How can I get the data out of this string that has been serialize I need to get it into an array so I can access the data with something like $testdata[1] I have tried $testdata= unserialize($testdata); also $sst= base64_encode(serialize($testdata)); $testdata1= unserialize(base64_decode($sst)); I ether get an error bool(false) or the same data back. I do not have control of the script that serializes it $testdata='a:17:{s:11:"event_start";s:4:"2230";s:9:"event_end";s:4:"2300";s: 14:"start_unixtime";i:1173076200;s:12:"end_unixtime";i:1173078000;s:10:"even t_text";s:37:"Call+NANCYADKINS+-+%28276%29+681-6548";s:12:"event_length";i:1 800;s:13:"event_overlap";i:0;s:11:"description";s:17:"This+is+test+Data";s:6 :"status";s:0:"";s:5:"class";s:7:"CONTACT";s:9:"spans_day";b:0;s:8:"location ";s:0:"";s:9:"organizer";s:6:"a:0:{}";s:8:"attendee";s:6:"a:0:{}";s:9:"calnu mber";i:1;s:7:"calname";s:5:"admin";s:3:"url";s:0:""';