file handling help

i have stored data in a text file "data.txt" and i want to search a email address
form that file can i do like this

$filename="data.txt";
$fptr=fopen($filename,"r");
$content=fread($fptr,filesize ($filename));
fclose($fptr);
if(strstr($content,$email))
{
echo <<< THIS
<font color="red" size="+2" face="verdana">
You have already signed the guestbook
</font>
THIS;

will this work or there is any thing to be added or deleted

well i dont really know much about text files, but i'm thinkin it would be easier to use a database if you can get your hands on one.

Once again, not knowing much about text files, but from the looks of it, that doesnt even search the text file for an email address, it just opens it and reads the contents, theres no comparisons like i think you would need to do.

i'm not sure whether what you're trying will work or not harsha. interesting approach either way, i might take the following route

Note: Prior to PHP 4.2.0, array_search() returns NULL on failure instead of FALSE.

mr D1NGO

i know that it is easier to code using database but it is life if every thing goes smoothly what is the use there should be some difficulties like here using text files then only we get experience in coding
hope you understood

yes that is true harsha, although, when trying to solve a problem, finding a solution is not good enough, its all about finding the best solution.