A Javascript timer to trigger a PHP script

**Submerged** · 03:13 PM

Hi, my name is Alex, I'm working on a site, but there is one script that I have no clue how to do. I mostly work with PHP, Javascipt is pretty alien to me.

Basically, when the scripts loads, I need to display a timer that counts down from 60 seconds. Then, when it hits 0, I need to run a little PHP script to display some random numbers (the script to write the numbers I can handle, I just need the script to be triggered after the timer runs out). It would be awesome if, when the timer hit 0, the timer disappeared, so the numbers would appear in it's place, but ill be fine without it.

I dont know how tough that is, but if someone could help me a bit with the script I would be very grateful

Thanks for your time,
-Alex (Submerged)

**funkdaddu** · 08-01-2006, 03:56 PM

Instead of having JS call the PHP (which is possible via the HTTPRequest object) why not just use JS for the random number creation? I can help you with either of these solutions, but if we can eliminate a server call - all the better.

**Submerged** · 08-01-2006, 04:07 PM

Hmmm... well, that makes it a bit different...

Basically, on page 1 i have a link. When someone clicks it, a new screen pops up, in 2 frames (top and bottom). It needs to work one of two ways:

1. When the pop-up is loaded, a variable (the 6 digit number) is carried with it, so when the 60 seconds is up it shows that number.

2. The second screen (the pop-up) creates a random 6 digit number, and then sends that back to the first page to assign to a form variable.

If either is possible (second one preferred), that would work, otherwise i could do something a bit more complicated to get it to work. THanks for your time

-Alex

**funkdaddu** · 06:53 PM

Here is suggestion #2 - First, the launching page/form:

HTML Code:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN">

<html>

	<head>
		<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1">
		<title>Untitled Page</title>
	</head>

	<body bgcolor="#ffffff">
	<a href="blank.html" target="newWin">Open Pop-Up Window</a>
		<form name="myForm" action="submit.php">
			<input type="input" size="6" id="theNumber" name="theNumber" value="">
			<input type="submit" name="mySubmit" value="Submit">
		</form>
	</body>
</html>

The Pop-Up:

HTML Code:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN">

<html>

	<head>
		<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1">
		<title>Untitled Page</title>
		<script language="javascript"><!--
var myTimer = null;
var myTimerNum = 60;
var rNum = "";

function randomNum() {
	return Math.floor(Math.random() * 9);
}	

function createNumber() {
	for (x=0; x<6; x++) {
		rNum += randomNum().toString();
	}
}

function countDown() {
	if (myTimerNum > 0) {
		document.getElementById("timer").innerHTML = myTimerNum;
		setTimeout(countDown,1000);
		myTimerNum--;
	} else {
		createNumber();
		document.getElementById("timer").innerHTML = rNum;
	}
}

function closeWin(obj) {
	window.opener.document.getElementById("theNumber").value = rNum;
	window.close();
}

window.onload = countDown;

//-->
		</script>
	</head>

	<body bgcolor="#ffffff">
		<h1 id="timer"></h1>
		<p><button onclick="closeWin(this);">Close Window &amp; Return</button></p>
	</body>
</html>

I haven't tested it in IE, so make sure to do so. Lemme know if this works.

**Submerged** · 08-01-2006, 08:29 PM

Wow, that is a sweet script

It should be able to handle everything i need, but if something else comes up ill let ya know. Thanks again, this is great stuff!

-Alex