Trying to convert column from full name field to first and last name fields

[kenoli]

I'm trying to do this with the code below.  I get an error because explode thinks I'm just sending it one argument since the string is held by an array element.  If I can get the array from the explode function I can insure it into the first and last name fields in my table.

Any suggestions?

--Kenoli

require '__classes/Db.php';

$sql = "SELECT name FROM tbl_persons";
$stmt = $pdo->query($sql);
$row = $stmt->fetchall(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);

foreach ($row as $name) {
	 $names = explode($name['name']);
	}

 

[Barand]

explode requires two parameters

explode(delimiter, array)

RTFM

[kenoli]

Great, thanks.  That should do it.  I couldn't understand the php.net explanation.

--Kenoli

[Barand]

Alternaltive method...

mysql> SELECT * FROM users;
+--------+--------------+-----------+----------+
| userId | fullname     | firstname | lastname |
+--------+--------------+-----------+----------+
|      1 | Peter Dowt   | NULL      | NULL     |
|      2 | Laura Norder | NULL      | NULL     |
|      3 | Tom DiCanari | NULL      | NULL     |
|      4 | Scott Chegg  | NULL      | NULL     |
+--------+--------------+-----------+----------+


mysql> UPDATE users
    -> SET firstname = SUBSTRING_INDEX(fullname, ' ', 1),
    ->     lastname  = SUBSTRING_INDEX(fullname, ' ', -1);


mysql> SELECT * FROM users;
+--------+--------------+-----------+----------+
| userId | fullname     | firstname | lastname |
+--------+--------------+-----------+----------+
|      1 | Peter Dowt   | Peter     | Dowt     |
|      2 | Laura Norder | Laura     | Norder   |
|      3 | Tom DiCanari | Tom       | DiCanari |
|      4 | Scott Chegg  | Scott     | Chegg    |
+--------+--------------+-----------+----------+

 

[Strider64]

or you could simply have a small function of some kind to use a full name:

 

function fullname($user) {
	return $user['firstname'] . " " . $user['lastname'];
}

 

[Barand]

You could, except that does the exact opposite of what is required in this instance.