PHP: Possible to make value increment in a string?

Mr. Loverman · 27-04-2011 09:37PM #1

Hi all

I hope someone can help me with this.

I have a string like this in a text file:

[PHP]
some random text $i some random text
[/PHP]

I read it into a script and assign it to $variable:

[PHP]
$variable = "some random text $i some random text";
[/PHP]

Question:

Using $variable, is there any way I could output the following text?

[PHP]
some random text 1 some random text
some random text 2 some random text
some random text 3 some random text
some random text 4 some random text
[/PHP]

Note I cannot predict what the random text will be, but I know for sure "$i" will be in there somewhere.

I have tried using something like this, but obviously it will only work for $i specifically, it can't be used to convert "1" into "2", etc.

[PHP]
$variable = str_replace("$i", "1", $variable)
[/PHP]

Does anyone have any ideas how I can do this?

Thanks!

Webmonkey · 27-04-2011 10:20PM

I'm confused.

What about

[php]
for ($i = 0; $i < 10; ++$i)
{
$variable = "some random text $i some random text";
print $variable."<br />";
}
[/php]

Ah sorry I get you. You could run eval() on the string.
Look here:
http://php.net/manual/en/function.eval.php

[php]
<?php
$string = 'cup';
$name = 'coffee';
$str = 'This is a $string with my $name in it.';
echo $str. "\n";
eval("\$str = \"$str\";");
echo $str. "\n";
?>
[/php]

Mr. Loverman · 27-04-2011 10:29PM

Sweet, eval() looks like just what I need.

I had come up with an independent solution using a combination of strpos, str_replace and substr_replace, but it is crazy complicated. I will use eval() instead.

Cheers!

Mr. Loverman · 27-04-2011 11:06PM

Sorry I think I'm a bit thick. Could you please help me with this?

If I have the following:

[php]
$variable = "some random text $i some random text";

// The text "some random text $i some random text" was read in from a file using a regular expression
[/php]

How do I get the following to work?

[php]
$variable = "some random text $i some random text";
$i = 7;
$string = eval('return $variable;');
echo $string;

// Output is "some random text 7 some random text";
[/php]

Maybe I'm just getting confused. I have a feeling what I want to do is easy but I'm over thinking it.

Webmonkey · 27-04-2011 11:21PM

Try this
[php]
$variable = 'some random text $i some random text';
$i = 7;
$string;
eval("\$string = \"$variable\";");
echo $string;

// Output is "some random text 7 some random text";

[/php]

Gordon · 27-04-2011 11:25PM

This?

[php]
<?php
$str = 'some random text $i some random text';
$i = 7;
eval("\$str = \"$str\";");
echo $str. "\n";
?> [/php]

Mr. Loverman · 28-04-2011 12:16AM

Webmonkey wrote: »

Try this
[php]
$variable = 'some random text $i some random text';
$i = 7;
$string;
eval("\$string = \"$variable\";");
echo $string;

// Output is "some random text 7 some random text";

[/php]

That worked. I love you, I really do! :pac:

Webmonkey · 28-04-2011 12:17AM

Ha ha thanks. Gordons worked too though

Good luck.

PHP: Possible to make value increment in a string?

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