[RESOLVED] Removing spaces in usernames

[yorktown]

Using a form, I am attempting to force users to resubmit a username with all spaces

I used the ltrim command

$trimwalen=ltrim($username, " ");
 if ($trimwalen===NULL || $trimwalen="" || $trimwalen=" ") {$ch = 1;}

If $ch is 1, then the form repeats for the user, prompting them to use another username.

It doesn't work. The users can still submit a username with all spaces.

Any advice appreciated.

[NogDog]

You have "=" in the second two comparisons where you want "==" or "===". Actually, you could do it with one comparison:

$trimwalen = trim($username);
if($trimwalen === '')
{
// invalid
}

[nrg_alpha]

If you want to eliminate ALL spaces (even those IN the name (as opposed to only trimming any initial and ending spaces), you can use str_replace:

$trimwalen = str_replace(' ', '', $username);

[djjjozsi]

if($_POST["username"])
{
$hiba="";
$rexp_string_filterszoveg["f"]="Lowercase and uppercase letters and numbers only";
$rexp_string_filter["f"]="^[A-Za-z0-9]*$";

 $check=ereg($rexp_string_filter["f"], $_POST["username"]);
if (!$check)
$hiba.="The username field you wrote has not correct value(".$rexp_string_filterszoveg["f"].")<br>";

and you check the $hiba  value to the continue

}

yorktown;10889756 wrote:

Using a form, I am attempting to force users to resubmit a username with all spaces

I used the ltrim command

$trimwalen=ltrim($username, " ");
 if ($trimwalen===NULL || $trimwalen="" || $trimwalen=" ") {$ch = 1;}

If $ch is 1, then the form repeats for the user, prompting them to use another username.

It doesn't work. The users can still submit a username with all spaces.

Any advice appreciated.

[nrg_alpha]

Avoid using ereg. As of PHP 6, POSIX will not be supported. Stick to PCRE (preg) instead.

[yorktown]

There actually can be spaces in the username

Examples acceptable usernames:

1) John Q. Public
2) )(&^%$##()_
3) Hy{}{&%^R.,nonsense

ltrim was used because if you entered nothing but spaces it would trim it from the left and detect if the result was no characters.

$trimwalen = ltrim($username);
if($trimwalen === '')
{
// invalid
} 

....does not work.

[NogDog]

nrg_alpha;10889826 wrote:

Avoid using ereg. As of PHP 6, POSIX will not be supported. Stick to PCRE (preg) instead.

Just to clarify, my understanding is that it will still be supported in 6, but will be an optional extension rather than a part of the PHP core. In any case, the PCRE functions are certainly the preferred option.

[yorktown]

OK. But I am confused.

The usernames we are using supports every character.

The PREG function you listed above limits charachters:

ex: $rexp_string_filter["f"]="^{[A-Za-z0-9]*$";}

If it is an issue of spaces ONLY, how do I do it? ltrim should work...

[NogDog]

$user_name = trim($_POST['user_name']);
if($user_name === '')  // note use of "is identical" operator
{
   // reject as empty field
}
else
{
   // OK
}

[nrg_alpha]

NogDog;10890012 wrote:

Just to clarify, my understanding is that it will still be supported in 6, but will be an optional extension rather than a part of the PHP core. In any case, the PCRE functions are certainly the preferred option.

True enough.. I should be careful how I phrase things I suppose. So as you put it, by default, it is not going to be in PHP 6.

[nrg_alpha]

yorktown;10890015 wrote:

OK. But I am confused.

The usernames we are using supports every character.

The PREG function you listed above limits charachters:

ex: $rexp_string_filter["f"]="^{[A-Za-z0-9]*$";}

If it is an issue of spaces ONLY, how do I do it? ltrim should work...

ltrim only trims a space on the left (read: a string that begins with a space). Conversely, rtrim trims an ending space). So by using trim, you eliminate any beginning / ending space. If you want to make sure you get rid of ANY spaces, simply using str_replace to replace any space with simply '' will get rid of it all, as this is done on a character by character basis (it will find and replace any character that is a space, while ltrim, rtrim or trim has limitations to what spaces are effected).

[yorktown]

Thanks. It works.