MySQL - modularized edit function - HELP!

freakyal

Sorry in advance if this is already posted/answered ...

I am TRYING to write a modularized function for editting table values in a MySQL db that compares the current db $value for $field in $table with user inputted data such that the 'UPDATE' sent to MySQL contains the old data, a time/date stamp, and the new data.

I have created an associative array called $oldData that is the result of a MySQL query which pulls a single row from $table with the string identifiers being the field names of the table. There is a second associative array called $newData that is built using $_POST statements and has the same sting identifiers for the array as $oldData. I am using a 'switch' statement to define that which is unique to each table.

I need a loop of some form so I can test $oldData["field1"] against $newData["field1"]. I was hoping to use a foreach loop, but I don't know how/think it's not possible to have it do 2 arrays in parallel. Then I rewrote it with a while (below), but you can't put a variable inside a variable ($newData["{$fieldName}"]), so what I wrote below won't work. I did it more to illustrate what the heck it is that I want.

$count=0;
$oldData=mysql_query($sql1,$cn);
while ($fieldName=mysql_field_name($sql1,$count)) {
-->if ($oldData["{$fieldName}"] != $newData["{$fieldName}"]) {
------>$timeStamp=getdate();
------>$editDetails=" Editted @".$timeStamp["hours"].":".
------------>$timeStamp["minutes"].":".$timeStamp["seconds"].
------------>" on ".$timeStamp["weekday"].", ".$timeStamp["month"].
------------>", ".$timeStamp["mday"].", ".$timeStamp["year"]." ";
------>$fieldValue=$oldData["{$fieldName}"].$editDetails.$newData["{$fieldName}"];
------>$sql2="UPDATE {$table} SET {$fieldName}='{$fieldValue}' WHERE
------------>{$index}='{$newData["fieldName"]}'";
------>$result= mysql_query($sql2,$cn);
------>print ($result == TRUE) ? "Edit successful for {$fieldName}.<br>"
------------>: "Error editting {$fieldName}. Try again<br>" ;
---->}
-->else { print "New value same as old value for {$fieldName}"; }
-->$count++;

->}

Thx Much,
Al

Roger_Ramjet

There are a number of Array Functions from array_diff to array_diff_uassoc that you can use for this.

Not sure what you are trying to acheive with this; but I have a feeling that you could get mysql to do it for you with Timestamp columns.

Of course, best would be if your db version supported Stored Procedures or Triggers

freakyal

Thx for the links. Next time I'll explain myself better (makes sense when I read it back to myself, but then others have no access to the crap that is in my head ... which is probably a good thing). 🙂

The timestamp part wasn't the problem, it was trying to handle two arrays in parallel within a single loop. I changed the functionality of things so that I only have to handle one array.

Is it possible in php to use a variable within a variable, so that you have an indirect reference to an indirect reference (not sure I am saying that right)?

like this ...

$stringName = "TableFieldID2";
$array = ... associative array that is a single row from table 'x'.

Usually you would reference the value of array for position "TableFieldID2" as $array["TableFieldID2"]. Is it possible to use $stringName instead of "TableFieldID2" so that the value of $stringName is used to identify which part of the associative array you want to use/manipulate.

Thx,
Al