How can I compare a variable to a comma separated database entry?

[paymentstv]

Hello All,

 

I want to compare a variable ($var) that I have to a database entry ($list) that is comma separated. If any of the entries in $list does not match $var, then I want to carry out some other operations.

 

At the moment, my database entry is a single entry (not comma separated) so I just use the following to find out if it match my variable.

 

if($list!="$var"){}

 

Can you please help me figure out how to go about this if the database entry is a comma separated value? Thanks for any help .

[teynon]

$vars=explode(",", $list);
if (in_array($var, $vars)) {
   // Var is in array
}

[AyKay47]

you will want to use explode after you extract the db data..

 

$subject = "this,is,a,test,string"
$sub_strings = explode(",",$subject);
if(in_array($var,$subject)){
      //do something
}else{
      print "$var is not in the array";
}

 

Edit: well, he beat me to it 

[PFMaBiSmAd]

Or you could just do this in your query (find if a value is in a list)- http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/string-functions.html#function_find-in-set

[paymentstv]

Thanks for all the help and I got the general idea of how to go about this.

However, while trying to test it I face another obstacle.

 

At the moment I can not enter a comma seperated value into my form because I have the following code allowing me only letters, numbers, "-",".",

 

else if( privateurl.search("[^A-Za-z0-9\-.:/ ]") >= 0) {
		alert("Only characters and numbers allowed for URL!.") ;
		document.getElementById( "privateurl" ).focus() ;
		return false ;

 

privateurl is the variable I hope to store in my database as a comma separated value.

Does any one know how can modify above code so that I can allow a comma?

 

[paymentstv]

else if( privateurl.search("[^A-Za-z0-9\,-.:/ ]") >= 0) 

solved that issue..testing the solutions now.

 

[paymentstv]

Hell again,

 

It is working when I use the following code, but there is a small issue. If an entry has a space after the comma it will not identify that entry against my $var.

i.e in a list of X, Y,Z when I search for Y it returns 0 because there is a space before Y.

 

Is there a method where I can remove any space in the $list?

 

$vars=explode(",", $list);

if(in_array($var, $vars))==0{Do this}

 

Thanks for all the help so far, I can use it as it is but would be nice if I don't have to tell my visitors not to enter a space..etc b/c they never listen to me! 

[AyKay47]

you will want to use trim here

 

$vars=explode(",", $list);
foreach($vars as $value){
      trim($value);
}
if(in_array($var, $vars)){//do something}

 

this should give you the desired results

[paymentstv]

Thanks a lot this worked! 

you will want to use trim here

 

$vars=explode(",", $list);
foreach($vars as $value){
      trim($value);
}
if(in_array($var, $vars)){//do something}

 

this should give you the desired results

[AyKay47]

excellent, please mark this as solved....lower left hand of the thread..