[Resolved] OOP initialize class within another class?

[Kudose]

Hello all. Still failry new to OOP so please work with me on my lack of knowledge. 🙂

I have a class which controls my database connection. I have another class to display inventory levels of whatever I wish.

These are on two seperate pages called by includes. I am calling my database instande on my index.php page.

My questions are:

1. Should I call a new instance of the data base connection within my inventory display class to make it recognize the database connection?

Would it automatically remember $this->connection outside of the class without using the extend function (I have PHP 4.3.9)?

2. It is good to create multiple classes for just about everything controlled within a website? I am making an automotive dealership sfotware package.

3. Am I going about this all wrong?

4. Is the goal of OOP to easily automate previously tedious tasks? Like functions?

By question 4, I mean: Should I be creating calsses for every little thing, or just for the stuff I have to do over and over. Creating functions for the other little stuff?

Here is a code snippet to show what I mean. I basically want to be able to utilize my database connection within the displayInventory class.

Thanks!

<?php
//db class is here
//inventory class here

$myDb = new dbConnect; //this starts my DB connection on my index page

?>

[zhabala]

What about something like this:

<?php
//db class is here
//inventory class here

$myDb = new dbConnect; //this starts my DB connection on my index page

$myInv = new Inventory($myDb); // this is passing the DB object to be used in inventory object
?> 

[Shrike]

1. Should I call a new instance of the data base connection within my inventory display class to make it recognize the database connection?

Would it automatically remember $this->connection outside of the class without using the extend function (I have PHP 4.3.9)?

You can do. Another way would be to pass the object to the class by reference (using the & operator).

2. It is good to create multiple classes for just about everything controlled within a website? I am making an automotive dealership sfotware package.

Think of a class as an actual thing in your software. So car is a class. A webpage might be a class. Try to avoid writing classes which deal with lots of unrelated things.

3. Am I going about this all wrong?

Can't really answer that without seeing specific code.

4. Is the goal of OOP to easily automate previously tedious tasks? Like functions?

No - the goal / benefit of OOP is extensible, portable and reusable code. Automation of tedious tasks is just as possible with a procedural approach.

[Kudose]

As long as I include the db class before anything else and initialize a new instance of the db connection, the connection stays persistant until the script ends.

I dont have to pass the instance between classes.

🙂

Thanks members!

🙂