Function parameter

[Michael Kochendoerfer]

Hi,

I'm new to PHP and have a small problem. Assume you define a function
that is called with a constant as parameter. Within that function, based
on some condition it calls itself recursively. Example:

<?php

function Test($firstcall) {
echo "(enter) firstcall=$firstcall<br>\n";

if (some_condition) {
Test(0);
}

echo "(leave) firstcall=$firstcall<br>\n";
}

Test(1);

?>

I need that variable/parameter before and after the main part of the
function. For the first call, the (enter) output shows that $firstcall=1,
but the (leave) always shows $firstcall=0, if the function has been
called recursively. I don't use parameters by reference but by value. So
how must I declare $firstcall correctly to maintain its content within
subsequent calls?
As tha parameter name says, it only should be 1 for the first (= the
outside) call.

Thanks for enlightening a newbie :-)

- Michael

[Tom Thackrey]

On 26-Sep-2003, Michael Kochendoerfer <mk@isp.hem.de> wrote:

> I'm new to PHP and have a small problem. Assume you define a function
> that is called with a constant as parameter. Within that function, based
> on some condition it calls itself recursively. Example:
>
> <?php
>
> function Test($firstcall) {
> echo "(enter) firstcall=$firstcall<br>\n";
>
> if (some_condition) {
> Test(0);
> }
>
> echo "(leave) firstcall=$firstcall<br>\n";
> }
>
> Test(1);
>
> ?>
>
> I need that variable/parameter before and after the main part of the
> function. For the first call, the (enter) output shows that $firstcall=1,
> but the (leave) always shows $firstcall=0, if the function has been
> called recursively. I don't use parameters by reference but by value. So
> how must I declare $firstcall correctly to maintain its content within
> subsequent calls?
> As tha parameter name says, it only should be 1 for the first (= the
> outside) call.

Are you sure you get firstcall=0 from the first iteration?

I tried your code, after changing the condition to i($firstcall==1), and got
the following:
<?php

function Test($firstcall) {
echo "(enter) firstcall=$firstcall<br>\n";

if ($firstcall==1) {
Test(0);
}

echo "(leave) firstcall=$firstcall<br>\n";
}

Test(1);

?>

(enter) firstcall=1
(enter) firstcall=0
(leave) firstcall=0
(leave) firstcall=1


--
Tom Thackrey
[url]www.creative-light.com[/url]