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Andrew Folts
14,238 PointsHow would you create a CSV file using a php array?
I have a Wordpress project where there's a survey app and at the end the client wants to receive a CSV file with the answers.
A simple example:
- Name: John Smith
- Position: Manager
- Date: 1/20/17
From the php docs, I think would do the following:
$rows = array (
array('Name', 'Position', 'Date'),
array('John Smith', 'Manager', '1/20/17')
);
$fp = fopen('file.csv', 'w');
foreach ($rows as $fields) {
fputcsv($fp, $fields);
}
fclose($fp);
What I'm not sure about is would I have an empty CSV saved somewhere on the site that I write to, save, and attach to the email every time?
Can php write to a file saved in Wordpress uploads... or is there a smarter way to do this?
Thanks!
2 Answers
Craig Watson
27,930 PointsHi Andrew,
Have you thought about using a form builder like Ninja Forms, with this you can use an add-on that will allow for front end posting to a custom post type e.g. Survey.
So you would build out the form to suit the fields of your Survey post type, a user can complete the form on the front end and when they submit it saves this as a post of your custom post type( Survey ).
If this was set up this way, you would have all survey responses saved as a post and you would be able to export them using something link WP All Export.
This is by no means an easy WordPress thing but a good skill to have if you go down this route :)
Hope this helps
Craig :)
Andrew Folts
14,238 PointsAndrew Folts
14,238 PointsYea, unfortunately the app is quite complex and interactive—Ninja Forms wouldn't cover everything. Plus, the client doesn't want to have to log in, they just want an email with a CSV.
Storing the data in a custom post type is not a bad idea though.
Craig Watson
27,930 PointsCraig Watson
27,930 PointsHi Andrew,
I think if you store the data as a post type you are better placed to work with once in the database.
Also this way you can potentially hook into
wp_update_postand run a function every time a new post is submitted.Another plus to the post type is that you could look to export the total collected surveys at any point should your client request so.
Personally I would need to be doing just as much figuring out and googling as you may have been because I have not done this before, however if you are able to allow for costs on such a project Codeable is always a good place to look for help!
Hope this helps a little on the way to getting things going.
Craig :)