open a url? fopen?

[pungi]

Hi,
I am trying to run a php script that opens a url but all I seem to get is a blank page:

<?php
$handle = fopen("http://www.google.com/", "r");
?>

fopen seems to suit my purpose best, as redirecting the headers means i will have to re-structure the code.

Thanks in advance and im sorry if it turns out to be something stupid,
Pungi

[DJMaze]

echo fopen("http://www.google.com/", "r");

header('Location: http://www.google.com/');

[pungi]

Hi,
the code you suggested did not work for me, i recieved this error:
Resource id #4
I could use the headers but id rather use the fopen if possible as it could save me alot of bother.
Thanks again,
Pungi

[DJMaze]

the "echo fopen()" was on purpose.

Now i know you are a complete newbie to PHP which you didn't tell us yet.
fopen() will fail on many webservers but alright here goes.

PHP Code:

if ($fp = fopen('http://www.google.com/', 'r'))
{
    fpassthru($fp);
    fclose($fp);
} 


TIP: Learn about single quoting, it will free CPU usage.

NOTE: you probably can't use google search this way, and if that happens don't ask in here "it doesn't work". Just use header() and fix your code then.

[pungi]

Hi,
I think i will have to use headers as fopen does not work, unless anyone can suggest an alternative method?
Thanks for the help,
Pungi

[sde]

you could try using fopen with fread()

it's possible your problem with getting fopen to work is in the php.ini settings. search your php.ini file for allow_url_fopen and make sure it's on.

which version of PHP are you using? PHP5 offers file_get_contents()

another alternative method would be fsockopen()

[pungi]

Hi,
I think i will still use headers as the alternatives seem harder to understand.
I was hoping that fopen would be a shortcut to debugging errors i got when using the headers option but i noticed the address bar doesnt change to the url so ill have to use headers.
Thanks for all the help,
Pungi