[FX.php List] FMPHP API
AC
ac at pottnerconsulting.ca
Tue Aug 1 14:17:35 MDT 2006
Dan,
I needed the contents of a FM valuelist in PHP.
The values could be "311 Dell" or "12 My Company Name".
Should I still be using the list() & explode() function to obtain the
ID number portion?
If I should use the substr() function, then what function do I use to
determine how many characters the ID is?
On Aug 1, 2006, at 4:03 PM, DC wrote:
> hi AC,
>
> just to make sure we're still talking about the same issue here...
>
> you want to take a string, say "311 Dell", and assign two variables,
> one that holds the first part and one that holds the second part. the
> first and second part are separated (delimited) by a space character.
> Is that the goal?
>
> assuming it is... my advice is that you want to end up with those two
> variables with the minimum of fuss and with a standard PHP code style.
>
> list() with explode() is the most standard way of getting two PHP
> variables from a simple delimited string:
>
> <?php
> $num_and_text_separated_by_space = "311 Dell";
> list($num,$text)=explode(' ', $num_and_text_separated_by_space);
> echo $num;
> echo $text;
> ?>
>
> The equivalent of FMP
> Left("text",2)
>
> in PHP is:
> substr("text",0,2);
>
> you see here i just hard coded the number two to get the first two
> characters of "text". FMP Left() is for getting left characters.
> substr() is for getting any substring of characters. substr() is way
> more flexible than FMP Left(). By changing the parameters, it can also
> be used for FMP's Right() or Middle(). see the PHP manual for how to
> use it fully.
>
> so, when you ask, "what function should I be using inside "substr()"
> instead of the "strcspn()" function?" that is the wrong question. the
> right question is: "what is the best, clearest way to get my data from
> a space-delimited string into PHP variables? the answer to that is
> list() with explode().
>
> yes, i would say that strcspn() is a specialty function. i didn't say
> you shouldn't use it... i said you should have a good reason to use it
> that outweighs the confusion it may cause you or your colleagues down
> the road because it is an unusual usage for what you are trying to do.
>
> so, the substr(Text, 0, strcspn(Text, " ")) function may seem to work
> fine, but to the experienced PHP eye it is quite opaque. if you want
> to write clear, concise code then consider using list() with
> explode().
>
> cheers,
> dan
>
>
> On Aug 1, 2006, at 2:54 PM, AC wrote:
>
>> Not meaning to beat a dead horse here;
>> - you said the equivalent of the FileMaker "Left()" function is the
>> PHP "substr()" function
>> - you also said the PHP "strcspn()" function is not a common function
>> to use
>> - I'm currently using substr(Text, 0, strcspn(Text, " "))
>> - what function should I be using inside "substr()" instead of the
>> "strcspn()" function? (I'm completely new to PHP so I assume I'm
>> just missing the obvious answer)
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jul 31, 2006, at 11:41 AM, DC wrote:
>>
>>> well, strcspn() is another obscure function. i've been coding PHP on
>>> a daily basis for several years now and i had to look it up! it may
>>> have a specialized usage and you've certainly demonstrated one
>>> interesting one ;-) it took me a minute to wrap my head around that
>>> one.
>>>
>>> But, your best bet for code share-ability, maintainability and
>>> readability is to know and explore the outer reaches of PHP
>>> functions but when writing PHP to accomplish basic tasks, use
>>> standard PHP idioms like list with explode. PHP offers multiple
>>> paths to the same outcome but if you write code with idiosyncratic
>>> idioms you're going to run into trouble down the road - with other
>>> PHP coders and with your own memory.
>>>
>>> FYI, the equivalent to FMP's left() function in PHP is substr():
>>>
>>> http://us2.php.net/manual/en/function.substr.php
>>>
>>> Cheers and happy coding,
>>> dan
>>>
>>> On Jul 28, 2006, at 8:04 PM, AC wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks Andrew & Dan,
>>>>
>>>> I had found both strtok() and list() with explode().
>>>> I guess I'm still thinking in FileMaker terms when I'm doing things
>>>> in PHP so I was looking for something like;
>>>> Left(Text, NumOfChar) and Replace(Text, Start, Size,
>>>> ReplacementText)
>>>> I just figured since PHP had such an easy function to grab the
>>>> remainder of the string (the equivalent of the FM Replace command)
>>>> that it probably also had an easy equivalent of the FM Left
>>>> command.
>>>> Based on your answers I'm guessing it doesn't and the
>>>> substr(Text, 0, strcspn(Text, " ")) command is the closest
>>>> equivalent.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jul 28, 2006, at 6:01 PM, DC wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> i would stay away from strtok()
>>>>>
>>>>> strtok() is a confusing function because it has an internal stack
>>>>> that 'remembers' how many times you've called it and then you have
>>>>> to call it the number of times that you have strings to split.
>>>>>
>>>>> much better and more widely used and standard is to use this
>>>>> construction using list() and explode()
>>>>>
>>>>> $variable = "311 something";
>>>>> list($number,$word) = explode(' ',$variable);
>>>>>
>>>>> now you'll have two nicely named variables one that has the number
>>>>> and one that has the word
>>>>>
>>>>> cheers,
>>>>> dan
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jul 28, 2006, at 3:59 PM, Andrew Denman wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Don't know about your first question, but for the second one, it
>>>>>> looks like
>>>>>> you want to break the string on the spaces. Check out strtok():
>>>>>> http://us3.php.net/manual/en/function.strtok.php
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Andrew Denman
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: fx.php_list-bounces at mail.iviking.org
>>>>>> [mailto:fx.php_list-bounces at mail.iviking.org] On Behalf Of AC
>>>>>> Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 2:51 PM
>>>>>> To: FX.php Discussion List
>>>>>> Subject: [FX.php List] FMPHP API
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anyone know if this API will grab both value fields from value
>>>>>> lists
>>>>>> that are based on 2 fields ex.
>>>>>> The "Company" value list uses the fields "IDCompany" and
>>>>>> "CompanyName".
>>>>>> In FX only the IDCompany is returned.
>>>>>> Does this API return both values?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Also, assuming I had MyVariable = "316 Dell"
>>>>>> I can use the function strstr(MyVariable, " ")
>>>>>> to get the "Dell" part by itself but to get the 316 I'm currently
>>>>>> doing
>>>>>> substr(MyVariable, 0, strcspn(MyVariable, " "))
>>>>>> Is there an easier way to get the 316 by itself (assuming it
>>>>>> could also
>>>>>> be text)?
>>>>>>
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