How to write this

benton · 10-04-2009, 03:00 AM

Given something like

PHP Code:


			
$check = mysql_query("select a from table");

$item = mysql_fetch_array($check);

echo $item['a'];

Is it poosible to combine the last two statements? Something like

PHP Code:


			
echo (mysql_fetch_array($check)['a']);

Tanax · 10-04-2009, 09:28 AM

Why don't you try it?

adamdecaf · 10-04-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benton

Given something like

PHP Code:


			
$check = mysql_query("select a from table");

$item = mysql_fetch_array($check);

echo $item['a'];

Is it poosible to combine the last two statements? Something like

PHP Code:


			
echo (mysql_fetch_array($check)['a']);

That condenced line will throw an error.

PHP Code:


			
$check = mysql_fetch_array(mysql_query("select a from table"));;

echo $check['a'];

That will still throw an error. It does for me at least.

benton · 10-05-2009, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanax

Why don't you try it?

I did - it doesn't work. Thus the question. Perhaps if you tried it you would see that too?

Tanax · 10-05-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamdecaf

That condenced line will throw an error.

PHP Code:


			
$check = mysql_fetch_array(mysql_query("select a from table"));;

echo $check['a'];

That will still throw an error. It does for me at least.

You have 2 ;; after each other on the first row.

Quote:

Originally Posted by benton

I did - it doesn't work. Thus the question. Perhaps if you tried it you would see that too?

Your question was if it's possible to do so. If you tried to do so and it didn't work, it's logical to assume that it's not possible.

The reason I told you to try it was because I've seen people(including myself before) ask things they can easially try out on their own(trial and error is the best way of learning). If you've tried it, that's great.

For the record, I've tried that too a long time ago(or something similar) and it doesn't work.

benton · 10-05-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanax

You have 2 ;; after each other on the first row.

While not correct, extra semi-colons don't cause problems. The php parser just ignores them.

Quote:

Your question was if it's possible to do so. If you tried to do so and it didn't work, it's logical to assume that it's not possible.

For that statement to be true, you would have to assume the syntax I used is correct, which I don't know if it is. My guess is that there needs to be some grouping or additional code, like

PHP Code:


			
((mysql_fetch_array($check))['a']);

or

PHP Code:


			
$(mysql_fetch_array($check)['a']);

Those don't work either, by the way.

Tanax · 10-05-2009, 11:46 AM

Hm. Exactly why do you insist on having it on 2 rows instead of 3?

ETbyrne · 10-05-2009, 03:11 PM

This is where a good database abstraction layer (or class) comes in handy. If you really want to simplify it down to one line create a MySQL class or use someone else's. You could even just create a single function to do this:

PHP Code:


			
function first_result_col($sql,$col)
{
    $check = mysql_query($sql);
    $item = mysql_fetch_array($check);
    return $item[$col];
}

echo first_result_col('SELECT * FROM `posts`','a');

benton · 10-05-2009, 11:38 PM

I was setting up up some test code and got tired of typing in two lines. I wouldn't use in the live code I work on. It seemed an obvious thing to combine the two but when I tried it, it didn't work. I've found in the past that learning how to do things like this helps me understand other problems I may encounter later on so I wanted to learn how to do it to further my understanding of php. But since no one knows how to do it, I'm beggining to think it isn't possible.

adamdecaf · 10-05-2009, 11:51 PM

It's possible, but doing so could/can/will cause errors/troubles down the line.

benton · 10-07-2009, 12:09 AM

Please show how to do it. What sort of problems?

adamdecaf · 10-07-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benton

Please show how to do it. What sort of problems?

Multiple problems.

You may get a PHP error for syntax.
Shorter code is not always better code.
A lack of complete understanding will be evident and more prominent with shortened bits of code.
Most developers will like to have that extra line or two.

I would suggest something similar to what ETbyrne wrote above, it solves the solution and provides it in a function for reusable purposes.

Village Idiot · 10-07-2009, 03:05 PM

You should really be playing around with this and figuring these things out yourself. You will learn a lot more that way.

benton · 10-09-2009, 03:07 AM

I have. I tried every variation I can think of. The solution may be something obvious but it is beyond me at this point, which is why I posted here. Am I missing the point of this forum?