Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_ENCAPSED_AND WHITESPACE, expecting T_STRING

[rhys]

My Gurus and Angels --
Please pardon this old-school programmer, only recently enlightened to open-source, having been trapped in the convenience of proprietary lingos for way too long. My shortcomings will soon become apparent.

I am developing an estimating construction system, using PHP5 and MySQL 5.0.24a with Ubuntu. I have a main "projects" file, and 2 detail files, one for piping and one for equipment. Each of these files will have multiple entries per project, and I have further breakdowns in each, by "bid item" and "system/line." For reporting, a bid item may contain piping, or equipment, or both.

To calculate the bid, I spin through the detail files and calculate a "subtotals" file, which is reported further down the line. I restart this subtotals file at the start of each run.

My problems begin in piping -- equipment to come later. I need to cycle through the individual rows and crunch some numbers. If there is an existing subtotals record for the current bid item/line # combo, we will add to it. If not, we will start one -- an operation made more complicated by the return values of "select" as opposed to "insert."

Here is a simplified version of my troubled code:

[PHP]$presult = mysql_query("se lect * from mrb_pipe
where pproj = '$proj'");
while ($pipe = mysql_fetch_ass oc($presult)) {
$tpbidit = $pipe["pbidit"];
$tpsys = $pipe["psys"];
$stresult = mysql_query{"se lect * from mrb_stot
where sbidit = '$tpbidit' // select didn't like subscripted
and ssys = '$tpsys'"); // arguments, so i made $vars
if (mysql_num_rows ($stresult) <> 1) {
mysql_query("in sert into mrb_stot ....) // load a new row
or die("bummer");
$stresult = mysql_query("se lect * from mrb_stot
where sbidit = '$tpbidit'
and ssys = '$tpsys'"); // load result into $stresult
)
$subt = mysql_fetch_ass oc($stresult);
$mysql_free_res ult($stresult);
getSurf(1, $pipe["psize"], $pipe["pthk"]); // function also includes
// mysql_query
$actstr = $pipe["pstr"]; // initialize
$strbdsf = $actstr * $psfmlt; // $psfmlt returned by getSurf func
$winssf = $subt["inssf"]; // will add to this work variable[/PHP]
At this point I get a Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_ENCAPSED
_AND WHITESPACE, expecting T_STRING ... error, on the last line.

I have pored over my syntax, to no avail. This line is virtually identical to the one which occurs 2 previous, and apparently works fine. I have to conclude that there is a problem with the second result set. I also had a problem using subscripted variables in math calculations, but could avert those by converting to regular $variables first.

I have Googled many nested-query problems, but they always seem to relate to nested queries within the same select statement. Either my application is very unusual -- and I had thought it fairly simple, in need of no complex outer joins -- and/or I have some serious shortcomings in my understanding of how MySQL stores things. Most likely the latter.

I hope I have included enough detail, that someone may grasp the essence of my issues, and suggest a better way to skin this cat!! The last time I appealed to this forum, I was embarrassed at the solution -- I should've tried that first!! I hope that is not the case this time.

Any hints at all would be greatly appreciated! -- The Estimator's Buddy

[mwasif]

Use proper CODE tags when posting source code. Follow the POSTING GUIDELINES.

After applying the CODE tags on your code, it clearly marked where the syntax error is.

[PHP]$stresult = mysql_query{"se lect * from mrb_stot
where sbidit = '$tpbidit' // select didn't like subscripted
and ssys = '$tpsys'");[/PHP]
Use '(' instead of '{'
[PHP]$stresult = mysql_query("se lect * from mrb_stot
where sbidit = '$tpbidit' and ssys = '$tpsys'");[/PHP]

[rhys]

my bad. that was a typo only in the sample i provided, does not exist in the actual source code. I found other errors in that section, before I got the parser to make it as far as it did. But thanks for the fast response!! -- Rhys

[rhys]

in other words, the problem still exists. And i am sorry to confuse the issue with a typo, but rest assured that is only in the example, and not my real problem. Thx!!

[pbmods]

Heya, Rhys.

I'm going to go ahead and move this thread to the PHP forum, where our resident Experts will be better able to help you out.

Changed thread title to better describe the problem.

[pbmods]

Is this what you have now?

