"Break out" of refreshing div issue

[gnetcon]

All:

I have a script that simply refreshes the content of a certain div every few seconds using javascript.

My problem is that when a user, say, is logged out, the entire login page (with menu and all) displays within the contents of that div.

How can I programatically refresh the entire page, when needed? I tried the very basic top.location.href, but it doesn't work.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

TIA!

[whoisgregg]

Are you setting any cookies when the user is logged in or logged out? If so, you could use javascript to read those cookies and branch based on their values/existence.

Also, instead of your script returning a login page, perhaps you could have it return a javascript value (like "false") so you can branch based on that.

[gnetcon]

whoisgregg:

No cookies, no.

I think my best bet is to set a session value in PHP when the user is logged out. I can then check for this value in the application. I just need to know:

If it IS found, how can I make sure that I reload the full page, and not just the div that the chosen code may be updating?

[gnetcon]

Actually, I figured it out.

In each call to refresh the div, a certain URL variable was passed. I then check that against the session value, and if it has changed, and the URL value exists, I don't display the header/footer. Just the box. If it doesn't exist, I display the whole page.

No JavaScript needed. : )

[vol7ron]

I read this and found it interesting. I don't clearly understand it though. Could you describe it again in a little more detail?

1) You have a web page
2) There is a DIV on that page that refreshes (let's say it's sports scores)
3) When logging in/out that DIV is being replaced with the page body?

Why not start/stop your timer when logging in/out?

If that's not what's going on, maybe your follow-up will help clarify what I am confused about.

[gnetcon]

vol7ron:

You have the process correct. I couldn't stop the timer, because it also controls/updates other areas (divs) that don't require a user to be logged in.

My way prolly isn't the best way, but it's working now. It doesn't actuallu display a login box, just a message that you need to be logged in to see it. My problem was the message was including the full web page, instead of just the box. On other pages, I needed it to display the whole page (menu, navigation, etc).

So now I look to see if that particular URL variable is passed. If it is, I know I'm in a div, so just display the message. Otherwise, I display everything.

Clear as mud? : )