Getting functions and variables into classes

[bunner_bob]

Hi - just getting started with classes. Two things I'd like to be able to do, but not sure how.

1. Getting global variables into my class

At the beginning of a class I must define my variables:

var $foo [ = "bar"];

Is there a way to get variables from outside the class into the class? I know I can do them in a class function with the keyword "global", but that doesn't seem to work outside functions. It that case "global" just seems to break the class completely.

I suppose one way would be to do something like this:

class Monkey {
var $foo;

function PullInFoo() {
global $foo;
$this->foo = $foo;
}

}

Is that as neat as I can get, or is there a slicker way to do this?

2. External functions. Is there any way to call a function outside a class from within a class? I have a function that reformats emails & such, and I'd like to apply it to certain text within a function.

Thanks!
Classes are cool.

• Bob

[nlhowell]

1) If you prefer, use the $GLOBALS array:

$attack = 2;
class Stuff
{
    var $stuff = 7;
    function AttackStuff()
    {
         $this->stuff = $GLOBALS['attack'];
    }
}

2) Just like anywhere else:

function PoundNail($size)
{
    if($size < 5 and rand(0,5) < 2.5) print "OW! I HIT MY THUMB!!!!";
    else print "Gotchya!";
}
class Hammer
{
    function PoundNail($size)
    {
         PoundNail($size);
    }
}
$x = new Hammer;
$x->PoundNail(20);

[swr]

Or just:

class Foo {
    var $bar = $GLOBALS['baz'];
    //etc
}

If you need to do something more than a simple assignment (like calling a function or something) you can use a constructor. The constructor is a function with the same name as the class, and it is invoked when the "new" keyword is used:

class Foo {
    var $a;
    var $b;

function Foo($a) {
    $this->$a = $a;
    $this->$b = somefunction($GLOBALS['blah']);
}
}

$foo =& new Foo("Hey!");
echo $foo->$a; // "Hey!"
echo $foo->$b; // the return value from somefunction

[Shrike]

Originally posted by swr
Or just:

class Foo {
    var $bar = $GLOBALS['baz'];
    //etc
}

You can't dynamically assign member variables.

[bunner_bob]

Cool, thanks. I'm rockin' on classes now. Going to redo my whole site that way, for easier export of code. I'm splitting the whole thing into a file full of HTML template lines (pulled in via $GLOBALS['template1'] etc.) and a file full of classes.

I've been procrastinating the leap to OOP for months. I knew I just had to start working with it and it'd make sense. It does. Thanks for the help.

• bob

[Weedpacket]

Originally posted by Shrike
You can't dynamically assign member variables.

Worse than that, you can't even go

var $foo = 1+1;