$presult = mysql_query("select * from mrb_pipe
        where pproj = '$proj'");
while ($pipe = mysql_fetch_assoc($presult)) {
        $tpbidit = $pipe["pbidit"];
        $tpsys = $pipe["psys"];
        $stresult = mysql_query{"select * from mrb_stot
                where sbidit = '$tpbidit'      // select didn't like subscripted
                and ssys = '$tpsys'");          // arguments, so i made $vars
        if (mysql_num_rows($stresult) <> 1) {
                mysql_query("insert into mrb_stot ....") // load a new row
                or die("bummer");
                $stresult = mysql_query("select * from mrb_stot
                           where sbidit = '$tpbidit'
                           and ssys = '$tpsys'");   // load result into $stresult
                 )
        $subt = mysql_fetch_assoc($stresult);
        $mysql_free_result($stresult);
        getSurf(1, $pipe["psize"], $pipe["pthk"]);  // function also includes
                                                                            // mysql_query
        $actstr = $pipe["pstr"];            // initialize
        $strbdsf = $actstr * $psfmlt;   //  $psfmlt returned by getSurf func
        $winssf = $subt["inssf"];         //  will add to this work variable
 

And is this the line that generates the error?

$winssf = $subt["inssf"];         //  will add to this work variable
 

[rhys]

Is this what you have now?

$presult = mysql_query("select * from mrb_pipe
        where pproj = '$proj'");
while ($pipe = mysql_fetch_assoc($presult)) {
        $tpbidit = $pipe["pbidit"];
        $tpsys = $pipe["psys"];
        $stresult = mysql_query{"select * from mrb_stot
                where sbidit = '$tpbidit'      // select didn't like subscripted
                and ssys = '$tpsys'");          // arguments, so i made $vars
        if (mysql_num_rows($stresult) <> 1) {
                mysql_query("insert into mrb_stot ....") // load a new row
                or die("bummer");
                $stresult = mysql_query("select * from mrb_stot
                           where sbidit = '$tpbidit'
                           and ssys = '$tpsys'");   // load result into $stresult
                 )
        $subt = mysql_fetch_assoc($stresult);
        $mysql_free_result($stresult);
        getSurf(1, $pipe["psize"], $pipe["pthk"]);  // function also includes
                                                                            // mysql_query
        $actstr = $pipe["pstr"];            // initialize
        $strbdsf = $actstr * $psfmlt;   //  $psfmlt returned by getSurf func
        $winssf = $subt["inssf"];         //  will add to this work variable
 

And is this the line that generates the error?

$winssf = $subt["inssf"];         //  will add to this work variable
 

You are correct, sir. And pardon the exclusion of [code] tags which would have prevented the earlier misunderstandin g -- I will not make that error in the future!! -- Rhys

[rhys]

I just noticed another typo -- on line 15 i close the insert function with a } and not a ) so that is not the source of my issues either -- rhys

[pbmods]

Heya Rhys.

Something doesn't seem right. 99% of the time, "unexpected T_ENCAPSED_AND WHITESPACE, expecting T_STRING" occurs when you have an array element quoted inside of a string.

E.g., this is what causes the error:

"A string with an illegal $array['quotedIndex'].";
 

Instead this should be one of:

"A string with a legal {$array['quotedIndex']}.";
"A string with a legal $array[unquotedIndex].";
'A string with a legal ' . $array['quotedIndex'] . '.';
 

I think your code is still missing a quote mark somewhere.

[rhys]

Heya Rhys.

Something doesn't seem right. 99% of the time, "unexpected T_ENCAPSED_AND WHITESPACE, expecting T_STRING" occurs when you have an array element quoted inside of a string.

E.g., this is what causes the error:

"A string with an illegal $array['quotedIndex'].";
 

Instead this should be one of:

"A string with a legal {$array['quotedIndex']}.";
"A string with a legal $array[unquotedIndex].";
'A string with a legal ' . $array['quotedIndex'] . '.';
 

I think your code is still missing a quote mark somewhere.

Thank you for your immediate consideration of my problem. I have reviewed my code more closely, and find no problems within strings such as you speak of. I did experience one of those problems, in a select string, as noted in my example, and i was able to circumvent it by assigning the subscripted variable to a regular variable, which i used in my select statement.

The fact that this is a parse error, in a simple assignment instruction, is what makes it particularly interesting -- as noted, a very similar assignment apparently works, 2 lines earlier. This is what led me to believe i am not referring to the data i think i am, that i have confused the query/result set gods. I continue to look for problems in my strings, and thank you again for your immediate attention!! -- Rhys