config.ini files - How best skin this cat!?

[ma1colm]

I thought Id start a new thread with this one.

What is a good (design/ best practice) way to give php scripts acces to global variables?

1. Until now I have just plonked everything in a config.ini file and in each script have referenced it using require_once().

2. I have heard of config settings set in an object and accessed with ->getThisorThat()

3. I have been reading about pars_ini_file() http://uk.php.net/parse-ini-file which looks more organised.

4. PEAR module http://pear.php.net/package/Config was another potential solution I found

Bearing in mind, i am in a web environment where i do use OOP, I wondered what you php web programmers used out there in the field?

Rgds

Malcolm

[ma1colm]

OK. So, lets say i use parse_ini_file, why can i not write in my config file:

[settings]
file_types = array("this","that");

...i also not you cant do:

time = date(formatted how i like it);

is there something i am not seeing here, or shall i stick to my ole config.ini file - hidden well above root , of course ;-)

Rgds

Malc