Weird OO error

[Good2CU]

Here's my error:

Fatal error: Call to undefined method validate::get_row_count() in /.../classes/database.php on line 42

my database class has this method:

public function get_row_count() {

	return mysqli_num_rows($this->result);

} 

and this that is causing the error

public function check_record_exists($sql) {

	if ($this->result = mysqli_query($this->dbc, $sql)) {
		if ($this->get_row_count() == 0) { //line 42
			return FALSE;
		} else {
			return TRUE;
		}
	} else {
		die (mysqli_error($this->dbc) . '<br /><br />' . $sql);
		return FALSE;	//won't actually get here
	}

} //function

I also have a validate class, that this constructor:

public function __construct() {
		database::connect();	
}

and this method that is calling the problem method in the database class

public function username_exists($to_check) {

	if(database::check_record_exists("SELECT * FROM user WHERE username = '{$to_check}'")) {
		$this->errors[] = 'Username <strong>' . $to_check . '</strong> is already taken, please try a different one';
		return TRUE;
	} else {
		return FALSE; //returns TRUE if there is no error
	}

}

First off, the method definitely exists in the database class, but the error is indicating that it's looking for the method in the validate class, but it says the error is in the database.php file

All the references to methods within the same class are $this->

I just don't understand how the classes/objects can be getting mixed up, and I've done a few other similar things that all work as intended.

It will work if I change $this->get_row_count() to database::get_row_count() within the database class, but I don't think I should have to do it, and I suspect it won't fix the underlying problem.

Thanks in advance

[NogDog]

If I'm following things correctly, I believe the root of your problem is that you are calling a non-static method statically via the database::check_record_exists() call in the validate class. I think PHP lets you get away with it, but probably generates a notice-level warning. The problem then is that the $this variable does not do what you want it to do in a static situation, and in fact if you actually define the method as static, using $this within it will cause a parse error.

So if I'm correct in my interpretation, either that method (and the methods it calls) would need to be defined as static and then edited to use self:: instead of $this->, or else you need to either pass the database object into the validation class or have the validation class instantiate it itself, then call its methods via that object with the -> operator ($this->db_object->check_record_exists()).

PS: I added [noparse]

...

[/noparse] tags around your code samples. Please be sure to use them in future posts if you want to encourage others to take the time to read them.[/COLOR]