If statement spaning files

I have a several files which include header.inc at the start (after setting some vars), and footer.inc at the end of the page. I want to start an if statment at header.inc and close it at footer.inc. something like body.php ----------- <? set some vars... include ('header.inc'); ...... ...... ...... include('footer.inc') ?> header.inc ----------- <? if (condition) { ?> footer.inc ----------- <? } else { ....... } ?> But that gives my syntax error in header.inc. From this i guess that included files are parsed as a whole before inserting them into the page. Is this correct ? Is there another solution (require ?), or do I have to put the condition on each page (I'd hate to do this) Thank you Meir Kriheli MKsoft computer systems 'There's someone in my head but it's not me" - Pink Floyd