cannot pass variables

fierens

I've installed php4 on linux redhat 7.0 with apache. Everything seems to be working fine, except that I cannot pass variables. For example :

the result of the script phpex.php

<head>
</head>
<body>
<?php
printf("this is a test <br>");
printf("this is a test %d <br>", $var1);
printf("this is a test %s <br>", $var2);
?>
</body>

gives as result :

dit is a test
dit is a test 0
dit is a test

on an other linux server with php3 it works fine.

What could be the problem ?
thanks

fierens

I forgot that I execute : http://.../phpex?var1=99&var2=hallo

polson

Check your register_globals setting in php.ini as if it is off you must go through $HTTP_GET_VARS.

http://www.php.net/manual/configuration.php#ini.register-globals

$HTTP_GET_VARS['var']

lyonhaert

As far as I know, for the GET vars (eg, $HTTP_GET_VARS['var1']) to also be present as variables with their own name (eg, $var1), the track_vars setting should be enabled.

you can find out with a file (such as phpinfo.php) with the only code being:

phpinfo();

if track_vars is not enabled, and you want to be able to use $var1 and $var2, you can always 'cheat' and use this:

while ( list ($key, $val) = each($HTTP_GET_VARS)) {
$$key = $val;
}

hope this helps.

polson

Some good points, let's talk about it.

register_globals is the setting that allows $foo as opposed to track_vars which allows variables such as $HTTP_GET_VARS['foo'] -- track_vars is most likely on and is ALWAYS on after 4.0.3+ so it's pretty safe to depend on but worth checking.

As lyon suggests, phpinfo() will give you information on your settings, mind them.

Regarding Lyons code, that'll of course work if track_vars are on, and if register_globals is off and another way to accomplish that is :

extract($HTTP_GET_VARS);

Which turns $HTTP_GET_VARS['foo'] into $foo. Whether or not it's necessary only you know. I personally don't do it that often, maybe in a function.

Places to read :

http://www.php.net/manual/configuration.php#ini.register-globals

http://www.php.net/manual/configuration.php#ini.track-vars

And while you're at it, read about magic_quotes_gpc (mmm, magic quotes) :

http://www.php.net/manual/configuration.php#ini.magic-quotes-gpc

This is good too :

http://www.php.net/manual/language.variables.external.php

http://www.php.net/manual/language.variables.predefined.php

lyonhaert

gosh, there's a function for everything.
I hadn't known about extract() before. 🙂