selective conditionals

[BEFOR]

how can this be structured in a simple way so that variable values will be picked up when
each variable like 'cotton' requires all total variables - even if it is not defined within the condition. So those variable left out of a given condition (those applying to all, if not defined within the condition) like $frame and $theme
in this case, don't have to be specificied within each condition?

As it is written, when $paper == 'cotton'//black is being called, not red as it should

if ($paper == 'cotton'){ 
$color = 'red'; 
$marker = 'pencil';
} 
elseif ($paper == 'wax'){ 
$color = 'blue';
$frame = 'plastic';
} else {
$color = 'black';
$marker = 'ink'; 
$frame = 'wood';
$theme = 'generic';
} 

[NogDog]

It works fine for me. My guess is that $paper does not have the value you think it does -- perhaps it needs to be [man]trim/man'ed? For debugging, you might want to do a [man]var_dump/man of $paper before you execute that section of code to see if it has the expected value (and note its length, in case it includes newlines or other "invisible" characters). And don't forget that a == comparison of strings will be case-sensitive.

<?php
$paper = 'cotton';
if ($paper == 'cotton'){
   $color = 'red';
   $marker = 'pencil';
}
elseif ($paper == 'wax'){
   $color = 'blue';
   $frame = 'plastic';
} else {
   $color = 'black';
   $marker = 'ink';
   $frame = 'wood';
   $theme = 'generic';
} 
echo $color; // outputs "red"
?>

[BEFOR]

<?php $paper='cotton'; ?>

<?php echo $color; ?>// outputs black wrongly 

But now if I rename or eliminate the $color in the final else portion following two conditions // it outputs red as it always should

It seems to work (outputting 'red') if the else is directly associated with the conditional, like this:

if ($paper == 'cotton'){ 
$color = 'red'; 
$marker = 'pencil'; 
} else {
$color = 'black'; 
}

But not when occuring at the end of series of 'if' conditions.

Why? I must have the same variable values applied to all if they are not specified within each condition & and each condition spells out different variables out of the total possible. What would cause them to be called out of order?

Is there a way to better group the curly braces to help bind the statement?

[BEFOR]

NogDog,

CORRECTION. As you point out, this is working:
( I had esleif's written as 'if's )

<?php
$paper = 'cotton';
if ($paper == 'cotton'){
   $color = 'red';
   $marker = 'pencil';
}
elseif ($paper == 'wax'){
   $color = 'blue';
   $frame = 'plastic';
} else {
   $color = 'black';
   $marker = 'ink';
   $frame = 'wood';
   $theme = 'generic';
}
echo $color; // outputs "red"
?> 

However the problem now is that whenever a variable is not specfied within each condition, it gets omitted altogether. In this case -- $frame = 'wood';
$theme = 'generic'; // when the paper is cotton.

I'm trying to find a way to include all default conditions within each specific condition wherever it isn't assigned. So each condition contains all possible values.

[laserlight]

Set the defaults before them all. Alternatively, use a switch structure with a default case.

[BEFOR]

CORRECTION - Thank you laserlight.
(setting defauts above them)

[bradgrafelman]

Don't forget to mark this thread resolved.

[BEFOR]

I had, you must have been quick at the draw bradgrafelman!