exec() does not seem to return a value when the command it 
executes only outputs only one character.

i have an command line ini file editor i am using via exec.

$num1 = exec(escapeshellcmd("iniedit /var/www/html/test.ini 
-s main -k num1 -r"));

if the ini file is set

num1=46

normal command line output "46"
works fine $num1 = 46, but for 

num1=4

normal command line output "4"
however $num1 does not contain a value.

i am able to get around this issue by using passthru()
thanks for php! :)