i thought i knew how to deal with this notice, but i guess i'm wrong.
i learned early on in my PHP studies a way to use IF logic (typically in the first few lines of code on a page) to test for $POST['value'] to determine which part of a script to execute, based on the value of that $POST data. it works very well, except if:
[INDENT]a) i execute the page as a "standalone", in which case there is no $_POST data yet existing for this value
b) the page is opened by another page OTHER THAN that which sends the $_POST data used in this IF logic comparison[/INDENT]
because in either of those cases, i get a
Notice: Undefined index: 'value' in [filename] on [line name]
because that $_POST data has not yet been defined.
what can i do to avoid this notice? someone once suggested that i use $value = ""; to avoid that notice, but i CAN'T do $value = ''; to declare the variable because that would make NULL any value which is passed from $_POST during normal operation of this IF logic in the app.
EDIT: i'm taking a guess, from somthing that i'm reading now-- trying to figure this out. is THIS the answer?:
$value = True;
i'm afraid i'm missing some critical, basic PHP functioning rules here. what does it appear that i need to learn-- so i could have figured this out on my own!? surely there's a simple solution to this. what is it, and why am i missing it?
(okay, be nice-- please hold back the urge to say "because you're a numbskull!")