Bizzare URL arguments problem

[awingnut]

I have a php page that has me stumped. Under what circumstances will php not recognized URL arguments and create the appropriate variables?

I have the following URL (created by a form using "GET&quot:

http://myhost.mydomain.com/mypage.php?first_name=John&last_name=Smith

When this page is executed, my server log says:
&quot;Undefined variable: first_name in <blah-blah> on line 10&quot;
&quot;Undefined variable: last_name in <blah-blah> on line 12&quot;

How can these variables be undefined since they are clearly in the URL? TIA.

 

[sleipnir214]

This sounds to me like the register_globals problem. Read section 1.1 of my FAQ: faq434-2999

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[awingnut]

Thanks for the suggestion. You had my hopes up but all that did was change the error message from &quot;Undefined variable&quot; to &quot;Undefined index&quot;.

 

[sleipnir214]

Fellow member vbkris had a similar problem. He ended up having to uninstall and reinstall PHP.

Is this on a Win32 or *nix OS? Is it your box or a hosting company's?

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[awingnut]

Ugh! The HTTP server is 4D WebSTAR on OS X. PHP is pre-installed with the product.

 

[sleipnir214]

awingnut:
Show me the line of code that generates the &quot;Undefined index&quot; error.

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[awingnut]

Thanks. Sure:

echo $_POST[&quot;first_name&quot;].&quot; &quot;.$_POST[&quot;last_name&quot;].&quot; has been added to list.<br>&quot;;

FWIW, here is the code that generates the &quot;Undefined variable&quot;:

echo $first_name.&quot; &quot;.$last_name.&quot; has been added to list.<br>&quot;;

 

[sleipnir214]

I see your trouble.

When the variables are passed on the URL, you can't use $_POST. You must use $_GET.

Try the line with $_POST replaced by $_GET and see what happens.

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[awingnut]

That was it, thanks. I suggest the FAQ be modified to clarify that distinction. That is where I got the $_POST format.

 

[sleipnir214]

I started editing the FAQ right after I replied to your post. It now explains the uses of $_GET, $_COOKIE, and $_SERVER.

The new version is available. Would you take a look at it and tell me what you think? I'd prefer you not post your critique in the forum, but there is an &quot;email the FAQ author&quot; feature of the FAQ system.

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[awingnut]

I tried sending a comment via the link in your FAQ but the comment window has a problem. The comment text box is only 1 pixel wide and not expandable.

In any case it looks fine and thanks for the effort.