Transform A Select Tag to an Array in PHP

In our previous post we explained how to use EditPlus to transform a list of values into an array. This time we will show you how to transform a <select> tag and its options <option> into an array. By doing this, you can easily convert a list of values from a web page into an array to use in your own applications.

First, you need to get an overall idea what we did in our previous post.

Then, just modify the first step and use this rule to replace a regular expression:

Find What: ^(.*)value="([0-9]*)">(.*)</option>
Replace With: \3

Using EditPlus to create a PHP Array from a list of values

By using editors that support regular expressions you can easily transform a list of values or options into a PHP array that later will allow you to create more complex things like options on a <select> tag.

1. Get the list of values

Once you have the list of values, it will show something like this:

2. Replace each line

To replace each line between quotes, we can use the following regular expression:

Find: ^(.*)
Replace With: "\1",

3. Complete the beginning and end of the array

To complete the beginning and end of the array just need to use the PHP array format assigning it to a variable.

$list = array(
"Agiortiko",
"Aglianico",
"Airen",
"Albana",
"Albarinho",
"Albarinyo",
"Albillo",
"Alfrocheiro Preto",
"Aligote",
"Aragonez",
"Arinto",
"Arneis",
"Assyrtiko",
"Auxerois",
"Baboso negro",
"Bacchus",
"Baga");

Then, $list is ready to be used in your application with the list of values.

Check if a Domain Name is a Trademark

Check if trademark through this site: http://uspto.gov

And you can check if a domain name is available, here.

Tracking user activity in Google Analytics

Nowadays is important to track user activity in a website because that makes possible to get a better understanding about what users do during their stay in our website and why they choose or not certain options, ie: coupon code with discounts, downloading files, signing for free or paid account memberships, etc.

Here is the Best way to track User Activity. Best Practices on event tracking.

The Why and the How of tracking events in Google Analytics, that references the Event Tracking guide from GA. This event tracking guide explains how to setup the analytics code as well as anatomy of Event Tracking and implementation considerations to take in mind. And here is the Basic Configuration.

The reason why not to track one single user’s activity and improving high bounce lowe conversion web pages are other interesting articles to consider.

Top PPC Tools from a PPC Guru

Here is a list of tools that may help you on your website SEO. This list has been extracted from Top PPC Tools & Resources.

• Google Adwords Editor
• ProtoShare
• Microsoft adCenter
• Clusty
• Google Insights for Search
• Google Website Optimizer
• Acquisio
• Search Engine Land

By creating successfully PPC campaigns you can boost your website traffic.

Using TortoiseGit and GitHub

Using Git is pretty much similar than SVN in many senses. However, the first time you use it will encounter some minor differences, for example when you try to do the first Checkout (or Clone in terms of Git).

A couple of good resources for Git beginners.

Installing TortoiseGit on Windows

This article explains how to install TortoiseGit on Windows.

Introduction to Git (Part 1)

This article covers many aspects related to the transition from Subversion to Git, and as described here you can know the reasons to use Git instead of Subversion:

Why Switch?

There are several advantages to using git over other version control systems:

• Being a distributed version control system, everyone has their own version of the whole repository. The central repository (at GitHub in my case) is just arbitrary. This means that you can do operations such as tagging, branching and diff without having to be connected to the central server. This article by Eric Sink is a good explanation of how git differs from traditional version control.
• Due to the git:// protocol and the way git stores and tracks the data and changes in repositories, it’s really fast and the repositories don’t take up much room on disk.
• Quick, cheap, easy branching.
• The repository and branches are separate from the filesystem.
• GitHub. Why go to the trouble of hosting a central repository yourself, when you can do it securely, cheaply and quickly with GitHub? There’s Sourceforge for svn, but for me GitHub does it better. If you can get to grips with GitHub, it opens up a world of possibilities for publishing or consuming open source code.

Webpage Design Programs

Designing professional webpages requires some skills of HTML/CSS as well as Internet knowledge. Web pages are hosted in web servers, and web servers are connected to Internet. Also, designing webpages proficiency may require some other design skills since you will be responsible to layout the page and split it into sections like Header, Body, Sidebar and Footers.

There are many webpage design programas available in Internet. Some are free and other costly, but the important thing here is not the software itself, but your knowledge. You can even use the Notepad if you have HTML/CSS skills. But you can also use Adobe Dreamviewer or (awful) Frontpage if you need a paid software. There are other free and costly tools as well. Adobe for example has been focusing on web editor and design packages.

