\n problems in return values from forms

[Anon]

I am currently collecting form values from a textarea and then storing this along with normal textfield values in a flat text file using PHP. The problem is that when I read the file back in, I want each line of the file to be a separate array entry, so that when I use $data = file ("messages/$filename"); to get the info back, each $data[$n] is a separate value. However, because people are entering carriage returns when putting text in the textarea field, I get \n values returned into my text file, which shifts all the text down by one line and causes problems with the array.

How can I filter out the "\n" and replace it with nothing or ""???

I've tried using:

$pattern = "\\n";
$replace = "";
$value = eregi_replace ($pattern, $replace, $value);

and

$pattern = "\\n";
$replace = "<br>";
$value = eregi_replace ($pattern, $replace, $value);

But neither seems to work. ANy help appreciated.

[Anon]

HI,

try "\n" in stead of "\\n" as the pattern?

[Anon]

joris is right:

$newValue = str_replace(\"\n\",\"<br>\",$value)

[Anon]

I've tried that already. Still no joy I'm afraid.

[Anon]

OK thanks assassin - I'll give that a go. Hadn't used str_replace before

[Anon]

I used:

$message = str_replace("\n","<br>",$message);

in the end which now works - many thanks for your help. I guess there was a problem using eregi to do the replacement?

[Anon]

Interestingly it enters a small square before the <br> tag in my text file - any idea what this is?

[firmolari]

You can use the function trim:

http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.trim.php