PHP Bag of Tricks 5

starting with variable variables for form element construction

[jatar_k]

I must be bored or something, seems like a lot of work for just building a few select boxes. It only ended up taking a couple minutes.

I did it because I don't really know how the tables will end up, they aren't really finalized at the moment. So I wanted to be able to add whatever I wanted and not have big chunks of code for each select box that I needed to make.

$q1 = array("select table1_id,colname from table1","table1"); 
$q2 = array("select table2_id,colname from table2","table2"); 
$q3 = array("select table3_id,colname from table3","table3"); 
$cnt = 1; 
while (isset(${'q' . $cnt})) { 
 $q = ${'q' . $cnt}[0]; 
 $query = mysql_query($q); 
 $varn = ${'q' . $cnt}[1]; 
 $$varn = ''; 
 $$varn .= '<select name="' . $varn . '">' . "\n"; 
 $$varn .= '<option value="">-- Pick One --</option>' . "\n"; 
 while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($query)) { 
 $$varn .= '<option value="' . $row[0] . '">' . $row[1] . '</option>' . "\n"; 
 } 
 $$varn .= "</select>\n"; 
 $cnt++; 
} 

then I just had to output them later in the form using

<?= $table1?>
<?= $table2?>
<?= $table3?>

I could have done a looping way for output or used a control array to store the varnames but the form elements are all disorganized at the moment, just need an admin form for something. This way I can just add a 2 field query for the next table if I add one, simple enough.

just thought it was interesting and I love using variable variables (and variable variable names) for making my life easier

anyone have any other little tricks or think they can make my script better or more interesting?

[henry0]

HeHe, var var are backs
You made a while ago a nice litle "demo/how_to" about var var
For those not using var var could you again point to it, I can not find it.

A keeper, thanks!

[cameraman]

When I found out about variable variables my jaw dropped - I sat there staring at the book saying no WAY, are you kidding me?!? C+ what?! So looong m$oft! I'm just itching to try out variable functions, but I can't come up with the right app for it (I don't like obfuscating my scripts because then when I come back 6 months later I don't like staring at the screen trying to figure out what the heck I was up to).

I have an admin page wherein I put up select box for database name, then table, then list the fields of the table with checkboxes. Once fields are checked off, it generates the html for the form and the php needed to process the form and displays it all on the page. Then I just copy & paste into editor. It's about 300 lines long but I'm not scared to post it if someone wants me to.

This one I like, although it doesn't use variable variables. It's a generic insert routine that's part of my database class. You hand it the name of the table and associative array of field names & values, and it compiles & executes the INSERT. It calls a function called opendb() which is self-explanatory. It also uses a function called 'fixup()' which just returns a string surrounded by single quotes or NULL (alphanumeric, suitable for the SQL statement) if the string is empty. I have one that's very similar called udary(). You additionally pass it the WHERE clause for the update.

/** Insert by array, $ary['fieldname'] => $val */ 
function insary($tname,$ary){ 
if($this->linkID === false){ 
if(($this->linkID = $this->opendb()) === false) 
return false; 
$opened = 1; 
} 
 else $opened = 0; 
if($rflds = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM $tname",$this->linkID)) { 
$nf = mysql_num_fields($rflds); 
for($i = 0; $i < $nf; $i++){ 
$fldspec = mysql_fetch_field($rflds,$i); 
$ftype[$fldspec->name] = $fldspec->numeric; 
$nulls[$fldspec->name] = ($fldspec->not_null == 1)? 0 : 1; 
}// EndFor get field type for each field 
}// EndIf got query 
 else { 
$rflds = $this->list_fields($tname,true); 
foreach($rflds as $fldinfo) { 
$fldspec = implode(",",$fldinfo); 
list($a,$b) = explode(":",$fldspec[ 0 ]); 
list($c,$d) = explode(":",$fldspec[ 1 ]); 
list($e,$f) = explode(":",$fldspec[ 2 ]); 
if((strpos($d,"varchar")!== false) ¦¦ (strpos($d,"text")!== false)) 
$ftype[$b] = 0; 
 else 
 $ftype[$b] = 1; 
$nulls[$b] = ($f == '')? 1 : 0; 
}// EndForEach field 
}// EndElse get field names a different way 
$sqltext = "INSERT INTO $tname ("; 
$vtext = ") values ("; 
foreach($ftype as $fldname => $fldtype) { 
if(isset($ary[$fldname])) { 
$fldval = $ary[$fldname]; 
$sqltext .= "$fldname,"; 
if($fldtype) 
$vtext .= "$fldval,"; 
 else { 
$this->fixup($fldval); 
if(($fldval == "NULL") && ($nulls[$fldname] == 0)) 
$fldval = "''"; 
$vtext .= $fldval . ","; 
} 
}// If this field value is in array 
}// EndForEach field 
$sqltext = substr($sqltext,0,-1); 
$vtext = substr($vtext,0,-1) . ")"; 
$sqltext .= $vtext; 
mysql_query($sqltext,$this->linkID); 
$rtn = mysql_insert_id($this->linkID); 
$this->insertID = $rtn; 
mysql_free_result($rflds); 
if($opened){ 
mysql_close($this->linkID); 
$this->linkID = false; 
}// EndIf opened db here 
return $sqltext; 
}// End insary() 

