PHP multiple program execution

[kansaschuck]

I have mulitple PHP programs that are similar in nature. So similar that they are creating 'Fatal error: Cannot redeclare class' errors at run time when I run them together in on Cron execution by using 'require' or 'include'. I need to run these program in sequence, but they canNOT overlap (db and file access/updates) I'd like to keep them independent so that they can run stand alone, or the order can be changed. The 3 programs need to execute every 5 minutes

So here's the problem. I'd like to be able to execute them from the same Cron task. But because of includes and requires I get the error 'Fatal error: Cannot redeclare class'

I need a way to run these three programs together in a sequence? with out values carrying over. To run as independent programs.

is there some way to zero out the shared returns/values etc from one programs to another?

Is there a better way to run 3 programs in sequence (but never together or )?

Any advice is welcome.

[Piranha]

Is it the identically same class in the different programs? If it is then call them by using [man]include_once[/man] and [man]require_once[/man].

If you have variables that you want emptied, use [man]unset[/man] on the variables.

[Weedpacket]

Or have one (shell, probably) script that's called by cron and which does nothing except run each of the others in turn.

[HalfaBee]

I fixed this sort of problem by including each script inside a function, this way varaible scope fixes the overlap.
eg

function call_script( $name )
{
    include( $name );
}

call_script( 'file1.php' );
call_script( 'file2.php' );
call_script( 'file3.php' );