> On Jul 27, 2019, at 8:47 PM, LinuxManMikeC <linuxmanmikec@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Functions don't automatically have access to global variables. Use the 'global' keyword to declare what global variables you're going to use in your function. > > function nav_list() { > global $auth_array; > // Code... > } > Also it will make a difference WHERE nav_list is defined: If it is defined in a separate script file and included or required by the calling script, it will not have access to $auth_array unless you define it as an argument to nav_list and pass it in when nav_list is called. The only way I know how to make a variable visible without having to pass it by reference is class sampleClass { private static $test = 'Orange'; public function showTest() { return self::$test; } } $test = new samleClass() print $test->showTest(); // 'Orange' In your case function nav_list($arrayArg) { // code } nav_list($auth_array) //>> assuming this call is made in the scope where $auth_array is defined ready to use. > https://www.php.net/manual/en/language.variables.scope.php > > On Sat, Jul 27, 2019, 19:47 John <john.iliffe@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > There is probably another way to do this but I have spent a good few hours > trying to resolve it and I think there is something wrong with the way I > understand the scope of variables in PHP, so an answer would be appreciated. > > I have a PHP (7.1.3) programme that opens a database during initialization, > gathers an associative array of variables (pg_fetch_array) and then closes the > database. The array name is $auth_array. During actual display of the page the > values of the elements of the array are used to control what is (not) displayed > and lookup of the values is done using a separate function. > > At this point I can print_r() the array and it contains what I expect. > > In the next line, I call a user-defined function nav_list() where this array is > used in the form $auth_array['column name']. At this point I get a PHP error > "Got error 'PHP message: PHP Notice: Undefined variable: auth_array in > /httpd/myprogramme/yrarcex.php on line 74\nPHP message: PHP Notice: Undefined > variable: auth_array .... . At this point I cannot print_r the array, the same > undefined variable message appears. > > I expected that auth_array would be in global scope. > > so I tried calling nav_list() with no arguments, then with the name of the array > as the only argument, and with the address of the array (&$auth_array) and also > with the explicit cast nav_list(array $auth_array) and I always get the same > error message. (not a data type error as suggested in the docs). > > So far as I can see I am following the online documentation at > > https://www.php.net/manual/en/functions.arguments.php > > exactly. > > The definition of nav_list() is; > > function nav_list() > { > if ($auth_array['u_....'] == 't') <---- this is line 74 as shown in the error > { > // display something > } > } > >