For basic webpages in HTML/CSS there are many resources on Internet where you can find free layouts: fluid, flexible, fixed, so you can download and that will made the things easier since you have a code base for start with your project. Also these basic webpages may growth to more complex webpages later.

How to Boost Website Traffic

Boosting your website traffic is one of the most wished things in life. By increasing your website traffic you can reach more and more people and make great conversions in sales, advertising, PPC, affiliates, etc.

One of the Internet’s strengths is its ability to help consumers
find the right needle in a digital haystack of data. – Jared Sandberg

There are many creative ways to increase the traffic to your website. Some costs money but there are other free proven techniques to boost the number of visitors to your website.

Offer Free Content

Offering free content is probably one of the most successfully techniques to get quality traffic. People love quality but also love the chance to get something without spending a cent. If you are reading these lines, does not sound better to know the boost traffic techniques that are free instead of the costly ones? Well, that is a sign that free services are more attractive sometimes.

Create Quality Content

Use a proofreader to validate the grammar and spelling in your site. Poor spelling websites are not so much attractive, for visitors but also for search engines. Google for example seems to pay more attention to well-written websites.

Content generators are a bad idea. That only generates duplicated content and your site could be banned or penalized. Avoid content generators and spend more time creating quality and original content.

Avoid copying from other websites, that could be also penalized by search engines and is not an ethical approach. Instead, focus on creating original articles.

Try to get more backlinks

How many websites links to your site? As more websites linking to your site (related websites for example) may look it more important for visitors and search engines.

Imagine that a Search Engine is a Unique Visitor

Avoid creating different content for search engines than your normal visitors. Practically a search engine works like a normal visitor trying to find usable information in your website. If you offer good information, then forget avoid creating a segmented content for search engines. Search engines love exactly the same than normal visitors that look for information. For example, if you are looking how to boost your website traffic, then search engines will try to search the same while reaching your website.

Get a better ranking at Search Engines

Prepare your pages SEO friendly. That is, do an analysis about what are the keywords that best fit into each page, and then prepare the HTML/CSS for Search Engine Optimization friendly. That means you will need to put specific tags in the titles, paragraphs, ALT images, as well as using standard conventions.

Born to be Fast

Try to optimize your server for speed. Many people say that speed is one of the most important factors for Search Engine Optimization. If your website loads so much faster than your competitor, then you have a plus.

Advertise your presence

If you have some buckets, consider Pay-Per-Click networks like the ones offered by Google Adwords, Microsoft or Yahoo. Also, you can submit free press releases, like e-zines.

And, be patient

Yes, be patient. That is not immediately. All this work takes time and effort. But after that you will notice that using ideas like the ones published here you will see how the traffic is improved.

How to Change Firefox Language

If you want to change your Mozilla Firefox locale, ie from Spanish to English, then write the following string in your URL bar: about:config

Once there, search for general.useragent.locale and change the current value from es-ES (or whatever) to en-US. Then, restart your browser.

But if you want to translate all menus, labels, etc. then probably you may install the Language Packs from Mozilla.

Alternatives for Remote Desktop using Android Phones

Do you have a Google phone or any other Android OS based smartphone? Here are some alternatives that you can review in order to use Remote Desktop application in your Android based phone. By using a remote desktop application you can connect from your phone to your home desktop or any other computer.

Remote Droid

RemoteDroid turns your phone into a wireless keyboard and mouse with touchpad, using your own wireless network. It’s a free application for phones running Google’s Android operating system, such as the Droid (Verizon Wireless) and the G1 (T-Mobile). Also the HTC Nexus One.

Xtralogic – Remote Desktop Client for Android

Xtralogic Remote Desktop Client for Android enables you to connect to your Windows computers across the Internet from a mobile device powered by Google Android platform. It is using Windows Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Once connected, it gives you mouse and keyboard control over your computer while showing you everything that’s happening on the screen. You can leave your computer at the office without losing access to your files, applications, and e-mail. All the necessary server components are already part of Windows operating system, so you will not need to install anything on your Windows computers.

Android VNC Viewer

Android VNC Viewer is an alternative for remote desktop control using VNC and Android OS. It is a VNC viewer for Android platform. android-vnc-viewer is forked from tightVNC viewer.

LogMeIn for Android

LogMeIn announced a plan for adding Android support to their remote desktop application. “We believe service providers supporting Android-based devices will benefit by offering an enhanced, remote support experience for their high-value customers."