PHP vs. ASP issue

So I'm trying to modernize this guy's site, and I get the bright idea to use PHP to make updating sidebars and stuff like that easier.  Basically, the idea is to type up a script that reads HTML code from a text file and echoes it onto the sidebar of each page - a rather simple operation.

I put together a test page to see whether or not his server is PHP-enabled, and it turns out that it is - only problem is, fopen() doesn't seem to be able to open any files on the server.  I can do the job just fine using an ASP script instead, but ASP is long-winded and ugly and unpleasant to code in.

So, my question is: Any idea why fopen() doesn't do jack on this guy's server?  All that I know about the server itself so far is that it uses Microsoft FTP Service and is PHP- and ASP-enabled, as stated above; and that up until now he's been putting the site together in FrontPage.  I don't know how telling that information is, but any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

do a phpinfo() and look for gay shit.

Yeesh, gay shit indeed.  Looks like all of PHP's file-handling functions are on the disable_functions list.  And the php.ini file can't be changed, since the webmaster doesn't own the server.

Oh, well.  ASP still does the job, so I'll just use that.  Thanks a lot, >>2.

does the server have SSI enabled?
if not, what about include() in PHP?

>>4
Wow, I had no idea that would work so elegantly.  That does the job perfectly.
Thank you very much for helping out a total PHP noob.

OMG /prog being useful

>>6
It can happen even in the best of worlds

echo include("yourfiledumbass.html");

that should work, if php will let you be that retarded.

oh also you can do virtual HTML includes sooo....

<!-- virtual_include(html.html) -->

that should work

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All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy