[Difficulty with stripos]

@requinix i stubbornly gave the DOM some research. I got some strange responses so first, but then discovered how (hate to admit it) easy and effective it is.

Some insight into is workings might be helpful now.

I initially engaged DOM with some "broken" HTML that had already been a little mangled by stripos and offset cuts.

When I re-oriented it by <p> it "repaired" my chopped-up <h2> lines. Is this a built-in benefit? How?

Eventually I ran the DOM code properly and can see it's effectiveness. I guess at this point it's just a matter of signing the correct loops to gather and distribute the data as I desire. Right?

So, are the ole days of stripos and string contents now antiquated?

Thanks for the help.

[Difficulty with stripos]

Late night and lacking sleep is no time to mingle with stripos.

I was playing with some sloppy code and I could use a hand to get it of my mind.

Here are the essentials of what I have

//a string of HTML to throw into a variable
$page ="<h2> item 1 </h2>
<p> day </p> <p> time </p>
<h2> item 2 </h2>
<p> day </p> <p> time </p>
<h2> item 3 </h2>
<p> day </p> <p> time </p>";

$start = stripos($page, 'h2');
$end = stripos($page, '/h2');
$len = $end - $srart$html_section = $find = substr($page, $start, $len);

This worked to get me item 1

However, I'd like to loop through and get the other items too, and eventually the <p> elements also.

I am trying to stay within the PHP structure. I was considering a while loop that would increase the pos of the next progressive $start by adding the $len of the previous effort, but I couldn't remember the correct methodology.

Guidance and input please.

[Array key question]

@Psycho @gizmola

Thanks for the info.

Interesting points.

The question arose as I was typing with some sloppy code. I've carefully played with the discussed concept and it seems to be safe from problems for the limited use I've assigned it (although I did stumble onto an occasional oddity, but I realized the source was off my own diabolical creation and was able to contain it.)

I'll keep you updated. Now I have a new issue to post. LOL

[Array key question]

Understood.

I thought it was a little odd, which is why I asked the question.

Are there any restrictions?

Can a key start with a dot/period?

A number? Even a character??

[Array key question]

While solving my issue from yesterday, I discovered that I can use an associative array with key names that have space.

ie: $arr['i never knew'][0]

Normally, I would have used underscores to fill spaces OR removed them completely.

Is this a new feature that I stumbled upon? Is it safe to use? Are there drawbacks?

 

[Getting array data in variable]

Used the suggested tools and discovered my problem.

The array variable was inside a string. Apparrently this negates the array tendencies once they are lost.

 

[Getting array data in variable]

** Recent development **

I modified my approach and got a response

//At first

$ingredients = ["sugar", "flour", "water"];
$spec_recipe = ["apple", "cinnamon", $ingredients];

echo $spec_recipe[2];
RESULT:  Array
echo $spec_recipe[2][0];
RESULT:  A  (assuming first letter of Array)

Now I altered the variable to specify an element

$ingredients = ["sugar", "flour", "water"];
$spec_recipe = ["apple", "cinnamon", $ingredients[0] ];
echo $spec_recipe[2];
RESULT:  sugar

I suppose this is something, but I want the array to become available through this variable so that I can address the full array contents.

What am I missing?

[Getting array data in variable]

@mac_gyver Save as my initial info in this question.

Both direct access efforts and print_r:

[6] => Array

The data is not getting pulled by the variable, yet it knows there's an array present.

Not sure if exact version, but current.

[Getting array data in variable]

@gw1500se No luck.

In not sure if it matters that this variable is stuck into a sub array.

This started out working well with single words or phrases. But when I incorporated an array to provide those words and phrases, it went bonkers.

I felt that the array structure was getting cluttered and that variables would help organize it. Was I wrong?

[Getting array data in variable]

I'm trying to include an array inside of a different array, but having trouble reaching the data.

$ingredients = ["sugar", "flour", "water"];
$spec_recipe = ["apple", "cinnamon", $ingredients];

echo $spec_recipe[2];
RESULT:  Array
echo $spec_recipe[2][0];
RESULT:  A  (assuming first letter of Array)

How do I move this info correctly so that it's accessible?

[A simple idea gone haywire]

Never mind.

Reapplied the logic and resolved the issue.

[A simple idea gone haywire]

It seemed like a simple idea for a snowy day, but now I've lost my way in the forest.

The plan: I have a landing page that will connect to either page 1, 2, or 3.

These pages all flow to page A.

On page A, I decided (big mistake) to say "I hope you enjoyed visiting our page X."

My idea was to create a $_SESSION['page] variable in each of pages 1,2,3 and provide the appropriate value accordingly.

When a user why to page A, the variable would follow and populate the sentence çorrectly.

If they went to page A directly or from the landing page, the variable would be blank bc there is no session value associated.

My first steps seemed to be okay, but then I couldn't clear the session from the landing page.

Is my implementation completely off?

[window.location versus a anchor]

Sounds like good advice, but is there any real reasoning (other than that JS can be turned off)?

[window.location versus a anchor]

The title says it all.

I have a few instances for redirecting to another webpage with a click.

