In brief

Handle selectors, groups, properties are some basic features of HTML_CSS but getting results in different format should be the final step of your process. We have four/five different functions (depending or render you want to get) : HTML_CSS::toArray(), HTML_CSS::toInline(), HTML_CSS::toFile(), HTML_CSS::toString() and HTML_CSS::display().

To Array

HTML_CSS::toArray() must be considered as a debug/help function. An easy way to explore HTML_CSS data structures.

For example, explore these definitions :

html, body {
  margin: 2px;
  padding: 0px;
  border: 0px;
}

p, body {
  margin: 4px;
}

div#header { text-align: center; color: red; }

With script :


<?php
require_once 'HTML/CSS.php';

$css = new HTML_CSS();

$strcss = '
html, body {
  margin: 2px;
  padding: 0px;
  border: 0px;
}

p, body {
  margin: 4px;
}

div#header { text-align: center; color: red; }
';
$css->parseString($strcss);

$arr = $css->toArray();
var_export($arr);
?>

To Inline

HTML_CSS::toInline() allow to integrate html tags with styles.

Dissociate html code and presentation layout (CSS) is more than recommanded

Here is a basic example that show a white 'Hello World' on a black background :


<?php
require_once 'HTML/CSS.php';

$css = new HTML_CSS();

$css->setStyle('body', 'background-color', '#0c0c0c');
$css->setStyle('body', 'color', '#ffffff');

echo '<body style="' . $css->toInline('body') . '">';
echo '<p>Hello World</p>';
echo '</body>';
?>

To File

HTML_CSS::toFile() is probably the most interresting solution. You can create a pure CSS file on the fly.

If file already exists, it will be replace without warning !

This script will load an existing style sheet and replace the body definition :


<?php
require_once 'HTML/CSS.php';

$css = new HTML_CSS();

$css->parseFile('example.css');

$css->setStyle('body', 'background-color', '#0c0c0c');
$css->setStyle('body', 'color', '#ffffff');

$css->toFile('example.css');
?>

To String

HTML_CSS::toString() is analogous to HTML_CSS::toFile() except that result is capture to a PHP variable rather than to a text/css file.


<?php
require_once 'HTML/CSS.php';

$css = new HTML_CSS();

$strcss = '
ul, body {
  padding: 1em 2em;
}
';
$css->parseString($strcss);
$css->setGroupStyle(1, 'color', 'red');

$str = $css->toString();
echo $str;
// will display
// ul, body { padding: 1em 2em; color: red; }
?>

Display

HTML_CSS::display() is no more no less than just a


<?php
echo $css->toString();
?>

with cache and charset management for browser output.

See also : HTML_CSS::setCharset() and HTML_CSS::setCache() functions.

Output