array_merge_recursive again

Hi again, all -- Thanks to Mike pointing out my huge overlooking of the obvious, I'm tinkering with array_merge_recursive for my parsed ini files. I still have some undesired behavior, though. The idea is that I'll have a host-wide master ini file where I set defaults (tools to use, colors, session name, ...), a site-wide ini file where the client sets his defaults (name, contact numbers, tag line, ...), and a a per-directory ini file where things can be tweaked for a special case. Using array_merge_recursive I am able to combine all of these things; yay. The problem is when I have something like host.ini: ... listcols = 2 ... site.ini ... listcols = 3 ... In that case, instead of stepping on the old listcols value, I suddenly have an indexed array $listcols which points to the various values! Maybe I do need to write my own parser because of these perhaps-special requirements. Maybe I'm also approaching it in the wrong way, though; I find it hard to believe that I'm the first person to need this sort of functionality. The bottom line of what I need is: - a cascading parameter framework giving more precedence to more localized settings (ie the per-directory file) - something easy enough to parse that I can build a 'settings' web page, accept input, and rewrite the file (at least, I think that's a complete spec ;-) Anyone have any ideas? TIA again & HAND :-D -- David T-G * There is too much animal courage in (play) davidtg@justpickone.org * society and not sufficient moral courage. (work) davidtgwork@justpickone.org -- Mary Baker Eddy, "Science and Health" http://justpickone.org/davidtg/ Shpx gur Pbzzhavpngvbaf Qrprapl Npg!