variable $_POST variables

[econstu77]

I am trying to figure out a way to automate the following variable declarations with a loop, but can't seem to make it work:

$first_name1 = $POST['first_name1'];
$last_name1 = $POST['last_name1'];
$email1 = $_POST['email1'];
$fn1 = strlen($first_name1);
$fe1 = strlen($last_name1);
$e1 = strlen($email1);

$first_name2 = $POST['first_name2'];
$last_name2 = $POST['last_name2'];
$email2 = $_POST['email2'];
$fn2 = strlen($first_name2);
$fe2 = strlen($last_name2);
$e2 = strlen($email2);

$first_name3 = $POST['first_name3'];
$last_name3 = $POST['last_name3'];
$email3 = $_POST['email3'];
$fn3 = strlen($first_name3);
$fe3 = strlen($last_name3);
$e3 = strlen($email3);

$first_name4 = $POST['first_name4'];
$last_name4 = $POST['last_name4'];
$email4 = $_POST['email4'];
$fn4 = strlen($first_name4);
$fe4 = strlen($last_name4);
$e4 = strlen($email4);

I tried doing this, but to no avail:

for ($f = 1; $f <= 4; $f++) {
//$first_name#
$var_fn = "first_name$f";
$post_fn = '_POST[\'first_name' . $f . '\']';
$$var_fn = $$post_fn;

//$last_name#
$var_ln = "last_name$f";
$post_ln = "_POST['last_name$f']";
$$var_ln = $$post_ln;

//$email#
$var_e = "email$f";
$post_e = "_POST['email$f']";
$$var_e = $$post_e;

//$fn#
$var_strlen_fn = "fn$f";
$$var_strlen_fn = strlen($$var_fn);

//$fe#
$var_strlen_fe = "fe$f";
$$var_strlen_fe = strlen($$var_ln);

//$e#
$var_strlen_e = "e$f";
$$var_strlen_e = strlen($$var_e);

}

I figure it has something to do with not being able the $POST part of things. I can get the non-$POST related "variable variables" to work, but alas, not the $_POST "variable variables." Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

[lucasrd]

while(list($key,$val) = each($_POST)){
   $$key = $val;
}

This will create a variable for every key in your POST array set to the value...

for instance if you have

$_POST['foo'] = "bar";

after running the while loop

$foo will now be set to "bar"

[devinemke]

the [man]extract[/man] function will take care of most of what you want to do:

extract($_POST);

will create vars for all of the $_POST indexes.

for the string lengths, what not simply do:

foreach ($_POST as $key => $value)
{
	$strlen[$key] = strlen($value);	
}

you will then have an array call $strlen containing all of the lengths. you can then refer to them easily:

echo $strlen['first_name1'];
echo $strlen['last_name2'];
echo $strlen['email3'];
// etc...

[econstu77]

Thank you so much! That worked perfect!