[RESOLVED] Something with QueryStrings

in querystrings you always have something like this

Code:

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page.php?start=10&offset=5&category=45

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but in some cases, i see the querystring like this

Code:

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page.php?start=10;offset=5;category=45

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replacing the Amperand - & with a semi-colon - ;

how is that done?
how do you read out the querystring values?

thanks in adv...

All querystring parameters are stored in the $_GET[] superglobal* array. The parameter delimeter can be set in php.ini, if you really want, but it is immaterial if you use $_GET.

PHP Code:

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$start = $_GET['start']; 


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etc.

Remember if you use GET parameters in SQL queries, to always ensure they are secured. For example, casting to a number for numeric parameters, and enclosing string paremeters in quotes.

So if you were to use 'start' in a SQL query, you would do this:

PHP Code:

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$start = (int) $_GET['start']; 


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* superglobal means you can access it from within a function without having to declare it using the global keyword.

pls explain more...i don't get it

OK...

If you pass this querystring

Code:

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start=10&offset=5&category=45

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and your delimiter is set as '&' (which is default), you can access each parameter like this:

PHP Code:

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$start = $_GET['start'];
$offset = $_GET['offset'];
$category = $_GET['category']; 


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etc.

If you have this querystring

Code:

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start=10;offset=5;category=45

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and the delimiter is set as ';', the same PHP code will yield the same result.

Understand?

There is a setting which can be set in the php.ini file called arg_separator.input. If you don't have access to the php.ini file, you can access the query string through $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING'] and use explode to set up your array:

PHP Code:

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<?php

function parse_custom_query_string($arg_separator = ';', $value_separator = '=') 
{
    $_GET = array(); // clear old $_GET array

    /* separate query string uising the arg_separator */
    $pairs = explode($arg_separator, $_SERVER['QUERY_STRING']); 

    /* loop through each name vlaue pair */
    foreach($pairs as $value) {
        
        /* ignore if no value separator is present */
        if (($pos = strpos($value, $value_separator)) === false) {
            continue;
        }   

        /* extract and decode each componenet */
        $name = urldecode(substr($value, 0, $pos));
        $value = urldecode(substr($value, $pos +1));

        /* add to the $_GET array */
        $_GET[$name] = $value;
    }
}

parse_custom_query_string();
?>

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yeah thats it... works like a charm... thanks visualAd/Penegate