Say I have a layer L in Geoserver to which i attach a style S (in the GS backend i published L using S). Of course, If I use the style editor in the GS backend and change the SLD for S and then 'submit' the new style, my layer looks different next time I load it in a browser.
Now, I am planning to re-generate the SLD for S regularly directly into the Geoserver styles folder using php : each time the database has a new entry, it is queried, the appropriate style/legend is calculated and my php is parsed and prints the SLD code for S in the styles folder, overwriting the previous version of S in the process. It does not work, i.e. if I modify or overwrite S directly in the styles folder and then reload my layer in a browser the style is not updated.
Hence my question: what does the 'submit' button in the GS backend style editor do and how can it be simulated using code instead of manually.
Hope this makes sense. Thanks for your help. B