PHP - There Are In And Out Parameters In Php Functions?

I've been wasting time reinventing the wheel with this one so I'd greatly appreciate if people here could share how they deal with this. So heres an example class:

class VarDataClass {
	
	private $module = 'show_vars';
	public $category = 'DEFAULT CATEGORY';
	public $title = 'DEFAULT TITLE';
        public $option2 = 'DEFAULT VALUE';
        public $show = 'SOMETHING';
	public $output = 'box';
	
	public $_settings = array(
		'category' => 'DEFAULT CATEGORY',
		'title' => 'DEFAULT TITLE',
		'option2' => 'DEFAULT VALUE',
		'show' => 'SOMETHING',
		'output' => 'box'
	);

       public function __constructor($options = array()) {

       }
       //   some functions
}

So the $options parameter in the constructor contains all the custom settings for the class instance, lets say in this case they're all optional. Since they're all optional I made that $_settings array have default values. And for this example, I added another way I could do it, by adding the variables individually rather than as part of the settings array. So I'm wondering whats the best way to replace the default values with any values that the user happens to input. Is a list of variables easier, or is the $_settings array the way to go?   I think the settings array would be the way to do it, so I'm thinking I should make some option setter function, but whats the easiest way to do that? Should I loop through every key in the settings array, and check if that key is present in the $options variable that the user input? Or is there some kind of array_replace function I can use that will set all the options in one go without having to use a loop?   Another issue is its a pain in the ass for the user to input an associative array, its much easier to just to

$object = new VarDataClass('CATEGORY','TITLE');

etc. but then the problem is if they only want to set say the two last options, they'd have to do

VarDataClass('','','','SHOW','OUTPUT');

Basically I'm just looking for the most evolved way to handle these optional functions so I don't have to reinvent the wheel myself.
Edited by entheologist, 29 August 2014 - 10:55 AM.

I am calling CURL and trying to do a POST request with parameters:

Code: [Select]
$curl = curl_init();
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, Array("Accept: application/json", "Content-Type: application/json"));
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_CONNECTTIMEOUT, 15);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, 1);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, true);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_USERAGENT, "curl 7.23.1 (x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu)");
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "username:password");
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_URL, "https://www.mydomain.com/route");
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, "key1=blah1&key2=blah2");
return curl_exec(curl);

The problem, inside the request at http://www.mydomain.com/route I am not seeing any POST parameters passed. I.E.

Code: [Select]
    print_r($_POST);

Code: [Select]
Array
(
)

Should have key1=blah1 and key2=blah2. Any ideas?

I have some function or method.  Is there a better design patter to implement this?

function myFunction($a=null,$b=null,$c=null,$d=null,$e=null,$f=null,$g=null,$h=null)
{
   //Do a bunch of stuff
}

Maybe the second function?

function myNewFunction($data=array())
{
   $data=array_merge(array('a'=>null,'b'=>null,'c'=>null,'d'=>null,'e'=>null,'f'=>null,'g'=>null,'h'=>null),$array);
   //Do a bunch of stuff
}

Please provide decision making factors why you would use one approach over the other.

I have a script I am putting together that simulate a cricket game. The only issue is, that there are a huge number of functions because there doesn't seem to be any other way to do this properly. As well as this, there a while() loop and all this seems to be leading to the page reaching a max 30 second timeout when generating the result.

My code is attached below, it is quite messy at the moment because i've just be working on it, but I was wondering if anyone has any solutions of how I can speed this up or change to prevent a timeout:

<?php
// Error reporting
error_reporting(E_ALL);

// Connect DB
mysql_connect("wickettowicket.adminfuel.com", "rockinaway", "preetha6488") or die(mysql_error());

// Select DB
mysql_select_db("wickettowicket") or die(mysql_error());

// MySQL queries to find batsmen and bowlers 
$array_batsmen = mysql_query('SELECT id, name, ability, strength FROM wtw_players WHERE team_id = 1 ORDER BY id ASC');
$array_bowlers = mysql_query('SELECT id, name, ability, strength FROM wtw_players WHERE team_id = 2');

// Start table for data 
$data = '<table width="600px">';

// Create blank scorecard
while ($array_bat = mysql_fetch_array($array_batsmen))
{
$data .= '<tr><td>'.$array_bat['name'].'</td><td></td><td></td><td>0</td></tr>';
}

// Set up arrays for players 
$current_batsman = $current_bowler = array();

// Reset query
mysql_data_seek($array_batsmen,0);

$in_one = $in_two = $it = '';

function currentBatsman($id, $name, $ability, $strength, $out, $in, $runs)
{
global $current_batsman;


$current_batsman = array (
'id' => $id,
'name' => $name,
'ability' => $ability,
'strength' => $strength,
'out' => $out,
'in' => $in,
'runs' => $runs
);

echo 'set current';
}

// Set up arrays of batsmen
while ($array = mysql_fetch_array($array_batsmen))
{

if ($it < 3 && $in_one == '') 
{
currentBatsman($array['id'], $array['name'], $array['ability'], $array['strength'], 0, 1, 0);

$batsmen[$array['id']] = array (
'id' => $array['id'],
'name' => $array['name'],
'ability' => $array['ability'],
'strength' => $array['strength'],
'out' => 0,
'in' => 1,
'runs' => 0
);

$in_one = $array['id'];
$current = $array['id'];
$it++;
}
else if ($it < 3 && $in_two == '') 
{
$batsmen[$array['id']] = array (
'id' => $array['id'],
'name' => $array['name'],
'ability' => $array['ability'],
'strength' => $array['strength'],
'out' => 0,
'in' => 1,
'runs' => 0
);

