What would you do?

[kutu62]

Which language should I use to develop an application that can log into a web based ticketing system? It's just a php driven website.. so the page I'd be logging into is html/xhtml/css. Right now I use scripts to find the information in the system I need but we upgraded the ticket system and now I must log in first. well I can't use unix scripting to log into the system so I must learn a language and get to work.

Any suggestions would be helpful!

Im new here and hopefully will be able to contribute in some form or fashion in the near future. Thank you for your input to this post.
Kim

[PeejAvery]

Which language should I use to develop an application that can log into a web based ticketing system? It's just a php driven website..
Well, then why not use PHP???

so the page I'd be logging into is html/xhtml/css.
Not exactly. Those are client-side languages. You will be logging into the server which will be using PHP to process your request.

Why exactly are you not using the web-based interface itself?

[kutu62]

Thanks for the 411 PeejAvery, to answer your question... I want to programmatically login to the site based on the ticket types and give specific reaction based on ticket codes. You have to login to reply and after while the session times out.

You say I should learn PHP for accomplish this but I though PHP was used for backend website generation.. I would love to roll with PHP but want to be sure it can still do what I need it to do even if we switch to a none php based ticketing system too.

Here are the requirements – and remember I can’t make the ticketing system do this – it must come from outside the ticketing system – look like a admin is doing it

1. search submitted tickets for particular codes
2. when code is found post a particular response
3. be able to login to the system if prompted for login
4. work on multiple web interfaces (incase we switch from a php ticket system to .NET or something)

Number 4 isn’t as important as number 1 thru 3 but I’d hate to learn PHP then the current system change to a new language and I not be able to use my script/application anymore.

[PeejAvery]

Rule #1 about administration to an application...it must be programmed INTO the same application it is going to be administrating!.

You say I should learn PHP for accomplish this but I though PHP was used for backend website generation.
That is its most common use, however PHP can be installed on any computer. It does not have to be a server. You can run PHP from your local machine if you wanted.

[kutu62]

ya I know.. I realize all the processes I need should be built into the program however that isn't going to happen for us.. Got a friend helping and the only place we are STUMPED on is how to automate login. How can we automate the login process via UNIX script or PHP or ?? We googled this and read books WITH nothing coming up. Any pointers in the right direction would be a life saver.. thanks!

[PeejAvery]

A login will require posting of data. To do this, you can use cURL (http://us.php.net/manual/en/ref.curl.php).

[kutu62]

PeejAvery - THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!! =)