How does facebook do this?

[diabolo]

It first started with this: http://forums.x10hosting.com/programming-help/100402-how-does-facebook-do.html

Misson was able to show me how to do it using isset(), but making a new if statement for each 'parameter' was very tiring and confusing. But misson also mentioned using array_keys()

I tried this out:

print_r(array_keys($_REQUEST));

and got this

Array (     [0] => compose [1] => account_php?compose     [2] => start )

so I tried calling upon, $_REQUEST[0], but that did nothing.

So does anyone have a solution that I can use that I would not need to make a new if statement for each parameter?

 

[Gouri]

I think you have to use $_GET(REQUEST_URI)

and use explode to get string by string.

As registered globals are off.

 

[descalzo]

Exactly what do you want to do?

 

[diabolo]

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?compose&ref=mb
how does FB pass "compose" in php?
because the variable compose is not set to anything.

misson showed me how to do it using isset(), but that would mean I would have to create a new if statement for each one I want to pass. I want a way so that I can just find out what its looking for and include the necessary files for it.

 

[descalzo]

   # legal options
$permitted = array( 'compose' , 'destroy', 'giggle', 'whistle' );
   # all options sent
$submitted = array_keys( $_GET ) ;
   # legal options sent
$ok_submitted = array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted ) ;

foreach( $ok_submitted as $option ){

  // Do something with $option
}

 

[diabolo]

   # legal options
$permitted = array( 'compose' , 'destroy', 'giggle', 'whistle' );
   # all options sent
$submitted = array_keys( $_GET ) ;
   # legal options sent
$ok_submitted = array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted ) ;

foreach( $ok_submitted as $option ){

  // Do something with $option
}

thank you!

another thing popped up. what happens if some sob comes and tries to use:
site.php?calendar&staff

I need a fail-safe so that it only executes the first command. but as far as i know foreach does not have a way to stop it, unlike while().

 

[descalzo]

thank you!

another thing popped up. what happens if some sob comes and tries to use:
site.php?calendar&staff

I need a fail-safe so that it only executes the first command. but as far as i know foreach does not have a way to stop it, unlike while().

If you want just one option executed:

   # legal options
$permitted = array( 'compose' , 'destroy', 'giggle', 'whistle' );
   # all options sent
$submitted = array_keys( $_GET ) ;
   # legal options sent
$ok_submitted = array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted ) ;
 
## INSERT A TEST TO MAKE SURE AT LEAST ONE OPTION
 
foreach( $ok_submitted as $option ){
 
  // Do something with $option
 
  break ;  # STOP AFTER ONE
}

Does not guarantee which will be executed.

If you list the options in order you want to perform, then something like

   # legal options
$permitted = array( 'compose' , 'destroy', 'giggle', 'whistle' );
   # all options sent
$submitted = array_keys( $_GET ) ;
   # legal options sent
 
$found_option = false ;
 
foreach( $permitted as $option ){
 
    if( in_array(  $option , $submitted ) ){
        # DO SOMETHING WITH $option
        $found_option = true ;
        break;
    }
 
} 
 
# HANDLE CASE WHERE $found_option is false

 

[diabolo]

thank again

# legal options
$permitted = array( 'compose' , 'destroy', 'giggle', 'whistle' );
   # all options sent
$submitted = array_keys( $_GET ) ;
   # legal options sent
$ok_submitted = array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted ) ;
 
$numOptionSel = count($ok_submitted);
if($numOptionSel == 1) {
   foreach($ok_submitted as $option) {
   echo $option;
   }
   echo 'working...';
} else {
   echo 'Stop messing around with my script!';
}

I just need to add some more fail-safes and errors, but thank you for your help
+REP

 

[xav0989]

Also, provide a default option that is displayed when no option is specified.

 

[diabolo]

Also, provide a default option that is displayed when no option is specified.

good point.
this is what I got

# legal options 
$permitted = array( 'compose' , 'destroy', 'giggle', 'whistle' ); 
   # all options sent 
$submitted = array_keys( $_GET ) ; 
   # legal options sent 
$ok_submitted = array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted ) ; 
  
$numOptionSel = count($ok_submitted); 
if($numOptionSel == 1) { 
   foreach($ok_submitted as $option) { 
   echo $option; 
   } 
   echo 'working...'; 
} elseif($numOptionSel == 0) {
   # if $submitted is not in $permitted
   echo 'Invalid Error Performed.';
} else { 
   echo 'Stop messing around with my script!'; 
}

how would I add a if statement for no parameter being passed?
right now, "} elseif($numOptionSel == 0) {" is picking it up

 

[misson]

Here's yet another way of handling multiple options and setting a default:

$permitted = array( 'calendar' , 'staff', 'news', 'profile' );
$submitted = array_keys( $_GET ) ;
# add default action of 'compose'
$submitted[] = 'news';
//either:
# legal options sent
$ok_submitted = array_values(array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted )) ;
# take the first action, ignore the rest
$action = $ok_submitted[0];
//or:
list($i, $ok_submitted) = each(array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted ));

If you don't want to allow a visitor to specify more than one option in the query string, error on count($ok_submitted > 2).

 

[diabolo]

Here's yet another way of handling multiple options and setting a default:

$permitted = array( 'calendar' , 'staff', 'news', 'profile' );
$submitted = array_keys( $_GET ) ;
# add default action of 'compose'
$submitted[] = 'news';
//either:
# legal options sent
$ok_submitted = array_values(array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted )) ;
# take the first action, ignore the rest
$action = $ok_submitted[0];
//or:
list($i, $ok_submitted) = each(array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted ));

If you don't want to allow a visitor to specify more than one option in the query string, error on count($ok_submitted > 2).

it seems to not be working for me.

$permitted = array('general', 'calendar', 'staff', 'events', 'history');
$submitted = array_keys( $_GET ) ;
# add default action of 'compose'
$submitted[] = 'general';
//either:
# legal options sent
$ok_submitted = array_values(array_intersect( $permitted , $submitted )) ;
# take the first action, ignore the rest
$action = $ok_submitted[0];

echo $action;
echo '<br />';
echo 'working';

when I add in:

$submitted[] = 'general';

it overides all other settings

 

[descalzo]

Reorder the first array

$permitted = array( 'calendar', 'staff', 'events', 'history' , 'general' );

 

[xav0989]

Your default action should be the last one.

 

[misson]

Whoops... I had $permitted and $submitted in the wrong order in the call to array_intersect(...). It preserves the element order for the first argument. The line should have read:

$ok_submitted = array_values(array_intersect( $submitted, $permitted )) ;

Calls to var_dump() (such as var_dump($ok_submitted);) are very useful in a case like this.
Edit:
Whoops... I had $permitted and $submitted in the wrong order in the call to array_intersect(...). It preserves the element order for the first argument. The line should have read:

$ok_submitted = array_values(array_intersect( $submitted, $permitted )) ;

Calls to var_dump() (such as var_dump($ok_submitted);) are very useful in a case like this.

Just goes to show the importance of testing, which I neglected for once.

 

[leonard9]

Thanks for the turt it works and it helped alot

 

[diabolo]

Sorry for digging up this thread.
But I've never said thank you to you guys yet and gratitude is due.

so thank you.