submitting arrays

[sde]

I have an array that i need to submit to the next page.

<form method=post action=test.php>

<input type=hidden name=questionArray[] value=$ob->questionArray>

<input type=submit value=\"Start Test >>\">

</form>

on the next page, .. when i print $questionArray[0] , it just returns the word "Array"

i've done this many times before, i can't figure out why it isn't working.

and btw.. $ob->questionArray is a valid array. on the same page of this form, i am looping the array and printing the results.

[sdeming]

I believe that the above code is setting the first element of questionArray to the array $ob->questionArray.

I'm pretty sure you have to set each element specifically:

<input type=hidden name=questionArray[0] value=$ob->questionArray[0]>
<input type=hidden name=questionArray[1] value=$ob->questionArray[1]>

etc. You could pretty easily build a foreach loop that did this for you.

[sde]

thanks scott .. i thought there was another way... i guess it is just when you are generating an array inside the form itself.. kinda like a select field.

anyhow, here is the code that worked:

 
$i=0;		
foreach($ob->questionArray as $each)
{
  echo "<input type=hidden name=questionArray[$i] value=$each>";
  $i++;
}

[abc123]

$ob->questionArray is a reference to an array right? probably when you print it out:

echo $ob->questionArray

you will also get "Array"... maybe there is a way of sending its actually refence value, much like in c++ or java, and then constructing a new array from this value.. but I don't think php would allow that level of access to the memory and im not even sure if the memory would hang around once the page has been left (probably loses scope) maybe try setting a global variable somewhere (like the application or session objects in ASP) and then trying the memory stuff

however that is probably way to complicated to bother with.

[sde]

yes abc, you are right. echo $ob->questionArray would print "array" , however echo $ob->questionArray[0] would print my first test question id.

<input type=hidden name=questionArray[] value=$ob->questionArray> " ... now when i send this in a form, one might think that "$questionArray[0]" would print out the first test question also on the page it was submiited to, .. but it did not. it printed "Array".

i am familiar with how you would manipulate arrays in c++ by pointers, however php executes once and generates your page. after your page is generated, your program is done. you rely on your browser for any type of variables. you don't have the luxory of keeping your program running in between pages.

well, .. if you count sessions, but that is not the same. sessions are definately an alternative. i could register the array in a session, but i didn't want to do that. i was hoping i could simple pass an array through a form using a hidden field without a loop.

the loop works fine though.

thanks for the input !