And how exactly does that differ from building the same pizza in different ways? Builder doesn't mean you have to create different objects, it means taking the complexity in building a given object or set of objects and storing it in one place. In your case, it allows you to build your object in different ways while documenting it properly and avoid the huge switch inside your constructor that Nilesh proposed. On 24 March 2010 13:35, Richard Quadling <rquadling@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > On 24 March 2010 12:06, Peter Lind <peter.e.lind@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> Hmmm, that looks to me like you're trying to solve a problem in PHP >> with a c/c++c/# overloading solution. I'd give the builder pattern a >> try instead: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Builder_pattern >> >> On 24 March 2010 13:01, Richard Quadling <rquadling@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >>> Hi. >>> >>> I have a scenario where I would _like_ to have multiple constructors >>> for a class. >>> >>> Each constructor has a greater number of parameters than the previous one. >>> >>> e.g. >>> >>> <?php >>> class myClass { >>> __construct(string $Key) // use key to get the complex details. >>> __construct(string $Part1, string $Part2, string $Part3) // >>> Alternative route to the complex details. >>> __construct(array $Complex) // All the details >>> } >>> >>> Essentially, SimpleKey is a key to a set of predefined rules. Part1, 2 >>> and 3 are the main details and well documented defaults for the rest >>> of the rules. Complex is all the rules. >>> >>> Each constructor will end up with all the parts being known ($Key, >>> $Part1, $Part2, $Part3, $Complex). >>> >>> But, PHP doesn't support multiple constructors. >>> >>> Initially I thought about this ... >>> >>> __construct($Key_Part1_Complex, $Part2=Null, $Part3=Null) >>> >>> But then documenting the first param as being 1 of three different >>> meanings is pretty much a no go. >>> >>> So I'm looking for a clean and easily understood way to provide this. >>> >>> I won't be the only user of the code and not everyone has the same >>> knowledge level, hence a mechanism that is easily documentable. >>> >>> I think I may need a factory with multiple methods (FactoryKey, >>> FactoryPart1To3, FactoryComplex). Make the factory a static/singleton. >>> All these methods eventually call the real class with the complex >>> rule. >>> >>> Is that obvious enough? >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Richard. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> ----- >>> Richard Quadling >>> "Standing on the shoulders of some very clever giants!" >>> EE : http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_248814.html >>> EE4Free : http://www.experts-exchange.com/becomeAnExpert.jsp >>> Zend Certified Engineer : http://zend.com/zce.php?c=ZEND002498&r=213474731 >>> ZOPA : http://uk.zopa.com/member/RQuadling >>> >>> -- >>> PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) >>> To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php >>> >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> <hype> >> WWW: http://plphp.dk / http://plind.dk >> LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/plind >> Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fake51 >> BeWelcome: Fake51 >> Couchsurfing: Fake51 >> </hype> >> > > I'm not building different types of "pizza". Just the same pizza via > different routes. > > Along the lines of ... > > Pizza = new Pizza('MyFavouritePizza') // A ham+pineapple+cheese pizza. > Pizza = new Pizza('ham', 'pineapple', 'cheese'); // A generic > ham+pineapple+cheese pizza > Pizza = new Pizza(array('base' => 'thin', 'toppings' => array('ham', > 'pineapple'), 'cheese'=>true)); // A complex description. > > I suppose the interfaces are beginner, intermediate and advanced, but > ultimately all generate identical objects. > > Richard. > > -- > ----- > Richard Quadling > "Standing on the shoulders of some very clever giants!" > EE : http://www.experts-exchange.com/M_248814.html > EE4Free : http://www.experts-exchange.com/becomeAnExpert.jsp > Zend Certified Engineer : http://zend.com/zce.php?c=ZEND002498&r=213474731 > ZOPA : http://uk.zopa.com/member/RQuadling > -- <hype> WWW: http://plphp.dk / http://plind.dk LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/plind Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fake51 BeWelcome: Fake51 Couchsurfing: Fake51 </hype> -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
