.
Customizing a visitor’s experience is increasingly more important to keep the visitors attention and generate sales. I hope to find the time to
expand this article in the future.
expand this article in the future.
— Jim
