How can you read a PHP file on a server that you only have read access to, BEFORE it is parsed?

Question

I want to be able to see the original coding, not the results after it is parsed.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks.

Answer 1

If this was possible, it would be a MAJOR security issue!
The PhP source is on the server, and stays there. Only its "parsed" output goes to the "client" (the surfer).
To access the source, you have to access the server, through all its safety protections.
A good hacker might do it, but if so, securities will have to be reviewed.

Answer 2

The only way to do it is to have FTP access to that server so that you could download the code. There's no way to do it from the web server (rightly so). It would be a major security issue.