Simple syntax question

[Limepickle]

I'm a total newbie and I'm stuck on a line of code. I know what ot does but I cannot figure out why by looking at it. Its from a SAMS book, and its a class for creating a date pulldown:

Heres the code: I understand what it does, its just the line in that I've added stars to that I'm stuck on. This one:

if (!$this->setDate_array($GLOBALS[$this->name]))

Seems daft I know, but I like to get things clear on my head. It explains the line in the book but its unclear as to what the syntax means..

Thanks!

<?
class date_pulldown {
var $name;
var $timestamp = -1;
var $months = array("Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun", "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec");
var $yearstart = -1;
var $yearend = -1;

function date_pulldown($name) {
   $this->name = $name;
}

function setDate_global( ) {
   if (!$this->setDate_array($GLOBALS[$this->name])) {
       return $this->setDate_timestamp(time());
   }
   return true;

}

function setDate_timestamp($time) {
$this->timestamp = $time;
return true;
}

function setDate_array($inputdate) {
if (is_array($inputdate) &&
isset($inputdate['mon']) &&
isset($inputdate['mday']) &&
isset($inputdate['year'])) {

        $this->timestamp = mktime(11, 59, 59, $inputdate['mon'], $inputdate['mday'], $inputdate['year']);
        return true;
   }

   return false;

}

function setYearStart($year) {
$this->yearstart = $year;
}

function setYearEnd($year) {
$this->yearend = $year;
}

function getYearStart() {
if ($this->yearstart < 0) {
$nowarray = getdate(time());
$this->yearstart = $nowarray[year]-5;
}

   return $this->yearstart;

}

function getYearEnd() {
if ($this->yearend < 0) {
$nowarray = getdate(time());
$this->yearend = $nowarray[year]+5;
}
return $this->yearend;
}

function output() {
if ($this->timestamp < 0) {
$this->setDate_global();
}
$datearray = getdate($this->timestamp);
$out = $this->day_select($this->name, $datearray);
$out .= $this->month_select($this->name, $datearray);
$out .= $this->year_select($this->name, $datearray);
return $out;
}

function day_select($fieldname, $datearray) {
$out = "<select name=\"$fieldname"."[mday]\">\n";
for ($x=1; $x<=31; $x++) {
$out .= "<option value=\"$x\"".($datearray['mday']==($x) ?" SELECTED":"").">".sprintf("%02d", $x ) ."\n";
}
$out .= "</select>\n";
return $out;
}

function month_select($fieldname, $datearray) {
$out = "<select name=\"$fieldname"."[mon]\">\n";
for ($x = 1; $x <= 12; $x++) {
$out .= "<option value=\"".($x)."\"".($datearray['mon']==($x) ?" SELECTED":"")."> ".$this->months[$x-1]."\n";
}
$out .= "</select>\n";
return $out;
}

function year_select($fieldname, $datearray) {
$out = "<select name=\"$fieldname"."[year]\">";
$start = $this->getYearStart();
$end = $this->getYearEnd();
for ($x= $start; $x < $end; $x++) {
$out .= "<option value=\"$x\"".($datearray['year']==($x) ?" SELECTED":"").">$x\n";
}
$out .= "</select>\n";
return $out;
}
}
?>

[Shrike]

The line of code sets the classes timestamp variable ($this->timestamp) using either $GLOBALS['this_name'] and the method setDate_array(), or the return value of time() using the method setDate_timestamp() if $GLOBALS['this_name'] is not set.

The method setDate_timestamp() seems a little superfluous, since it just sets the value of $this->timestamp to the input parameter ($time)

[Installer]

That's pretty much the same answer you got on the other forum, isn't it?

[Limepickle]

Thanks Shrike, I'll try not to post as much code in future! That helps a lot. Cheers.

PS, Installer, if you mean PHPfreaks forum, I havn't yet checked. But I hope theres no law about frequenting more than one forum, else we're both for the chop...........

[Installer]

I was citing no law, just making an observation.

[Limepickle]

Observe away!

[Shrike]

I don't think cross-posting on different forums is a crime 🙂

[Installer]

I apologize, Limepickle. Please don't judge me based on my temporary crankiness. You didn't deserve that.

[Limepickle]

Please don't feel you have to apologise, maybe I shouldn't have been sarcastic, its just one of my faults! Everything is as cool as a cucumber and I don't judge people so quick anyhow 🙂

I think that sometimes people regard posting the same post on multiple forums as a bit 'cold' and so on, sort of like 'spamming', except not quite as bad, as all spammers deserve roasting over a hot fire, but I'm truly grateful for any responses I get and sometimes 2 explanations are better than one, especially when I'm such a noob!

Peace

🆒