[edited by: jatar_k at 12:12 am (utc) on Jan. 27, 2007]
[edit reason] fixed formatting [/edit]

[jatar_k]

>> HeHe, var var are backs

;) I don't want people to forget about them, saves quite a bit of code for repetetive tasks, just use a naming convention and a couple control vars and you're off to the races

can't remember the thread you mean henry0

[jatar_k]

nice cameraman

that actually reminds me that we haven't had a tips and tricks thread in a while

thread title changed and here are the previous ones, all great reads

PHP Bag of Tricks I [webmasterworld.com]
PHP Bag of Tricks II [webmasterworld.com]
PHP Bag of Tricks III [webmasterworld.com]
Good PHP solutions to small problems [webmasterworld.com]

feel free to recommend any great threads you use for common solutions as well

[henry0]

Here is my vulgar/bad words filter
it is part of a long class so I hope I did not forget any piece;
I have a few hundred of bad words in a few languages, won't share with you :)

<?
class CheckText
{
var $badWords;

// BAD WORDS FILTER

function CheckText()// constructor
{
$badWords = array(
'aaaaa',
'sssss',
'dddddd',
'fffff',
'ggggg');

$this->badWords=array();
srand ((float)microtime()*1000000);
$censors=array ('$','@','#','*','£','^','!','~');
foreach ($badWords as $badWord) {
$badWord = preg_quote($badWord);
$replaceStr='';
$size=strlen($badWord);
for ($i=0;$i<$size;$i++) {
shuffle($censors);
$replaceStr.=$censors[0];
}
$this->badWords[$badWord]=$replaceStr;
}

} //end WordFilter

function filter ($text) {
foreach ($this->badWords as $badWord => $replaceStr) {
$text=preg_replace('/'.$badWord.'/i',$replaceStr,$text);
}

return $text;


} //end filter

// END BAD WORDS FILTER

// using it

// "name" Bad words filter
// $text is class function WorldFilter var

$wordFilter=new CheckText($badWords);

$text=$bw;

$text = $wordFilter->filter($text);
if
($text!==$bw)
{
echo "<h3> The submitted name $text contains vulgar words.</h3><a href=\"../insert/zzzzzzz.php\">
<b>Please, CLEAN and re-enter a proper Name</b></a><p>";
}

// ends "name" bad words filter

[coopster]

