Variable Troubleshooting Code

[Donovan Brooke <lists@xxxxxxx>]

Hello!,
I work in another language mostly and often develop while displaying 
variables (post,get,and defined) and their values at the bottom of the 
page or in specific places. So, I thought I'd forward my PHP version as 
an effort of good Karma to the list perhaps! ;-)

Below is 2 simple functions that are helpful for troubleshooting while 
developing. Just place this code into a .php file and require it at the 
top of any PHP page. Then, at the bottom of the page, or in a specific 
(more pertinent) location, call the functions with something like this:

------------
<?PHP
//troubleshooting code
print '<br /><b>Testing:</b><p>';
		
print htmlentities(list_formvars());
		
print htmlentities(list_vars(get_defined_vars()));
		
print '</p>';
?>
-------------

Optionally, you can call only specific naming conventions of your 
variables (if you use them).. ie:

print htmlentities(list_vars(get_defined_vars(),'t_'));

The above will display all defined vars such as:

t_name=<value>
t_city=<value>
t_address=<value>

etc..


Code:
-----------------------------------
/*
FUNCTION NAME: list_formvars
   INPUT: optional <begins with> var
   OUTPUT: <Name> = <Value> <br />
         <Name> = <Value> <br />
   USE: For troubleshooting code

   Example Use:
      list_formvars();
      list_formvars('f_a');

*/function list_formvars($pmatch = null) {
   print "<br /><b>'get' Vars:</b><br />";
   foreach ($_GET as $key => $value) {
            if (isset($pmatch)) {
               if (substr($key,0,strlen($pmatch)) == $pmatch) {
                  print "$key = $value<br />";
               }
            } else {
               print "$key = $value<br />";
            }
         }

   print "<br /><b>'post' Vars:</b><br />";
   foreach ($_POST as $key => $value) {
            if (isset($pmatch)) {
               if (substr($key,0,strlen($pmatch)) == $pmatch) {
                  print "$key = $value<br />";
               }
            } else {
               print "$key = $value<br />";
            }
         }
}/*
FUNCTION NAME: list_vars
   INPUT: get_defined_vars(),<begins with> match
   OUTPUT: <Name> = <Value> <br />
         <Name> = <Value> <br />
   USE: For troubleshooting code

   Example Use:
      list_vars(get_defined_vars());
      list_vars(get_defined_vars(),'t_');
*/function list_vars($a_vars,$pmatch = null) {
      print "<br /><b>'defined' Vars:</b><br />";
         foreach ($a_vars as $key => $value) {
            if (isset($pmatch)) {
               if (substr($key,0,strlen($pmatch)) == $pmatch) {
                  print "$key = $value<br />";
               }
            } else {
               print "$key = $value<br />";
            }
         }
}
------------------------------------------------

Cheers,
Donovan


P.S. Always open to good criticism if you peeps see something that can 
be written better.. this is about my 3rd PHP project only... so, still 
heavily learning ;-)


--
D Brooke

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