Javascript code with php variable advise needed

You can start and stop PHP as you like by adding opening an closing tags like:

some html;
<?php 
    do some php 
?>
some more html
<?php 
    do some php 
?>

So in your case:

$remaining=$item['start']+$item['duration']*60-time();
if ($remaining < 1) {
    $remaining='0.1';
    }

?>  //STOP PHP HERE

<script type='text/javascript'>
var something = "<?php echo $remaining;?>"; //INSERT A LITTE PHP
//<![CDATA[ 

 ....

});
});//]]>; //REMOVE LAST QUOTE

Add Your PHP Variable as below

   echo "<script type='text/javascript'>
    var something = ".$remaining.";
    //<![CDATA[ ...";

You're only telling the javascript how much time is remaining. You might as well also parse the start time too and let the anim_progressbar function work out what the percentage is first, before you start the this.each loop.

in the line

start: new Date(), // now

put the start time in the (), and let the date be parsed.

EDIT:

As far as I'm aware... the Javascript Date object would recognise that "start" date as valid and parse it accordingly... let me know if I'm wrong...

EDIT2:

Provided you haven't changed your code (as per other suggestions):

$remaining=$item['start']+$item['duration']*60-time();
$startdate = $item['start'];   // NEW VARIABLE
if ($remaining < 1) {
$remaining='0.1';
}
echo "<script type='text/javascript'>
var something = $remaining;
//<![CDATA[ 
$(function(){
$(document).ready(function(){

jQuery.fn.anim_progressbar = function (aOptions) {
    // def values
    var iCms = 1000;
    var iMms = 60 * iCms;
    var iHms = 3600 * iCms;
    var iDms = 24 * 3600 * iCms;

    // def options
    var aDefOpts = {
        start: new Date($startdate), // now  // NEW VARIABLE
        finish: new Date().setTime(new Date().getTime() + something * iCms), // now + 60 sec
        interval: 100
    }
    var aOpts = jQuery.extend(aDefOpts, aOptions);
    var vPb = this;

    // each progress bar
    return this.each(
        function() {
            var iDuration = aOpts.finish - aOpts.start;

            // calling original progressbar
            $(vPb).children('.pbar').progressbar();

            // looping process
            var vInterval = setInterval(
                function(){
                    var iLeftMs = aOpts.finish - new Date(); // left time in MS
                    var iElapsedMs = new Date() - aOpts.start, // elapsed time in MS
                        iDays = parseInt(iLeftMs / iDms), // elapsed days
                        iHours = parseInt((iLeftMs - (iDays * iDms)) / iHms), // elapsed hours
                        iMin = parseInt((iLeftMs - (iDays * iDms) - (iHours * iHms)) / iMms), //        elapsed minutes
                        iSec = parseInt((iLeftMs - (iDays * iDms) - (iMin * iMms) - (iHours * iHms))      / iCms), // elapsed seconds
                        iPerc = (iElapsedMs > 0) ? iElapsedMs / iDuration * 100 : 0; // percentages

                    // display current positions and progress
                    $(vPb).children('.percent').html('<b>'+iPerc.toFixed(1)+'%</b>');
                    $(vPb).children('.elapsed').html(iDays+' days   '+iHours+'h:'+iMin+'m:'+iSec+'s</b>');
                    $(vPb).children('.pbar').children('.ui-progressbar-value').css('width', iPerc+'%');

                    // in case of Finish
                    if (iPerc >= 100) {
                        clearInterval(vInterval);
                        $(vPb).children('.pbar').children('.ui-progressbar-value').css('width', 0+'%');
                        $(vPb).children('.percent').html('<b>0%</b>');
                        $(vPb).children('.elapsed').html('Building queue is empty.  <div style= font-size:x-small; color:#000;>(<a href=# onclick=window.location.reload(true);>Reload?</a>)</div>');
                    }
                } ,aOpts.interval
            );
        }
    );
}

// default mode
$('#progress1').anim_progressbar();

// from second #5 till 15
var iNow = new Date().setTime(new Date().getTime() + 5 * 1000); // now plus 5 secs
var iEnd = new Date().setTime(new Date().getTime() + 15 * 1000); // now plus 15 secs

});
});//]]>";