making variable values global variables from a function

[Jsn7821]

	$user_access = mysql_fetch_assoc($user_access_result);
	foreach ($user_access as $key => $value) {
		global $$key;
		$$key = $value;
	}

This is in a function that I wrote, $key returns something such as "useraccess", $value returns a 1 or a 0. So I want to set $useraccess to 0.

I know a solution would be to type out global $useraccess, for all of my fields, but I would like to know if a shortcut similar to what I posted is possible.

[trexx]

You don't want to do that - believe me =) You should avoid global variables. The global directive means "use this global variable in local scope" and not "make a variable global". It would be dangerous if you could turn a local variable into a global one, because the same variable-name may exist in other scopes (so you would overwrite them, which would lead to bugs that are hard to find).

If you insist on unsing global variables you could do this... But i suggest passing values or references instead of working with global variables.

$glUserRs = array();

function getUserResults() {
    return mysql_fetch_assoc($user_access_result);
}

$glUsersRs = getUserResults();

function otherFunc() {
    global $glUserRs;
    echo $glUserRs['KEY1'];
}

[Jsn7821]

Well the goal of the function is to return a bunch of variables, that I then can use in the rest of the page. get_user_info(); will return $userid, $username, and so on. get_admin_info(); will return different variables that show what access a user has.

What would a safer way to do this be? I did it this way to save myself from writing a whole lot of code.

[trexx]

The safe(r) way is to use a global associative array (or object) that contains all your key / value pairs (the $glUserRs in my example). It's still global, but still somehow encapsulated.

But i would rather have an object, e.g. $userInfo, with all the attributes you need ($userInfo->name, $userInfo->group, etc.). You set the attributes of the object in your set_user_info() function. then you can pass the $userInfo object to any function that needs it.

But anyway... i think the global $glUserRs array is an acceptable solution if you don't like OO-style programming =)