[RESOLVED] need sprintf() help... i think

ATS16805

hello. i'm querying multiple fields from my db, each of which have an identical prefix and incrementing numbers from 01 - 22 (so it's rt01 - rt22).

i want to retrieve w/ a single row SELECT query, output containing the value of each of those fields, consecutively.

i'm getting no output (no warnings or notices either though), so my first thought is when my for loop counts the integers from 1 - 22 and concatenats that onto the string, "rt", PHP isn't interpreting that i want it to read the result as a variable-- but instead, it's taking it literally as a string-- i think...

$htmlblock = "<p>The route times for this bus stop $stop_code are:</p>
<ul>";
	for($x=1;$x>=22;$x++){
	$pad = str_pad($x, 2, "0", STR_PAD_LEFT);
	$pad = sprintf(d,$pad);
	$fieldname = "'$rt'".$pad;
		$htmlblock .= "<li>".$fieldname."</li>";
	}
	$htmlblock .="</ul>";

is this the way i want to set it up, and if so, then type specifier should i be using instead, mixed w/ what kind of string (single quotes, double quotes, etc)?

thanks!!!

Weedpacket

$fieldname=${"rt".$pad};

The idea with variable variables is to build up a string containing the name of the variable you want to use, and then stick a $ on the front.

Another problem is your loop. Starting with $x=1 it will continue for as long as $x is at least 22. But 1 is not at least 22, so it doesn't even manage to run once.

No, there's no need for sprintf here. str_pad will do the job. You could use sprintf the pattern is %02d, but str_pad probably says what it's doing more clearly.

Of course, all this is assuming that the items you want to list are in variables $rt01, $rt02, ... $rt22!

ATS16805

very cool, mr WP! thanks!

for a second, i almost said, no, they're not in that variable form, but yes they are! 😉

i don't use for() hardly at all, but my old fave foreach wasn't going to work here of course (right?), so hence my inexperience. i'll research it, but if you have a sec, and you feel like giving a brief explanation of why that $=1; does't work-- i'd appreciate it. thanks!

EDIT: duh!!!
it's the second argument, isn't it!
$x<=22, right? geez. and they actually let me out of the cage sometimes too.

EDIT2: i can't find specific documentation for "FOR" in the manual-- only variable handling functions, and nothing specific in the sidebar. anyone out there please have sympathy on a dummy? please? thanks!

edit3: nevermind..
FYI - for is listed under Control Structures

ATS16805

hey, WP, just wanted to let you know how genuinely helpful your "look at it this way" phrasing was for me:

mr.weedpacket wrote:
$fieldname=${"rt".$pad};
The idea with variable variables is to build up a string containing the name of the variable you want to use, and then stick a $ on the front.

i'll carry that with me man. thanks a bunch. and i don't know what i was doing wrong, but until i broke down and copy/ pasted your example, my darn script still didn't work. you got magic fingers? maybe i just can't see the screen anymore! sorry-- too much coffee and i'm all excited that my nifty little for loop works like a charm now.

good day to y'all!

and, before i forget-- to all of y'all at PHPBuilder.com ...
have a Happy New Year! may all those dreams come true!
(forget it, you're never gonna hack that adult ID password, so might as well throw that on the resolutions too, eh?! heehee. kidding of course)