funcitons with variable arguments...sort of

econstu77

I am trying to figure out a way to use a function that has one "must have" argument, and the rest variable.

function do_this($must_have, ..., ..., ...)

My goal is to have the same funciton that could handle multiple types of argument sets, however, they MUST include at least $must_have. After $must_have, then they could have 2 more args, or 50 more args.

For example, I want this to be possible:

function do_this($must_have, $arg1, $arg2, $arg3, $arg4)

and also...

function do_this($must_have, $arg1, $arg2)

Is there a way to do this?

leatherback

not sure-

What I do:

I call my function with all variables in place, although some of them mighjt just be ''

$done = do_this($must_have, $arg1, $arg2, '', '');

Works perfectly for me.

leatherback

or else you check the manual with the answer

devinemke

function do_this()
{
	if (!func_get_args()) {echo 'error: you must supply at least 1 argument';}
	else {echo 'thank you, you have supplied the minimum number of arguments';}
}

do_this(); // produces the error
do_this(1,2,3,4,5); // does not produce the error

leatherback

But appearently only introduced since PhP 4...

econstu77

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear enough.

What I meant was, that (as I understand it) the ONLY way to create a function with variable arguments is by specifiying NONE.
(i.e. function do_this() {....} )

What I want to know is if you can create a function with variable arguments without doing this.

So...could the creation of this function (below) have VARIABLE arguments, or would it HAVE to have ONLY one (when it was called)?

function do_this($arg) {...}

The reason I want to know this is because I would like to have a function that while requiring AT LEAST one, it could also have many more (or not.)

ahundiak

<?php
class Handle
{
	var $className="";
	var $fileName="";
	var $instance=NULL;

function Handle($class, $file) {
	$this->className = $class;
	$this->fileName = $file;
}

function & construct($args=Array()) {
	if (is_null($this->instance)) {
		if (!class_exists($this->className)) {
			require_once($this->fileName);
		}
		if (class_exists($this->className)) {
			$arglist = array();
			if (count($args) > 0) {
				for ($i=0,$l=count($args); $i<$l; ++$i) {
					$arglist[$i] = "\$args[$i]";
				}
			}
			eval("\$this->instance =& new {$this->className}(" . implode(', ', $arglist) . ');');
		}
	}
	return $this->instance;
}

/**
  * @static
  */
function & Resolve(&$object /* $arg1, $arg2 ... */) {
	if (func_num_args() > 1) {
		$args =& func_get_args();
		array_shift($args);
	} else {
		$args = Array();
	}
	if (is_a($object, 'Handle')) {
		return $object->construct($args);
	} else {
		return $object;
	}
}

} // end class Handle
?>

The Resolve method is an example of what I think you are asking for.
Source: http://sourceforge.net/projects/ap3/

devinemke

Originally posted by econstu77
The reason I want to know this is because I would like to have a function that while requiring AT LEAST one, it could also have many more (or not.)

that is precisely what my example above shows. the fucntion requires at least 1 argument and can have as many as you want.