first time PHPSESSID

Anon

The first time I call session_start it is apperently not setting the PHPSESSID variable right away. I am passing the session id though the url so this is causing me problems (I get urls like "somepage.php?PHPSESSID=" when I want something more like "somepage.php?PHPSESSID=1321465431564").

Is there any way to either get access right after the session is started for the first time, or to force php to set this variable when the session is started?

[deleted]

If you want PHP to start a new session, you must NOT supply PHPSESSID in any way. If you do, PHP will try to start a session with the ID stored in PHPSESSID.

This is why it is better to use cookies that expire when the browser is closed. That way when a user begins browsing, he doesn't have the cookie, and when he makes a bookmark, he doesn't store the sessionid in it.

Anon

I think you have the wrong idea as to what I mean. A sample would be better.

<? php
session_start();
...

print "<form action=\"$PHP_SELF?PHPSESSID=$PHPSESSID\" method=\"post\">

...
?>

this is what I want to do, but when they first open the browser $PHPSESSID is empty, and after I call session_start it is STILL empty. so it ends up post the form to $PHP_SELF?PHPSESSID= and this doesn't help because I loose my registered variable. However, if I then hit refresh, it will put the actual numbers in for the session id. (but only the second time the page is viewed)

[deleted]

Ah ok.

you should never use $PHPSESSID like that.
Instead, use session_id(), which will return the id of the currently open session:

<? php
session_start();
...

print '<form action="$PHP_SELF?PHPSESSID='.session_id().'" method="post">';

...
?>

BTW, it's better to use a hidden var for this; you cannot use POST and GET variables at the same time.