04-02-00 PHP as a command-line scripting language

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PHP as a command-line scripting language

Although PHP is mostly used for developing Web applications, it can also be used as a command-line scripting language as an alternative to CL. PHP has three command-line modes: interactive, one line at a time, and in scripts.

For details about using PHP as a command-line tool (not specifically for i5/OS), see the following Web address:
http://www.php.net/manual/en/features.commandline.php

PHP interactive mode

Interactive mode enables you to test bits of PHP code. To run PHP in interactive mode, type the following command in i5/OS PASE:
/usr/local/Zend/Core/bin/php -a

When PHP is in interactive mode, you can write PHP statements enclosed in <?php and ?> delimiters. For example:
<?php for ($i=0; $i<10; $i++) { print "Counting $i\n"; } ?>

Usually PHP output is buffered, so if you want to disable buffering, you can enter following command:
<?php while (@ob_end_clean()); ?>

To exit from PHP interactive mode, issue following command:
<?php exit ?>

Figure 4-3 illustrates an example of using PHP in interactive mode.
/QOpenSys/usr/bin/\-sh

   Interactive mode enabled

 > <?php while (@ob_end_clean()); ?>
 > <?php for ($i=0;$i<10;$i\+\+) \{ print "Counting $i\n"; } ?>
   Counting 0
   Counting 1
   Counting 2
   Counting 3
   Counting 4
   Counting 5
   Counting 6
   Counting 7
   Counting 8
   Counting 9

 ===> <?php exit ?>



 F3=Exit     F6=Print   F9=Retrieve   F11=Truncate/Wrap
 F13=Clear   F17=Top    F18=Bottom    F21=CL command entry
Figure 4-3 Example of PHP interactive mode

PHP one-line scripts (popularly called oneliners)

To use PHP as a one-line script interpreter, you have to use the -r command line option. For example:
/usr/local/Zend/Core/bin/php -r 'for ($i=0;$i<10;$i++) { print "Counting $i\n"; }'

When this example is executed, the output will be similar to Figure 4-4.
/QOpenSys/usr/bin/\-sh

   $
 > /usr/local/Zend/Core/bin/php \-r 'for ($i=0;$i<10;$i\+\+) \{ print "Counting $i\n
   "; }'
   Counting 0
   Counting 1
   Counting 2
   Counting 3
   Counting 4
   Counting 5
   Counting 6
   Counting 7
   Counting 8
   Counting 9
   $

 ===>



 F3=Exit     F6=Print   F9=Retrieve   F11=Truncate/Wrap
 F13=Clear   F17=Top    F18=Bottom    F21=CL command entry
Figure 4-4 Output of PHP one line script

PHP and scripting

To run command-line scripts in PHP, create a file with PHP code as illustrated in Example 4-2, and later execute it as shown (using myfile.php as example):
/usr/local/Zend/Core/bin/php myfile.php

Example 4-2 PHP scripting example (myfile.php)
<?php
for ($i=0;$i<10;$i++)
{ 
  print "Counting $i\n";
}
?>
Output will be similar to that shown in Figure 4-5.
/QOpenSys/usr/bin/\-sh

   kost          myfile.php    pero.php      test.php      testzend.php
   $
 > /usr/local/Zend/Core/bin/php myfile.php
   Counting 0
   Counting 1
   Counting 2
   Counting 3
   Counting 4
   Counting 5
   Counting 6
   Counting 7
   Counting 8
   Counting 9
   $

 ===>



 F3=Exit     F6=Print   F9=Retrieve   F11=Truncate/Wrap
 F13=Clear   F17=Top    F18=Bottom    F21=CL command entry
Figure 4-5 PHP scripting output

To simply check the syntax of PHP file, you can do it by using the following -l command line option:
/usr/local/Zend/Core/bin/php -l myfile.php

If no syntax errors are found, the output will be similar to that shown in Figure 4-6.
/QOpenSys/usr/bin/\-sh

   $
 > cd /www/zendcore/htdocs/
   $
 > /usr/local/Zend/Core/bin/php \-l myfile.php
   No syntax errors detected in myfile.php
   $



 ===>



 F3=Exit     F6=Print   F9=Retrieve   F11=Truncate/Wrap
 F13=Clear   F17=Top    F18=Bottom    F21=CL command entry
Figure 4-6 PHP syntax check

Calling PHP from CL

It is possible to call PHP scripts from within CL applications. The following examples show how to invoke a PHP script that sends an e-mail using the built-in "mail" function.

Example 4-3 shows the PHP script that does the actual e-mail send operation. Of course you will want to replace the sender and recipient to actual values, and you must have SMTP configured correctly in your PHP configuration.

Example 4-3 PHP script: emailme.php
<?php
// establish "from" user (optional)
ini_set("sendmail_from","sender@example.org");

// Parameters: recipient, subject, body
mail("me@example.org", "Sent from CL", "CL can call PHP scripts.");

?>
Example 4-4 shows the CL program (compiled as CALLPHP) that invokes the previous PHP script via PASE for i5/OS.

Example 4-4 CL program: CALLPHP
CALL       PGM(QP2SHELL) +                           
                    PARM('/usr/local/zend/Core/bin/php' +   
                    '/www/zendcore/htdocs/emailme.php') 
You can invoke the CALLPHP CL program the same way any other program under i5/OS:
CALL CALLPHP

Example 4-5 shows the results of calling the CL program.

Example 4-5 Result from invoking CALLPHP CL program
From: sender@example.org
To: <me@example.org>
Subject: Sent from CL

CL can call PHP scripts.
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