variables seem undefined after breaking file into include() pieces

cmason22

i have a perfectly functioning php page. a bit of HTML, with the usual simple mySQL/php to build from database, etc.

everything works great.

when i split the file up into some pieces:

top.php
middle.php (includes in top.php and end.php)
end.php

now it doesnt work so well 🙂

variables seem to be empty in top and end, but work ok in middle.php.

its a bit strange. probably very easy and obvious, but i just can't quite tell whats going on since, from PHPs perspective, i don't see how the code is any different from a single file.

thanks in advance for any help!

rachel2004

You need to visually inspect each of your three PHP files and make sure a variable isn't being used that isn't being defined either in that file OR in aother file that you're using via the call to include() or require() or one of the derivations of the two.

cmason22

yeah, i've considered that.

here's another way to describe what's going on:

index.php file contents

@connection
include 'singlepart.php'
close connection

the above scenario works fine

alternate case:

index.php file contents

@connection
include 'multipart.php'
close connection

multipart.php file contents

include 'top.php' <-- seems to have lost connection var
do some php <-- executes fine
include 'bottom.php' <-- seems to have lost connection var

sorry for what may be a very lame way of describing the problem. i'm just trying to avoid getting into the specific code since it works just fine as one piece.

thanks!

rachel2004

Originally posted by cmason22
yeah, i've considered that.

So what did you find out?

cmason22

well... like i said there's obviously something i'm missing.

is there any reason that this:

<?
code
code
code
?>

would behave any differently than this:

<?
include code
include code
include code
?>

and if so, why? i think there's just some fundamental rule that i'm overlooking here.