global variable issue

[skiflyer]

I know I know how to do this, but I'm having a total blankout...

I want to set a variable in my main script which will get called all over the place in other scripts it launches and inside functions.... what is it I do to make it global? (I don't really want to use session variables)

-Rob

 

[sleipnir214]

Global variables only exist within one script invokation. That's what session variables are for -- making data available between script invokations. Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

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

TANSTAAFL!

 

[skiflyer]

So I can't do this?

Controller.php
===================
<?
$test = true;
if ($test) {
$db = &quot;test.mdb&quot;;
} else {
$db = &quot;real.mdb&quot;;
}

include &quot;script2.php&quot;
?>
====================

script2.php
====================
<?
lotsa code

include &quot;connect.php&quot;;

db manipulation code
?>
====================

connect.php
====================
<?
connection code which somehow manipulates $db
?>
====================

 

[skiflyer]

Well, apparently not... but there's a definite hack... for anyone who's interested... in the first script just put

function test() {
$test = 1;
if ($test) {
return &quot;something&quot;;
} else {
return &quot;something else&quot;;
}
}

 

[sleipnir214]

That is a single invocation of a script. It's just that the invoked script includes other script files. But it's a single invocation.

If the data is static (like the login credentials to a database server), you can use PHP's define() function to define constants. Define all your constants in a separate file and include it. You can also use PHP's parse_ini_file() function to read them from a file.

If the data is static, you can make it global pretty easily. If the data comes from an HTML form, $_POST and $_GET are already superglobal -- just reference the data. (I recommend using those variables in any regard -- it improves code maintainability)

If the data is being generated by some other part of a PHP script, stuff the value into $GLOBALS as one of its array elements. Then you can reference the data anywhere.

If you have a single datum which multiple user-defined functions need to use, use the &quot;global&quot; operator. Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

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

TANSTAAFL!