simple variables question... please help

[etrooper]

Hi all,

I am a newb to php and I have become very stuck in my learning travels.

I think what I am looking for is very simple I just cant seem to find it, and I have now been frustrated for a few days looking.

This is what I want to do (in very brief shorthand mode);

$var1;

if ($something) {

... update DB where id = $var1 ...

}

if ($link) {

$var1 = $id
return $var1

}

if (!$var1) {
$sql = "SELECT * FROM add1";

$result = mysql_query($sql);

while ($myrow = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
printf("<a href=%s?id=%s&link=yes>%s</a><br>", $PHP_SELF, $myrow['id'], $myrow['title']);
}

}

SO basically there are three sections

1. update database (which will not get run till last) but must use $var1 for the id part

2. change $var1 SOMEHOW??? so that the original $var1 is changed through out the script

3. on first run through script display a list with all database entries, until id is selected (...and then for all the time the user uses this script let $var1 be that id)

I have tried using functions but they do not seem to be doing the trick, global within a funciton works calling the variable in but I cannot seem to figure out how to return a changed 'master' variable???

Please help.

[drawmack]

Here are some methods of getting values from a function to the main script

Example 1: Using a return value

<?php
function change_it($new_value) {
    return $new_value;
} //end change_ig

//call it like this
$var = change_id(2);
//sets $var = 2
?>

Example 2: Using a global variable

<?php
function change_global($var_name,$new_value) {
    global $$var_name;
    $$var_name = $new_value;
}

//call it like this
change_global('var',2);
//sets $var = 2
?>

Example 3: Passing by reference

<?php
function change_reference(&$var,$new_value) {
    $var = $new_value
}

//call it like this
change_reference($var,2);
//sets $var = 2
?>

I hope that helps clear some things up for you.

[etrooper]

OK figured it out....

It was so simple.

All I needed was to set the Session variable like:

$_SESSION['sessionvariable'] = $somevariable

then just call

$_SESSION['sessionvariable']

when needed, and most importantly the value of the variable stays on page refresh (or submit).