How do I include specific files?

I'm new to PHP, but from Lasso I'm used to the following sort of arrangement (in pseudo-code) Search for matching records If number found=1 include "/folder/subfolder/file1" If number found>1 include "/folder/subfolder/file2" If number found=0 include "/anotherfolder/subfolder/file99" where the included file contains the appropriate code for displaying a list, a detailed record etc. In fact the whole page is made up almost entirely from a succession of included files. The paths all "hang" from the root as with HTML (for example <img src="/images-folder-at-root-level/image.gif">). In PHP the include_path stops this process in its tracks. I'm with an ISP so I don't suppose I can control include_path (.:/usr/local/lib/php). Are there any other options? TIA Roddie Grant roddie@myword.co.uk