Classes and Objects ...

[dr_froyd]

Hellow folks,

This is it ! I have to improve my skills talking about classes and objects ...
Im trying to create a database layer that works simple like that:

I have a table called WebUsers that holds up the users info.
Heres the deal, i want to start a class called User then, retrieve the cookie stored on the user machine to log him on ... watch:

$SiteUser = new WebUser; // Class initiate, connections made...
if($COOKIE['auto_log_id']) {
$SiteUser->LogUser($COOKIE['auto_log_id']);
} else {
$SiteUser->LogGuest();
}

Ok, this code will log the user if he found he have a valid log info on his own machine.

Now im having lil problems....
For the $this->LogUser function in my class, i want to get the data from WebUser table and store it in PHP SESSIONS, but i dont know why PHP is not doing it right !

I.E:

class WebUser {

function WebUser() {
$this->nome = "fred";
session_register("this->nome");
}

}

Main page:

<?
// Session
session_start();
// requirements
require_once("classes/dbClass.php");
require_once("classes/webuserClass.php");

// Site defined Objects

$DB = new DataBase;
$DB->Conn = $DB->connect();

$User = new WebUser;

echo $_SESSION['nome'];

?>

After the first reload this should work right ? But its not ...
PHP is not registering the sessions at the class file ...

Is that possible ? What should i do ?
The main idea is to have the user variables loaded to a set of session vars, if i need to change users variable, im going to change them in the sessions, and then save to the database.

This should allow me to let users edit the Guest configurations for its own configuration and keep navigating on my site without registering. But he can always save is info later.
So he doesnt needs to register first to use the features site will have for registered customers. but if he wants to be recognized, then we'll need to register !

What u guys think about ? Any ideas ?
Lets discuss about that ?

Thanx everybody in advance !

[tomhath]

You register 'this->nome' then try to get the value of 'nome'. Those don't look like the same variable to me...

[keakathleen]

Do you have to use parenthesis when declaring new?

I always have used $DB = new Database(); and $User = new WebUser();

I don't know if this matters or not...

Since you declare that $User = new WebUser(), I believe you need to say $User -> _$SESSION['nome'] or something to this effect. The object $User now contains all properties of WebUser including your session variables, I believe. I might not be thinking of this right, though. I hope this helps.

keakathleen

[dr_froyd]

Hi again folks,

Sorry about the $_SESSION['nome'], i only misstyped it here but in my codes im trying to show the session var with:

$_SESSION['this->nome'] but it still not working ...

keakathleen thanx for your posting, but i didnt get ur point.
It doesnt seems that i NEED to use the () calling my classes, they are working i only have the problem with the session variables.

im trying again:

The problem is, it looks like PHP is NOT registering my session variables in my class file.

I can really register those same variables in the main script but they are not loading in my class..

Ok, does anyone can explain me more about sessions and variables ?
I mean, is it possible to load an entire object into a session variable ?
Doesn anyone have ideias for what im trying ?
I mean, storing session vars automatically retrived from database, so you dont have to call them everytime u need a user var.

Thanx in advance.

[dr_froyd]

Originally posted by tomhath
You register 'this->nome' then try to get the value of 'nome'. Those don't look like the same variable to me...

Thanx, but should i use $SESSION[User ->nome]
or $SESSION[this->nome]
???????????

[keakathleen]

I do not think that you are using your classes and objects correctly. Here is some code that I have used with classes and objects for a product based web page.

class page_fetch_products extends Page

{

function set_category_id($new_category_id)

///// FUNCTION SETS THE PRODUCT CATEGORY ID SO IT CAN BE USED INSIDE THIS CLASS /////

{
$this->category_id = $new_category_id;
}
}

///// NEW OBJECT MADE CALLED $FETCH_PRODUCTS /////
$fetch_products = new page_fetch_products();
///// CATEGORY ID IS FETCHED FROM THE ADDRESS BAR AND SET TO A FUNCTION INSIDE THE CLASS SO IT CAN BE USED /////
$fetch_products -> set_category_id($Product_Category_Id);

This example code pulls $Product_Category_Id from the address bar. Then the function inside my class pulls $Product_Category_Id in so that the class may use this variable. A class only knows variables that exist locally. To get your main page to recognize your this->nome variable you need to declare it globally to use it on the main page. I also think you might need to start your session inside of your class. I don't know if the class realizes a session is already started. I am not sure if you will also need the start on the main page too. I think you might. Here is a link/tutorial for php sessions that might help.
http://zend.com/zend/tut/session.php

The post before me is right too. You have to call your variable by using this->nome if that is what you are declaring it in your class.

I am sorry if I am completely missing the point on this. If so, just ignore this post.

[dr_froyd]

Thanx everyone for helping me with this ... especially keakathleen.

keakathleen, about your last post u did not missed the point, maybe im not explaing it the correct way.

I solved my problem but i changed the coding style i wuz using.
I have a quite good knowlegde talking about classes, im totally familiar with that, my problem is the session.

Just for sharing this is what im doing now.

I call my class, the class conects to my database store the data i want with the fetch object.

$UsersObject = new WebUser;
$UsersObject->InfoObject("Info");

The last line above creates another object with all the users information i have in db: Now i can access with.

echo $UsersObject->Info->user_name;

Where "user_name" is the field from mysql that stores users name.

to put these vars inside my sessions now i do somthing like:

$name = $UsersObject->Info->user_name;
session_register("name");

I know this is quite simple. I knew i could have used that before but i wuz trying to get things a lil bit easier for me doing the session_register inside the class. So, when i call

$UsersObject->InfoObject("Info"); 

this line wuz suposed to put all the db data i want inside my class, automatically. But i realized that even if i register any variable inside my class, they just dont show up in any other page.

But i think this question will not get answered now ....

Anyways .... IM NOT STUCKED !!!

This forum is great !!!
PHP DEVELOPERS UNITE !!!!

Thanx everyone again.....

ps.: keakathleen, i saw your sites. Great Work!

[keakathleen]

thanks for the kind words. i have read a few things on google about storing complete objects in a database and using them in sessions but another tool was always used as an interface between the database and the programmer. i just typed sessions, objects, and php into google.com and came up with some interesting results. good luck. 😉

[simon622]

Dr_Froyd,

The problem as I understand it;

You want to actually store instance variables in the session not just local variables?

Right Away we go....

You are trying to register a session variable from the calling page,
when the sessions scope is only in the calling page not the class.

You require the session to be in the objects scope to register the instance variables.

I personally use a session object, eg class Session() and have register,destroy, etc etc as object methods. Then you can create a session within the object scope, eg on construction of your UserObject. Then register using the session object eg.

WITHIN THE CLASS;
$mySession->register($this->username);

So what have we got now......

A class that controls all session management;
A class constructor within UserObject that initialises a session object. EXP: A Factory method.
The session object is within scope of the class as this is where it was called.

This encourages encapsulation and data hiding.

Dont forget to use a full set of accessors in PHP rather than;

$name = $UsersObject->Info->user_name;

Try;

$name = $UserObject->getUserName();
Just good practise.

Hope this helps,