simple function problem

[Anon]

Can anyone tell me why the following piece of code cannot execute the function and returns the value '0'?

The variable '$total' is sent from a form on a different page but is arriving correctly as can be verified if I ask 'echo $total'it prints the correct figure.

The value of $total,as sent from previous page is always a price, ie '749.00 exc. VAT'.

If I reset the variable before calling the function .ie '$total=749.00 exc.VAT' the function works and the correct figure is printed.
Is there some reason why it doesn't know what the value of $total is when called as a function parameter?

[Anon]

Mark,

You didn't post any code, but I guess that if your are trying to use the variable inside a function, and it was recovered from the previous page from outside the function, you won't see it.

This is because the variable must be defined global. Like this

function myFunction(my args....){
global $myExternalyDefinedVar;

.. Now I can use it ...

}

--Erich

[Anon]

Erich,

Thank you for your help the variable I am using is not inside the function itself,it is only used as an argument parameter to call it.Code is as follows:

echo "the nett price was $total";
echo "<BR>";
echo "the gross price including VAT is £";
function vat ($price)
{
$price=$price+ (($price/100)*17.5);
return $price;
}

echo (vat($total));

?>

PHP knows the value of $total because it prints as asked in the first line,but doesn't seem to know it when I call the function in the last line

Should I still follow your answer and set global variable?

Thanks Mark

[icaro]

there is nothing wrong with this piece of code...
i just uploaded and tested it, with $total=123; at beginig (cause i dont have your original form)..

it showed:

the nett price was 123
the gross price including VAT is £144.525

---

what do you see when you run this code?

the nett price was 123
the gross price including VAT is £0

or
the gross price including VAT is £

??

remember that $total must be a number, and if it is a string, the first character must be a number.
if $total is something like '$123,99', the function will return 0, cause the sign '$' is not a number.