using functions to 'pass back' a ar

[jesus_hairdo]

i want to run a function which instead of printing something, sets up a variable which i can use in the calling script. i have a function which checks if someone is on holiday, at the moment it prints out the holidays or 'no holidays' what i want it to do instead is to pass $onholiday back and $holiday_dates_table. would i just set the variable in the function and declare the variable global or is it some other way ??

cheers

Jamie

[jesus_hairdo]

AS title

[[deleted]]

Manuals are your friends. Read them.

http://www.php.net/manual/en/functions.returning-values.php

[jesus_hairdo]

Thanks for the pointer

I don't quite understand this part,

function &returns_reference()
{
return $someref;
}

$newref =& returns_reference();

What i am wanting to do is use the $someref var in the calling script. I don't understand what the $newref =& returns_reference(); bit does and how to use it.

thanks

Jamie

[[deleted]]

Forget all about the =&, it is not important in your case.

Just use

function gimme_a_number()
{
  $iANumber = 5;
  return $iANumber;
};

$iMyNumber = gimme_a_number();
echo 'My number is '.$iMyNumber;

[jesus_hairdo]

great, thanks a lot