Then I got to thinking (always leads to trouble), is there a difference or benefit between using:

1) a plain old HTML<a>

2)window.location in the <> tags 

3) creating a JavaScript listener

[Copy a row within same table]

It seems that the auto increment for the ID prohibits use of an asterisk (to SELECT * and use everything EXCEPT  the ID in the insert).

Is there a lazy workaround (that's worthwhile)?

[Copy a row within same table]

Ok, it seems to be working now (so I can build out on it).

To be truthful, I had tried that (you taught me well) but your confirmation lead me to a different dumb mistake, as I was toying with this piece of code at the bottom of a PHP page and neglected to remove the line containing:

mysqli_close($con)

Therefore, there was no connection. Hence, failure.

What sort of PHP could I use to alert me and prevent this type of issue.

Note: I check the connection at the top of the page using

if($con === false){
    die("ERROR: Could not connect. " . mysqli_connect_error());
}

but it doesn't trigger (with the terminated connection in place) because $con is still valid.

Thanks for the help.

[Copy a row within same table]

I'm trying to copy a row so that I can later update within a given table.

I'm not sure if there's a syntax error or rule error, or a missing piece but this code is not doing the job.

$sql = "INSERT INTO $table (id, company_name) 
SELECT id, company_name FROM $table WHERE id = 26";

The table has auto increment ID, but the many alterations that I've made have failed.

Guidance or solution, please.

Thanks.

[Get the UPDATED row]

I've tried a few iterations but cannot get the correct syntax

$sql = "UPDATE $table SET item=?
WHERE id<10
id = LAST_INSERT_ID()
ORDER BY
	id ASC
LIMIT 1;
SELECT LAST_INSERT_ID();";
  
  //and then
$last_id = mysqli_insert_id($conn);
echo "Last inserted ID is: " . $last_id;

Where is my mistake?

[Get the UPDATED row]

@mac_gyver  I've gathered most of the "it can be done" from my web searches.

I need an example (preferably in procedural PHP) of HOW to do it.

I have made a few attempts, but none are producing results.

[Get the UPDATED row]

As a follow-up to my recent post to determining the AFFECTED ROWS after an update to a table, I am now interested in obtaining the row's ID.

I previously obtained HOW MANY rows were affected. Now I want to know WHICH ROWS.

In actuality, I'm using LIMIT 1 in my update, so I'm looking for a PHP echo of the row ID (so that I can refer back to it).

I've seen some examples in SQL that involve a psuedo-INSERT, but they don't offer a PHP transition (procedurally) to accomplish an echo confirmation.

Guidance or code solutions appreciated.

[Confirmation of an UPDATE to table]

5 hours ago, maxxd said:

and of course you've got a great resource in this forum

I couldn't agree more!

But, @maxxd , are you encouraging me to post even more questions? LOL

I've certainly learned and overcome PLENTY of obstacles here. But moving deeper into the pool may be a step further than I'm ready to "bind" before being fully "prepared" (see what I did there 🙂 ).

TBH, I nearly fell overboard when mySQLi became mandatory

But hey, ya never know.

Thanks for the support.

[Confirmation of an UPDATE to table]

@maxxd Thanks, I think I've got the prepared statement accomplished.

I "understand" procedural.

The "shorthand" of PDO gets me confused and lost.

I have the same problem moving from vanilla JavaScript to jQuery.

If you have a remedy (or therapy.. LOL) that will help me overcome these issues, please share.

And please keep this confidential. Just between us.  I don't want my personal information on the internet.  *wink*

[Confirmation of an UPDATE to table]

@Barand  AWESOME, as usual.

Thanks!!

Can you give me a template for implementing the UPDATE

$data = "Doe";

$sql = "UPDATE MyGuests SET lastname=$data WHERE lastname='Doe-Smith'";
if (mysqli_query($conn, $sql)) {
  echo "Record updated successfully";

with a prepared statement in procedural method, please.

[Confirmation of an UPDATE to table]

The following code snippet will NOT provide what I'm interested in determining

$sql = "UPDATE MyGuests SET lastname='Doe' WHERE lastname='Doe-Smith'";
if (mysqli_query($conn, $sql)) {
  echo "Record updated successfully";
} else {
  echo "Error updating record: " . mysqli_error($conn);
}

For argument sake, let's presume that Ms Doe-Smith's marital status has changed and she is returning to using her maiden name only. The records of her 5 children will also be effected (although not all used Mr. Smith's surname).

The snippet's success/error message seems to fire based on the validity of $conn and $sql.

If no records are updated (because there are no instances of Doe-Smith), the success message displays anyway because nothing went wrong with the process.

How can I get a confirmation of whether an actual record was changed? Or how many? Or row numbers?

(I've considered running a SELECT before the UPDATE, but thought that might create an unnecessary load factor.)

Thanks for reading.

[Insert with prepared statement]

@Barand  Yes, I knew that. *wink*

I just thought I'd ask the chefs because I don't have the time to toy with the recipe.

Nonetheless, your assistance has been greatly appreciated, and spot on, as usual.

Thanks  🙂