A Simple Random Password Generator

<?php 
function isValidInteger($i) 
{ 
 return (is_numeric($i) && !preg_match('/[[:^digit:]]/', $i) ? true : false); 
} 
$pwdmin = 8; // Minimum password length 
$pwdlen = (isset($_POST['pwdlen']) && isValidInteger($_POST['pwdlen'])) ? $_POST['pwdlen'] : $pwdmin; 
$pwdnum = (isset($_POST['pwdnum']) && isValidInteger($_POST['pwdnum'])) ? $_POST['pwdnum'] : ''; 
?> 
<html><head><title>Password Generator</title></head><body> 
<fieldset> 
<legend>Password Generator</legend> 
<form action="<?php print strip_tags($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']);?>" method="post"> 
<label>Password Length: <input type="text" name="pwdlen" value="<?php print $pwdlen; ?>"></label> 
<label>Number to Generate: <input type="text" name="pwdnum" value="<?php print $pwdnum; ?>"></label> 
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="submit"> 
</form> 
</fieldset> 
<?php 
if ($pwdlen < $pwdmin) { 
 print "Password length must be greater than or equal to $pwdmin."; 
} 
if (!$pwdnum) { 
 print "You must specify how many passwords to generate."; 
} 
if (isset($_POST['submit']) && $pwdlen && $pwdnum) { 
 $alpha = array_merge(range('a', 'z'), range('A', 'Z')); 
 for ($p = 0; $p < $pwdnum; $p++) { 
  $pwds[] = substr($alpha[array_rand($alpha)] .  
             substr_replace(md5(uniqid(mt_rand(), true)),        
                            $alpha[array_rand($alpha)], 3, 1), 0, $pwdlen); 
} 
 print '<pre>' . implode("\n", $pwds) . '</pre>'; 
} 
?> 
</body></html>

Comes in handy if you ever need to generate a quick list of passwords for any reason (setting up new email accounts, etc.)

[henry0]

Very nice coopster!
Interesting mt_rand() I am sure not be the only one not thinking about it.

Once TJ and me had a
“small conversation” about rand [webmasterworld.com]

[henry0]

Compress Uncompress

<?php

function compress( $srcFileName, $dstFileName )
{
// getting file content
$fp = fopen( $srcFileName, "r" );
$data = fread ( $fp, filesize( $srcFileName ) );
fclose( $fp );

// writing compressed file
$zp = gzopen( $dstFileName, "w9" );
gzwrite( $zp, $data );
gzclose( $zp );
}

function uncompress( $srcFileName, $dstFileName, $fileSize )
{
// getting content of the compressed file
$zp = gzopen( $srcFileName, "r" );
$data = fread ( $zp, $fileSize );
gzclose( $zp );

// writing uncompressed file
$fp = fopen( $dstFileName, "w" );
fwrite( $fp, $data );
fclose( $fp );
}
?>
<?
compress( "check.test.php", "check.test.php.gz" );
uncompress( "check.test.php.gz", "check.test.php", filesize( "check.test.php" ) );

?>

Don't know where that one comes from :)

[cameraman]

I read through all the bags of tricks. Some of it made my head spin but I learned a few things!

This is another from my database class and isn't startling in any way but I sure do find it handy.
$dbt is the table name and $dbw is the WHERE clause
$dbf is kind of slick because you can set it to a single field name, a comma delimited list of fields, or an array:
$dbf = 'firstname';
$dbf = 'firstname,lastname';
$dbf = array('firstname','lastname','city','state');

if $dbf is a single field name, the function returns a scalar result. If it's multiple field names in either of the above forms or '*', the function returns an associative array. If there's a problem with the query or no rows match, it returns false.

function bring($dbt,$dbf,$dbw){
if($this->linkID === false){
if(($linkID = $this->opendb()) === false)
return false;
$opened = 1;
}
 else $opened = 0;

if(is_array($dbf))
$flds = implode(",",$dbf);
 else
 $flds = $dbf;
if(($qry = mysql_query("SELECT $flds FROM $dbt $dbw",$this->linkID)) === false){
if($opened){
mysql_close($this->linkID);
$this->linkID = false;
}// EndIf opened db here
return false;
}// EndIf query invalid
if(mysql_num_rows($qry)){
$rtn = mysql_fetch_array($qry,MYSQL_BOTH);
if((!is_array($dbf)) && (strpos($dbf,",") === false) && ($dbf!= '*'))
$rtn = $rtn[0];
}// EndIf have data
 else
 $rtn = false;
mysql_free_result($qry);
if($opened){
mysql_close($this->linkID);
$this->linkID = false;
}// EndIf opened db here
return $rtn;
}// End bring()

Nothing fancy, but simplifies little things like:
echo 'Welcome back ' . $db->bring('users','firstname',"WHERE RecID=$recID");