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PHP

Liam Maclachlan
Liam Maclachlan
22,805 Points
Posted by Liam Maclachlan
Liam Maclachlan
22,805 Points

PHP thinks array is a string. How do I make PHP believe me!?

I have created an array which pulls in data from a table. using the below code. When I check where $args is a string, php says "yes it is!"... but when I try to parse it in to the array and ammend it... computer says no -_-... any ideas?

<?php 
        //new array is created. Don't worry about this bit
        if ( isset($_POST['publisher-name']) && $_POST['publisher-name'] != '' ) {

            $publisherTitle = esc_html($_POST['publisher-name']);

            while ( isset($_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber]) && $_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber] ) {

                $fullCategoryList["category-name-".$categoryNumber] = esc_html( $_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber] );

                $categoryNumber++;
            }
            var_dump($fullCategoryList); // successfully dumps array

        } else {
            echo "You must have a publisher name";
        }

        // new array is compiled to add to the array just created
        $arr = array(
                'hello' => array('array'),
                'chick' => array('peas')
            );

        if (is_array ( $arr )) {
            echo "yes it is!"; // this proves true and echoes
        } else {
            echo "There is your problem!";
        }

        if (is_array ( $fullCategoryList )) {
            echo "it also is!"; // this also proves true and echoes
        } else {
            echo "There is your problem!";
        }

        array_push($fullCategoryList['category-name-1'][], $arr); //calls a fatal error sayin gthat I'm trying to pass a string....
        // Fatal error: [] operator not supported for strings in  C:/......
        var_dump($fullCategoryList); //doesn't even get called

?>
Liam Maclachlan
Liam Maclachlan
22,805 Points
Liam Maclachlan
Liam Maclachlan
22,805 Points

Okay... I found a problem.

After runnign this piece of code: 

<?php 

        if (is_array ( $fullCategoryList["category-name-1"] )) {
            echo "it also is!"; // this proves true and echoes
        } else {
            echo "There is your problem!";
        }

?>

It turns out it is not an array. I know this, as it is a value in the

1 Answer

Liam Maclachlan
Liam Maclachlan
22,805 Points
Liam Maclachlan
Liam Maclachlan
22,805 Points

SOLVED: Helps is you don't try to add the array to a string... Dumb moment. All sorted :)

Added an array to the end of the array and was able to pass my variables in to that one. Life is good again (Y)

<?php

        if ( isset($_POST['publisher-name']) && $_POST['publisher-name'] != '' ) {

            $publisherTitle = esc_html($_POST['publisher-name']);

            while ( isset($_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber]) && $_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber] ) {

                $fullCategoryList["category-name-".$categoryNumber] = esc_html( $_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber] );

                $categoryNumber++;
                // adds an array to the end of the array items so it can be edited
                if ( !isset($_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber] ) ) {
                    $fullCategoryList["category-name-". ($categoryNumber + 1)] = array();
                }
            var_dump($fullCategoryList);
            }

        } else {
            echo "You must have a publisher name";
        }

        // new array is compiled to add to the array just created
        $arr = array(
                'hello' => array('array'),
                'chick' => array('peas')
            );

        if (is_array ( $arr )) {
            echo "yes it is!"; // this proves true and echoes
        } else {
            echo "There is your problem!";
        }

                if (is_array ( $fullCategoryList["category-name-1"] )) {
            echo "it also is!"; // this proves true and echoes
        } else {
            echo "There is your problem!";
        }

        array_push($fullCategoryList["category-name-5"], $arr); //calls a fatal error sayin that I'm trying to pass a string....
        var_dump($fullCategoryList); // Now even gets called

?>
Liam Maclachlan
Liam Maclachlan
22,805 Points
Liam Maclachlan
Liam Maclachlan
22,805 Points

With the erro in mind, this is the edited code

<?php 

        if ( isset($_POST['publisher-name']) && $_POST['publisher-name'] != '' ) {

            $publisherTitle = esc_html($_POST['publisher-name']);

            while ( isset($_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber]) && $_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber] ) {

                $fullCategoryList["category-name-".$categoryNumber] = esc_html( $_POST['category-input-' . $categoryNumber] );

                $categoryNumber++;
            }

        } else {
            echo "You must have a publisher name";
        }

        // new array is compiled to add to the array just created
        $arr = array(
                'hello' => array('array'),
                'chick' => array('peas')
            );

        array_push($fullCategoryList, $arr); // It really should have been added to the array...
        // array_push($fullCategoryList[], $arr); didn't exsist as an array, or any itteration of that
        var_dump($fullCategoryList);

?>