$ Sign Decode

[djr33]

I agree, and I'd like to know what is to be accomplished to see if there's a better workaround.


Just a random note-- to set a variably-named variable, use this:

$name = 'myvarname';
$$name = 'myvarvalue';
echo $myvarname;
//returns 'myvarvalue'

(The $$ must be used, not $some$thing, or you'll get errors.)

[Twey]

Variable variables are almost as ugly as eval(). An associative array would be preferable by far.

[blm126]

I must say that, as is usual with eval(), there's probably a better way to accomplish whatever it is you're trying to do.

I have come across a situation in PHP that required code to be generated. I maintain an extension for a CMS that will show the user a screen to help them change values in a config file. As with a lot of PHP programs the config file was written in PHP. So it was necessary to generate PHP code.

[mburt]

Okay, I'll explain my situation, but it's a long one.
Every time I delete a user off my MySql db via admin control panel, the ID auto_increment would skip.
Example if I had users
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
and decided to delete 6, the next user's id would be added as "8" and not "7". So I gather the current db content, convert to a php script, write it to a file and run the file. I first DROP TABLE users, then reset all the content. It works well now though, so I guess the discussion doesn't really need to be carried on any more. I hope this expains my situation more.

[djr33]

I'm not clear on why you would need to use anything this complex.

Just run through each result of the query for SELECT * FROM.... ORDER BY ID
Then with each set the number to $n, then $n++;
...you're done.

I also would be quite wary of a script that actually deletes the entire user list, only to replace it a minute later. What if the page gets corrupted while loading? Oops...?

[Twey]

Easier still, you can just drop the column then add it again.

[djr33]

Hmm... but you would you be able to force order by to the original order? Maybe this would be the default. That's the only catch I see there.

[Twey]

The order is preserved even without a primary key. That's the nature of MySQL (and, indeed, most relational databases).