converting variables...plz

[Anon]

Hi! =)

Is there a pre defined function in php to convert a variable into a text string?

Here’s the task,

• the variable is given a value from the db.
• the variable is being stored into an array, but first must be converted to a string to give the array multiple values instead of only one

example

$variable = 1,2,3;

$desired_array = array(trim($variable));

Issue: variable is read as one value instead of 3 which is desired
Solution: convert variable to text string to be placed inside the array, which then should be read as 3 different values ( 1,2,3 )

Question is, can it be done, I’d suspect so, but how?

thank you so much. ! =)

[knight]

Jen you're in luck I had to teach myself to do the same thing because I wanted to make a dynamic pull down menu. The trick is to put the variables into a dynamically generated output and then have them sorted. Since you're doing from a database I'll go ahead and give you a copy of the code I used to give you a general idea.

// Check for Link Selection
$db_connect = mysql_connect ( $server, $username, $password )
or die ( 'Unable to connect to database!' );
mysql_select_db ( $database, $db_connect )
or die ( 'Unable to select database!' );
$query = "SELECT * FROM links";
$results = mysql_query ($query)
or die ( 'Unable to execute query!' );
while ( $row = mysql_fetch_array( $results ))
{
$name = $row["NAME"];
$link = $row["LINK"];
$option_block .= "\t<option value=\"$link\">$name</option>\n";

}

Ok this is what the code does. It connects to a desired database then looks in the table for the field named NAME and LINK it then crabs the data and sorts them individually like this. You can change the $option_block to anything you wish and it will work. I hope this helps you, If not go ahead and e-mail me and I will help you further my e-mail address is on my site which is in my signature.

• Phil Brault
  Information Technology Specialist
  Web Applications Developer
  http://www.scriptparadise.net

[Anon]

Have you tried the split function???

Example:
$variable="1,2,3";
//The value of $variable can be taken from a database

$desired_array=split(",",$variable);
//you have to pass to the function the separator.

//Now you have:
//$desired_array[0] --> 1
//$desired_array[1] --> 2
//$desired_array[2] --> 3

You can use the explode function as well

[Anon]

<?
$variable = '1,2,3';
$array = explode (',', $variable);
?>

$array now has three separate elements: 1, 2 and 3.