sprintf variable arguments

[kael.shipman]

Hey everyone,

 

I've run into this problem a few times now and still haven't managed a decent solution.

 

I'm building an sprintf statement the arguments for which are either variable (i.e., dependent on certain environmental conditions) or bound together in one big string with separators. I've been handling it by using eval, but I figure there's got to be a better way than that.... Here's what I'm doing:

 

<?php
$query_extension = array();
$params = array();
if ($thisValue) {
$query_extension[] = "this_value = '%s'";
$params[] = 'thisRightValue';
}
if ($thatValue) {
$query_extension[] = "that_value = '%s'";
$params[] = 'thatRightValue';
}
if ($theOtherValue) {
$query_extension[] = "theOther = '%s'";
$params[] = 'theOtherRightValue';
}

if (count($query_extension)) {
$queryStatement = 'UPDATE `this_table` set `some_column` = 1 where '.implode(', ',$query_extension);

//Current method:
eval('$query = sprintf('.$queryStatement.', \''.implode('\', \'',$params).'\');');
//This sets $query equal to the output of
//sprintf("UPDATE `this_table` set `some_column` = 1 where this_value = '%s', that_value = '%s', theOther = '%s'", 'thisRightValue', 'thatRightValue', 'theOtherRightValue');

//Here's what I'd rather do:
$query = sprintf($queryStatement, /*use the PARAMS array to supply arguments*/);
}
?>

 

I know if I used sprintf for each of the individual parameters (like $query_extension[] = sprintf("this_value = '%s'",'thisRightValue')) that would work, but like I said, I've also got some parameters stored as strings:

 

<?php
$query = "UPDATE `this_table` set `some_column` = 1 where this_value = '%s', that_value = '%s', the_other_value = %d";
$arguments = 'thisRightValue*()*thatRightValue*()*2883';

$sql_query = sprintf($query,/*arguments without evaluating*/);
?>

 

Any ideas?

[btherl]

Is vsprintf suitable?  http://sg.php.net/manual/en/function.vsprintf.php

[corbin]

Whoa...  I never know about vsprintf.... I could've used that a lot haha.

[kael.shipman]

Holy crap, that's perfect; thanks! I don't know how I've missed that for three years.

 

-kael