[RESOLVED] Variables Variables Variables

middleman666

Hey all,

Is there an easy way to read out variables that have a sequence like this?:

$ENTRY1;
$ENTRY2;
$ENTRY3;
$ENTRY4;
$ENTRY5;
$ENTRY6;

I could use a while or for loop, but how would I reference the variable?

$ENTRY.$Counter; //Would just give me the counter value

Thanks

laserlight

Use an array instead. If you really want to use variable variables, it should be ${'ENTRY' . $Counter}.

DaveRandom

Variable variables in PHP are amazingly logical and easy to use. The syntax is simple... use two dollar signs.

What you are trying to do would go something like this...

<?php

$count = 1;
$basevar = 'ENTRY';

while ($count <= 6) {
  $currentvar = $basevar.$count;
  echo $$currentvar;
  $count++;
}

?>

EDIT: But I also agree with laserlight, the best way to do it is with an associative array...

CoderDan

both the guys above are right, so seeing as they told you both ways to address the variables as you were asking, I'll give you a sample for using an array, just in case you aren't familiar:

$entries = array();
$entries[1] = 'value1';
$entries[2] = 'value2';
// etc...
// alternately:
$entries = array( 1=> 'value1', 2 => 'value2', etc... );
// or cleaner yet:
$entries = array( 'value1', 'value2', etc... ); // although this starts at $entries[0];

for ( $var i = 1; $i < $max; $i++ ) // whatever $max is...
{
  echo $entries[$i];
}

// alternately:
foreach ( $entries as $pos => $value )
{
  echo "entry $pos = $value\n";
}

// or some variation thereof

middleman666

Thanks for the tips people, I think I'm going to do with the ${'ENTRY' . $Counter}. option for now as it best fits my needs.

Thanks!