$_SESSION issue

[Tom]

I put together a code that checks for 2 post variables then stores them
in a multi-dim $_SESSION array, something like this:

If ( isset($_POST['value_a'] && isset($_POST['value_b']) )
{
$_SESSION['value']['a'] = $_POST['value_a'];
$_SESSION['value']['b'] = $_POST['value_b'];
}

The problem was that $_SESSION['value']['b'] was being overwritten with
the value for 'a' so that both $_SESSION['value'] vars ended up being
the same (i.e. $_POST['value_b']. I thoroughly tested it to confirm
that this was what happening.

I solved the problem by changing the $_SESSION vars to
$_SESSION['value_a'] and $_SESSION['value_b'].

This was PHP 5, the WAMP package -- I know it's not the latest update
of PHP 5.

My question: is this a bug (perhaps since fixed) or is there a reason
this would be expected behavior?

Thanks,

Tom
http://phosphorusandlime.blogspot.com/

[Justin Koivisto]

Tom wrote:

I put together a code that checks for 2 post variables then stores them
in a multi-dim $_SESSION array, something like this:

If ( isset($_POST['value_a'] && isset($_POST['value_b']) )
{
$_SESSION['value']['a'] = $_POST['value_a'];
$_SESSION['value']['b'] = $_POST['value_b'];
}

The problem was that $_SESSION['value']['b'] was being overwritten with
the value for 'a' so that both $_SESSION['value'] vars ended up being
the same (i.e. $_POST['value_b']. I thoroughly tested it to confirm
that this was what happening.

I solved the problem by changing the $_SESSION vars to
$_SESSION['value_a'] and $_SESSION['value_b'].

This was PHP 5, the WAMP package -- I know it's not the latest update
of PHP 5.

My question: is this a bug (perhaps since fixed) or is there a reason
this would be expected behavior?

The only way that I forsee this being expected behavior is if
$_POST['value_a'] == $_POST['value_b']

Usually when I am assigning an array to a session key, I will use:

$_SESSION['key'] = array('a'=>$a, 'b'=>$b);

I have never had any problems using either method, and tested that on my
two 5.1.1 installs which worked fine.

--
Justin Koivisto, ZCE - ju****@koivi.com
http://koivi.com

[Peter Fox]

Following on from Tom's message. . .

I put together a code that checks for 2 post variables then stores them
in a multi-dim $_SESSION array, something like this:

If ( isset($_POST['value_a'] && isset($_POST['value_b']) )
{
$_SESSION['value']['a'] = $_POST['value_a'];
$_SESSION['value']['b'] = $_POST['value_b'];
}

The problem was that $_SESSION['value']['b'] was being overwritten with
the value for 'a' so that both $_SESSION['value'] vars ended up being
the same (i.e. $_POST['value_b']. I thoroughly tested it to confirm
that this was what happening.

The following code works 'as advertised':
<?php
$SES['value']['a'] = 'va';
$SES['value']['b'] = 'vb';
print_r($SES);
?>
to give
Array ( [value] => Array ( [a] => va [b] => vb ) )

It works with $_SESSION too.

Are you operating in a foreach loop? If so this is a Gotcha.

Although not particularly related to this problem but in a similar vein:
Look up "variable variables" in the manual.

// convert $ay['foo'] into $foo
foreach($ay as $key => $val) {$$key = $ay[$key];}


--
PETER FOX Not the same since the bookshop idea was shelved
pe******@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html
2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex.
Gravity beer in Essex <http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk>