Delay the initialization of an array index.

[blastvoc]

Greetings all

I ran into a situation while coding that I needed to delay the execution or initialization of a variable array until needed in a loop. However, because I wanted to make the function reusuable, I also wanted to declare that variable outside of the loop too.

The issue lies within the array's index is dependent on the loops counter. So in essence... I tried to declare the array with index outside of the loop--that obviously didnt work; I tried to comment out the array in the statement I was using for the loop (outside the loop)--that didnt work.

I'm left wondering at this point if it is possible to use an array from outside of a loop that it is necessary to use that loops counter for the index.

Usleep, sleep, pass by reference... are all other methods I have tried that didnt seem to work.

Here's some of the code.

$sql_st[0][0]= "monkey";
$sql_st[0][1]="carrot";
$sql_st[0][2]="dog";

$sql_st[0][3]= "monkey";
$sql_st[0][4]="carrot";
$sql_st[0][5]="dog";

echo $sql_st[0][4];

$values= "INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ($sql_st[0][$i])";
settype($values,"string");
//echo $values;

echo $a_count;

function test(& $values,$sql_st)
{
$values= "INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES (" . $sql_st[0][$i] . ")";
$a_count=count($sql_st[0]);
For($i=0;$i<$a_count;$i++)
{

  echo "This is me " . $i . "<br>";
  echo 	"INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('" . $sql_st[0][$i] . "')";

}
}

test($values,$sql_st);

There's a bit more to the code that I am using. It's definitely a logic error; I am hoping there is a method that will make this work. Some of the echoing out are just for tests; in fact, this entire portion of code is a rewrite.

Thanks in advance!

Jason 😕

[bogu]

$values= "INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ($sql_st[0][$i])";

What is this suppose to be? 😕 😕 😕
INSERT SYNTAX

The issue lies within the array's index is dependent on the loops counter.

foreach

I'm left wondering at this point if it is possible to use an array from outside of a loop that it is necessary to use that loops counter for the index.

Why do u say that, [FONT=Tahoma]how come u cant use an array from outside of a loop[/FONT]? in with programing language did u see that u cant use an array from outside of a loop?

And what are u trying to achieve? 😕

[blastvoc]

essentially I am attempting to use the counter of the loop for the index of the array...

however.. the counter isn't dependent on the array itself. The counter is dependent on part of the array. If you see above, the array is an example of what I'm attempting to do. The array is actually filled from another function-- it's a multidimensional containing several other arrays.

Thanks for your reply....

[bogu]

What do u say by counter, the array index?

[blastvoc]

For($i=0;$i<$a_count;$i++)
{

echo "This is me " . $i . "<br>";
echo "INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('" . $sql_st[0][$i] . "')";

I mean both..... primarily $i is the counter for the loop. However I would like to use it as the array index once inside the loop.

Again, I'm actually wanting to declare the array outside of the loop. For instance, say I would create a mysql statement:

$values= "INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES (" . $sql_st[0][$i] . ")";

I want to mention this outside both the loop and the function. Then, later, I would like to use this inside the function.

function test(& $values,$sql_st)
{
$values= "INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES (" . $sql_st[0][$i] . ")";
$a_count=count($sql_st[0]);
For($i=0;$i<$a_count;$i++)
{

echo "This is me " . $i . "<br>";
echo $values;
}
}

...And still have that $i refer to the index in the array--not zero.

Jason

[blastvoc]

Hmm... no luck so far is there any way to escape a variable so that it reads as a variable when called... for instance ... say...

$values= "INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES (" . $sql_st[0][$i] . ")";

I start with this statement... I want to use it later in a loop... the $i is the counter in the loop. I dont want anything assigned to this variable until it is called in the loop....

Right now ... as is this is the statement evaluated by the loop and echoed out.

INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ()

Again, my goal is to have the $i not to be evaluated until it reaches the loop...

Thanks again!

[laserlight]

Dont pass the array to the function. You are only using one element of the array, so pass that one element.

[blastvoc]

It's more than a single value I am using.... its a collection. The surface array contains several other arrays. This is sample coding. I haven't altered the actual module I'm using.

The coding needs to loop thru the array and for each $i it will assign a different value.

$sql_st[0][0]= "monkey";
$sql_st[0][1]="carrot";
$sql_st[0][2]="dog";

$sql_st[0][3]= "monkey";
$sql_st[0][4]="carrot";
$sql_st[0][5]="dog";

so I need to pass the function...

Thanks for your reply!

Jason

[laserlight]

$sql_st[0][0]= "monkey";
$sql_st[0][1]="carrot";
$sql_st[0][2]="dog";

$sql_st[0][3]= "monkey";
$sql_st[0][4]="carrot";
$sql_st[0][5]="dog";

The thing is that this two dimensional array tells me nothing. With this array as input, what output do you expect?

[blastvoc]

Essentially this.....

INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('monkey')
INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('carrot')
INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('dog')
INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('monkey')
INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('carrot')
INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('dog')

[laserlight]

// pass a single dimensional array
function generateStatement($array) {
	$array = array();
	foreach ($array as $value) {
		$array[] = "INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('$value')";
	}
	return $array;
}

// now use it as
$values = generateStatement($sql_st[0]);

[barand]

However, as soon as you try to execute the query

INSERT INTO MEDIA (START, END, BEGIN) VALUES ('dog')

you will get an error because the number of columns doesn't match the number of values.

[blastvoc]

I think I've developed a backhandedly solution to getting what I want. The key points in this function were..

(1) The array used is declared outside of the function and the loop; however, it uses the index for the counter.

(2) The function must be reusable and cannot be relevant for one statement only.

So, here's my solution...

I developed placeholders for the array within the function that reference the actual array by keys .... say AZ, or BD.... etc..... theses values well.. would only associate with .. values...

In the declared statement outside of the function, the following syntax is used.

INSERT INTO $table ($fields) values (AZ,BZ,CZ....)

Once inside of the function.. the AZ... and so on are replaced by actual array variables and indexes .. such as ....$sql_st[0][0] which refers to dog...

I arrived at this solution earlier but felt there was a more effect, expandible way to deal with the situation. Apparently not tho....

Thanks for anyone who posted to this question... feel free to send me some of your issues.... regarding file system managment... DB connectivity... etc... (those I am key in)!

Jason