Random String Generation

[liamloveslearning]

Hi everyone, im trying to generate a random string of 32 characters, Im very new to php and after googling for a solution I thought it best to ask here, I am starting a session and I want to generate a session id, here's what I have so far

<?php session_start(); 
$_SESSION['sessid']=''; 
?>

 

I understand I cant put a rand in the comma's so Im unsure what else to do, Any help id greatly appreciate

[litebearer]

perhaps...

<?PHP

#################################
#
#	This function is handy
#	for creating random 
#	file names
#
#################################

function randomkeys($length){
$pattern = "1234567890abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ";
for($i=0;$i<$length;$i++){
	$key .= $pattern{rand(0,61)};
}
return $key;
}
$how_long = 6;
$new_name = randomkeys($how_long);
echo $new_name;
?>

[liamloveslearning]

works like a charm! thanks

[Alex]

By the way, you shouldn't use { } to access characters in a string, this is depreciated as of PHP 5.3.0, instead use square brackets ([ ]).

[teamatomic]

Depending on where in your entry/login sequence you want to set the id.

$_SESSION['sessid']= md5("$username".rand());

or

$ip=$_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];

$_SESSION['sessid']= md5("$ip".rand());

 

 

 

HTH

Teamatomic

[liamloveslearning]

Thanks everyone, I cant implement your code teamatronic, im sure im going wrong somewhere tho, does this look correct if id like to see the str?

<?php $_SESSION['sessid']= md5("$username".rand()); ?><?php echo '$sessid'; ?>

 

and in regards to the curly brakcets, if i just swap them out with square brakcets is that okay? or is there more to it?

 

[Alex]

Single quotes don't have variable interpolation, and if you're just echoing the variable you don't need quotes at all.

<?php echo $sessid; ?>

[liamloveslearning]

Forgive me for being so 'amateur' but I still cant set my session id, im using

<?php
    if (session_id() == "") session_start(); 
?>

 

how do i echo that if it has no variable defined? im trying to use the php.net manual but its too complicated

[liamloveslearning]

Okay ive managed to set and echo my session string now, the only thing is, if i post it to another page and go back the string changes, I guess this is the random fucntion. Is there a way to set it? so it wont change unless the session is destroyed?

 

im using

 

<?php
    if (session_id() == "") session_start(); 
    $_SESSION['ses_id']= md5(rand());
?>

[litebearer]

By the way, you shouldn't use { } to access characters in a string, this is depreciated as of PHP 5.3.0, instead use square brackets ([ ]).

 

Will the backets work in previous versions?

[liamloveslearning]

My head is frazzled, I cant figure it out no matter what I try!!

 

Ill try to put the problem into context.

 

User visits my webpage > clicks add to cart button which adds product to the cart (and also echo's session id) > Views products in cart, then clicks 'Products' > The session id being echo'd is now different and when he visits the cart everythings gone.

 

I need to find a way to set the session.

My stomachs in knots its so confusing, Any help would be brilliant, Thanks

[teamatomic]

Start using brackets to block your if statements. when you use an if statement with no brackets only the first statement following it is considered in the if.

 

 

HTH

Teamatomic

[Alex]

By the way, you shouldn't use { } to access characters in a string, this is depreciated as of PHP 5.3.0, instead use square brackets ([ ]).

 

Will the backets work in previous versions?

Yes, square brackets will work in previous versions.

 

You must call session_start always, otherwise you won't be able to access the $_SESSION array.

 

<?php
session_start();
if(!isset($_SESSION['ses_id']))
{
    $_SESSION['ses_id'] = md5(rand());
}