Create random code and assign to a session variable

[adrianle]

hey all.. I need to come up with a PHP chunk that randomly generates a 6 digit "password" and then assigns it to a session variable of my choice. Any pointers??

[TeddyKiller]

$password = rand(111111, 999999);
$_SESSION['sessioname'] = $password;

 

If you'd like something slightly more complicated with numbers, and letters.. then I could provide something, though that should be the basics.

[cags]

Simple example of a slightly more complicated system...

 

$valid_chars = 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789';
echo generate_password( 6, $valid_chars );

function generate_password( $length, $valid_chars ) {
  $count = strlen( $valid_chars ) - 1;
  $pass = '';
  for( $i = 0; $i < $length; $i++ ) {
    $pass .= $valid_chars[rand( 0, $count)];
  }

  return $pass;
}

[adrianle]

Thanks guys.. now how do I display (print?) that session variable value on a subsequent php page? I know it's simple but I'm having trouble finding the answer in the docs..

[TeddyKiller]

This is probably your answer. Or you can echo it, by just replacing the word "print" with "echo"

print $_SESSION['sessioname'];

 

If you're doing the method cags is doing, just asign $pass to a session variable as stated in my tiny example

[adrianle]

Odd.. that's exactly how I coded it and it's just not showing on the page... total blank space.. grrr

[adrianle]

$valid_chars = 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789';

echo generate_password( 6, $valid_chars );

function generate_password( $length, $valid_chars ) { 

$count = strlen( $valid_chars ) - 1; 

$pass = '';  for( $i = 0; $i < $length; $i++ ) {   

$pass .= $valid_chars[rand( 0, $count)];  } 

return $pass;}

$_SESSION['PSSWD'] = $pass;

 

This DOES generate the value.. I can see it on this page.. but on the next page where it should pull form the session variable "PSSWD" it doesn't display anything!

[cags]

You have session_start at the top of both pages?

[adrianle]

Yes I do...

[adrianle]

OK, very odd.. I've got it working.. mostly.. but the value of the session variable that gets generated and then inserted into the table record, does NOT match the 6-character session variable value displayed on the next page!!  It's almost like the second page is displaying a separately generated variable value .. but why?? All I'm asking it to do is echo the session variable....???

[PFMaBiSmAd]

You need some conditional logic ( and if(){} statement) so that the value is only generated and assigned to the session variable once (if it is not set.)

 

If you are unconditionally generating and assigning the value, it will be get changed on every page request.

 

 

[adrianle]

ok.. makes sense.. unfortunately, I only know barely enough PHP to get into trouble.. can you point me to where I would find a reference to this method you're describing?

[PFMaBiSmAd]

if(!isset($_SESSION['your_variable_name_here'])){
    // code to set the session variable only when it is not already set...
}