$in_two = $array['id'];
$it++;
}
else 
{
$batsmen[$array['id']] = array (
'id' => $array['id'],
'name' => $array['name'],
'ability' => $array['ability'],
'strength' => $array['strength'],
'out' => 0,
'in' => 0,
'runs' => 0
);
}

}

// Bowler Array
while ($array = mysql_fetch_array($array_bowlers))
{
$bowlers[] = array (
'name' => $array['name'],
'ability' => $array['ability'],
'strength' => $array['strength']
);

}

// Reset both queries
mysql_data_seek($array_bowlers,0);
mysql_data_seek($array_batsmen,0);



function changeBatsman($just_out)
{
global $array_batsmen, $batsmen; 

//Update array
$batsmen[$just_out] = array (
'in' => 1,
'out' =>  1
);

while ($array = mysql_fetch_array($array_batsmen))
{
if ($just_out != $array['id'] && $batsmen[$array['id']]['out'] != 0) currentBatsman($array['id'], $array['name'], $array['ability'], $array['strength'], 0, 1, 0);
}

// Reset query
mysql_data_seek($array_batsmen,0);

echo 'change batsman';
}

function swapBatsman($other_batsman)
{
global $array_batsmen, $batsman; 

while ($array = mysql_fetch_array($array_batsmen))
{
if ($other_batsman != $array['id'] && $batsman[$array['id']]['out'] != 0 && $batsman[$array['id']]['in'] == 1) currentBatsman($array['id'], $array['name'], $array['ability'], $array['strength'], 0, 1, 0);
}

// Reset query
mysql_data_seek($array_batsmen,0);

echo 'swap batsman';
}

$runs = $outs = $balls = $overs = 0;

$played = array();

function selectBowler()
{
global $bowlers, $current_bowler;

// Select random bowler
$choose_bowler = array_rand($bowlers, 1);

$current_bowler = array (
'name' => $bowlers[$choose_bowler]['name'],
'ability' => $bowlers[$choose_bowler]['ability'],
'strength' => $bowlers[$choose_bowler]['strength']
);

 

}

/*
function selectBatsman();
{
global $array_batsmen;

while ($array_batsmen[]['out'] != 1)
{


}*/

function bowl()
{
global $batsmen, $bowlers, $current_bowler, $current_batsman, $data, $balls, $outs, $runs;

if ($current_batsman['out'] == 0)
{
echo 'bowling';
// Set the initial number
$number = rand(0, 190);

// Ability of batsman
if ($current_batsman['ability'] > 90) $number += 30;
else if ($current_batsman['ability'] > 70) $number += 15;
else if ($current_batsman['ability'] > 50) $number += 2;
else $number = $number;

// Strength of batsman
if ($current_batsman['strength'] > 90) $number += 15;
else if ($current_batsman['strength'] > 70) $number += 10;
else if ($current_batsman['strength'] > 50) $number += 5;
else $number = $number;

// Depending on overs
if ($balls > 270) $number += 30;
else if ($balls > 120) $number -= 10;

// Ability
if ($current_bowler['ability'] > 90) $number -= 30;
else if ($current_bowler['ability'] > 70) $number -= 15;
else if ($current_bowler['ability'] > 50) $number -= 2;
else $number = $number;

// If batsman has made a huge total of runs, we need to knock some numbers off - more likely to get out
if ($current_batsman['runs'] > 200) $number -= 70;
else if ($current_batsman['runs'] > 100) $number -= 30;

// Finally sort out runs
if ($number > 190) $run = 6;
else if ($number > 170) $run = 4;
else if ($number > 160) $run = 3;
else if ($number > 100) $run = 2;
else if ($number > 50) $run = 1;
else if ($number > 10) $run = 0;
else if ($balls > 120 && $number > 0) $run = 0;
else $run = -1;

// Increase number of balls
$balls += 1;

// Are they out?
if ($run == -1)
{
$current_batsman['out'] = 1;

$played[] = $current_batsman['id'];
$find = '<tr><td>'.$current_batsman['name'].'</td><td></td><td></td><td>0</td></tr>';
$replace = '<tr><td>'.$current_batsman['name'].'</td><td></td><td>'.$current_bowler['name'].'</td><td>'.$current_batsman['runs'].'</td></tr>';

$data = str_replace($find, $replace, $data);


changeBatsman($current_batsman['id']); 



echo 'out';

}
else
{
$current_batsman['runs'] += $run;
$runs += $run;

if ($run == 1 || $run == 3)
{
swapBatsman($current_batsman['id']);
echo 'time to swap';
}

echo $run;


}

// Count outs
if ($current_batsman['out'] == 1)
$outs += 1;


}
}

function game()
{
global $main, $batsmen, $bowlers, $data, $batted, $balls, $outs, $current_batsman;

// Check if possible
while ($balls <= 295 && $outs < 10)
{

selectBowler();

// Actually bowl now

bowl();


}


}


game();



echo $data;

I teaching myself php, but I am coming from java and other compiled languages, so the process has been a little bumpy. I am trying to do something like this:

Code: [Select]
class my_class
{

  function one ()
  {
     $two = two ();

     $three = three ();

     $five = $two + $three;

     return $five;
  }

  function two ()
  {
     $two = 2;

    return $two;
  }
 
  function three ()
  {
     $three = 3;

     return $three;
  }
}


Unfortunately, I keep getting an error message saying that my call to two () is an undefined function. I am gathering from this that the scope of one () is not aware of the existence of two (). Is there a way to get around this so I can call two () and three () from one ()?