Multiple checkboxes via HTTP_POST_VARS

Anon

Is this a bug in PHP...

Naming multiple checkboxes with the one array name (eg, fred[]) but giving each checkbox a different value allows one to gather information about which checkboxes are selected when the form is submited by reading the one global array variable $fred[] my the PHP script.

However, if "register_globals" is disabled, one instead should use $HTTP_POST_VARS["fred"][] (assuming "track_vars" is enabled).

Problems is, $HTTP_POST_VARS["fred"] always returns the value "Array" (ie, a string) when anycheckboxes are selected. That is, it is NOT a true array.

It looks like $HTTP_POST_VARS["fred"] is being assigned the value of the "fred" array in a scalar context.

Is this a bug or am I missing something ?

I'm testing with PHP 4.0.3.pl1.

Needless to say enabling "register_globals" is not an option for me (nor is it desirable practice anyway).

Anon

ehm... if you try to print/echo an array it displays the text "Array" wich means it is an array

try adding $fred=&$HTTP_POST_VARS["fred"];
and then use your code with the array $fred...

Anon

ehm... if you try to print/echo an array it displays
the text "Array" wich means it is an array. Try
adding $fred=&$HTTP_POST_VARS["fred"]; and then use
your code with the array $fred...

Sorry, I am aware that accessing an array in a scalar
context returns the string literal "Array".

I did not explain my problem clearly.

Assume register_globals' andtrack_vars" are both on.

Assume also that several checkboxes are selected.

is_array($fred) returns TRUE

but

is_array($HTTP_POST_VARS["fred"]) returns FALSE.

That is $HTTP_POST_VARS["fred"] is a string. Further
the string has the value "Array".

It is as if PHP is reading the POST variable "fred" in
a scalar context when assigning its value (ie the
string "Array") to the "fred" element in HTTP_POST_VARS array. PHP does not do this when assigning the global version of $fred.

What am I missing here ?

Thanks one and all.

Anon

Ok, problem solved. I've upgraded to PHP 4.0.4pl1 and the problem appears to be fixed.

Anon

Further investigation reveals the bug remains, even in in PHP 4.0.5. So, I have created a bug report for it.

http://www.php.net/bugs.php?id=10918

I hope this saves all you some time :-)