OK...I inherited a Java based app that I assume is coded completely in Java (isn't that what jsp files are?). I needed to make an addition to it, so rather than learning Java (since I'm trying to phase away from it) I am wanting to make additions in php (as I know php, this was the best thought to me).

Here's my problem. The Java app (at least all the jsp files) are in the tomcat directory, so that Java/tomcat interprets them. Unfortunately, any php code that is dropped into the tomcat file is ignored by the php parser and spit out as html code. As Html doesn't know php from a hole in the ground, I get some neato errors.

So...what do I need to change (and where please) so that a) php is parsed within the tomcat directory; b) I can make a call to a php script outside the tomcat directory or c) copy, rename, and open the renamed copy using Java (if this is my only option...)

for PHP in the jsp files I've been trying one of the following (with no success)

<script language="php">blah blah blah</script>
and
<?php blah blah blah ?>

Thoughts?

I think you are in a dead end, PHP and JSP are mutually exclusive.
You'd rather learn using JSP for that task.