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Request #42878 Feature proposal for print_r (for all PHP versions!)
Submitted: 2007-10-06 13:37 UTC Modified: 2007-10-06 16:15 UTC
From: rc at opelgt dot org Assigned:
Status: Not a bug Package: Feature/Change Request
PHP Version: 5.2.4 OS: all
Private report: No CVE-ID: None
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From: rc at opelgt dot org
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 [2007-10-06 13:37 UTC] rc at opelgt dot org
Description:
------------
My reason for writing was to make PHP a bit more comfortable.
I dont want to spam. I have tried to email you besides this bug 
reporting system at johannes@php.net without success.

You are doing your job for the same reason I do report this: idealism.

I first didnt understood what you meant with "variable container" 
cause I have studied physics, not informatics.

Now I see the problematic that only the value and not the name is 
given the function print_r.

My native language isnt english but german.

I dont know the internal means of PHP and if a method ".name" exists.
I only wanted to say it would be nice.

I think that is the critical point very often: first to say "Yes I 
understand you, what you want is a good idea, unfortunately its not so 
easy to realize."

<?php
function print_rc($variable_name)
 {
  global ${$variable_name};
  echo "Array \$$variable_name\n {\n";
  foreach(${$variable_name} as $key => $val) echo "  [$key] => 
$val\n";
  echo " }\n";
 }
$arr = array(1,2,3);
print_rc('arr');
?>

This is doing what I want. And the problem is instead giving the value 
to the function (print_r) here (print_rc) the name is given.

So my wish is incompatible with the current implementation of PHPs 
print_r.

Its a pity.

Its my part to give this suggestion and its your part to decide 
whether its a nice thing and when "yes" how that can be implemented.

You can see now that with an optional second parameter in print_r 
(interpreting the given variable as a name) or an additional new php-
function print_rc my wish is possible. With the recent implementation 
of print_r it may not be possible.

I dont want to waste my time describing the current state. I want to 
give a suggestion for the future. Realisation isnt impossible.

R?diger


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 [2007-10-06 16:15 UTC] johannes@php.net
Your code makes the assumption that one wants to print_r a variable from the globals scope. print_r'ing a variable from a function won't work:

<?php
$a = "grhgchlkmehvzfvehe";

function foobar() {
    $a = array(1, 2, 5, 7, 8);
    print_rc("a");
}

foobar();
?>

If such a limitation is acceptable for you: Put that to your default library and use it, for a regular, internal, PHP function such a limitation isn't acceptable.

I hope we can end this now.
 
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