[RESOLVED] Getting Variables from an Ugly URL

artnow

Hi all -

I have a URL from which I want to grab certain variables. The URL however is full of variable names that are two words. Looks something like this:

variable%20one=foo&variable%20two=bar&variable%20three=12345 ...

Since I can't change the URL, I tried str_replace("%20", "", $str); and that did indeed remove all the %20 but I can't seem to figure out how to grab the variables from the str_replace result.

I can echo the $parts and I think I need to use explode next but I still can't work it out. Please help!

Thanks,

Bob

<?

$str = $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
$parts = str_replace("%20", "", $str);
echo $parts;  // this prints out fine to the screen

// this is where I'm unsure of what to use

echo $variableone; 

?>

rokchik

Explode will output an array, so you need something like:

$str = $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'];
$parts = str_replace("%20", "", $str);
echo $parts;  // this prints out fine to the screen

// this is where I'm unsure of what to use
$exploded = explode("&", $parts);
foreach ($exploded as $k => $v) {
   echo "$k: $v <br>\n";
}

bretticus

"%20" is a url-encoded space. When php sees one of these in a url key, it will write it as a key to the $_GET array by replacing a space with an underscore.

Thus you can get the values...

echo $_GET['variable_one'];
//displays foo.

rokchik

Good point, Bretticus, but sometimes php refuses to assign the variables submitted by a form. The foreach solution forces the vars into their places.

artnow

First off, thanks to both of you. It's good to know that I was on the right track for Rokchik's solution. I first tried what you suggested Bretticus and it seems to work fine.

Since the ugly URL will always have the same variable names, is it reasonable to use the method Bretticus offered since it already works? Or will php refuse to assign the variables intermittently?

rokchik

PHP tends to be pretty stubborn, so if Bretticus' solution works stick with it. At some point a php update or new engine may screw you up, so keep your contingency plan on hand.

artnow

Excellent ... thanks again for you help!