I need to get back to spending my time on my "real" work, and delegate the dynamic stuff to someone with PHP/MySQL experience.

My immediate need is to create an exclusive counter.

I'd like my page counters to use sessions so simple refreshes don't increase the number.
I also want to exclude myself from any hit counters. I don't want my visits to add to the counters.

I don't want to make people log in in order to achieve this.

If someone could help with this, please tell me what it would cost.
I've never hired help before, so not sure about prices.

Brian
www.bhhstudio.com (http://www.bhhstudio.com)

A simple counter with customization... I will reate an exclusive counter for $40 - $50. You may contact me and let me know if you are interested in this offer.

That sounds reasonable.
The counter I currently have uses PHP and a text file to store the count.

What would your solution need? text file? MySQL database?

I like it to output simple HTML text to the page being counted, no images.

I'd like to be able to have several different pages that I'm monitoring with separate counters.

Since there may be other functionality that I'm not aware of with the use of sessions, I'd also be interested in your opinion on a good way to make use of them.

How would you handle the exclusive counter? How would the site know if I was visiting as opposed to anyone else?

My site is hosted on a Linux server, running Apache/PHP and MySQL. I have 2 MySQL databases (which both are currently being used). Not sure if MySQL is needed for the counter, but if so, can it be a table on an existing database?
Or would I need a 3rd database?

Brian
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Originally posted by BdSBB
A simple counter with customization... I will reate an exclusive counter for $40 - $50. You may contact me and let me know if you are interested in this offer.

My solution would be a MySQL driven counter since it would be easiest to manage for you but I can also create a Flat-File driven counter also.

Using a MySQL driven counter I would be able to auto_increment an ID per page. Thus being able to counter each individually.

I would start with two tables. One for the counter and another for grabbing an IP and timestamp per ID. The second table would act as a block for the counter so simple refresh buttons on browsers won't increment the count. The first table would hold the counter data and ID of the page.

Sessions would not need to be used. Cookies would be used for non-static IP's.

All this can be done including an output HTML text in one file. Just include counter.php and $counter->count('2'); 2 being the page that will be countered. $counter->html('2'); would output an HTML text for 2.

One database will be fine for this script and your server information is okay aswell.

Sounds good to me.

If you want to do this job, email me with your contact info and payment information. Including the final price for doing this, delivering the code, and ensuring it works on my site.

I can pay you with visa, check, or paypal.

When you've got the code ready, I'll need the following:

1. Installation instructions.
Including (prefereably) command line MySQL input steps.

2. PHP and HTML code with comments to what is going on in the scripts.

How does that sound to you?

Brian

No problem. Coded and packaged. Sent you an email just incase you haven't checked.

Hey.
I emailed you using your contact info, but here it is for the forum version.

I downloaded your files yesterday and am working on getting them to work on my site.

So far, I have the MySQL tables working.
I was able to use PHPMyAdmin to import your sql file to set that up.

At first, I was unable to use the PHP code within my web pages, as I use SSIs for my header and footers.
And in order to use SSIs, my pages have to be named .shtml

When attempting to use the example.php code in my .shtml pages, the PHP code wouldn't work.
If I tried naming the page with a php extension, the counter would work, but my SSI header and footer wouldn't load.

It took me a little while to figure out how to include the PHP files in my SSI pages, but I finally had success by creating another PHP file called counterid.php, and am able to include that within my SSIs.

The only thing left now is that the script still counts me.

I'm using a Cable modem, which has been showing the same address for several days, but I'm pretty sure this number could change at any time.

I entered it into the area where it's asked, but the script is still counting me.

Is there a way to make this part work, so I don't add to the hit count?

You can see the counter working on my page at these test pages.
http://www.bhhstudio.com/test.shtml
http://www.bhhstudio.com/3dPromo/VideoPage.shtml

Each page is using a different counterid.php file, and it appears to work great.
I think we're about 90% there.

Please let me know if it's possible to make this not count my hits.

Cheers,

Brian
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I'm terribly sorry. Just a small mistake in the order of the code. In example.php I have $counter->nocount() below $counter->count(). It should be above so that the variable will be set to not count the IP. Just move $counter->nocount() above $counter->count(). You can download the new files at the same place. I updated the version just incase. Again.. I am terribly sorry. It works great though! :)

PS
If you need me to update the code so that you can do multiple IPs for the counter not to count then just email me and let me know.

Ok, everythings working now.

Yes, please send me how I can exclude other people, too.
I thought of this later, that it might be good to be able to exclude another web developer working on my site from the counter.

I would expect that static IP addresses aren't common on the internet. But I'm not sure. I thought that my IP address changed like the wind. But maybe not with cable modems and DSL.

It would be nice to be able to exclude by domain. Like anyone from bhhstudio.com doesn't add to the counter, regardless of the connecting IP address.

But your counter is everything I asked for as it is, and thanks for your help.
Check's in the mail (honest.. sending it out today).

Great job,

Brian
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www.bhhstudio.com