Re: problem with embeded objects and reference

Vincent Dupont wrote:

Hi, could anyone help on this 'by reference' problem. I have 2 classes. The main class as a child class. The child class has properties (array) I would like to be able to manipulate the child's properties even after the child has been inserted into the main class. Does this make sense? I can do it with by getting a reference of the child class, then setting the property,like : $tmp = & $main->getChild(); //get a reference to the child object $tmp->setProperty("forth");//ok OR $main->setChildProperty("third"); //ok but Whyt can't I do it directly by calling a reference to the child, like in : $child1->setproperty("second"); //The property is not set or not displayed I know I need a reference to the child class that is within the maoin class, but HOW?? Here is a complete example <?php class class1{ var $child; //array function class1(){ $this->properties = array(); } //set the child object (class2) function & setChild($child){ $this->child=$child; } //get the child object (class2), and call its setProperty method function setChildProperty($prop){ $theChild = & $this->child; $theChild->setProperty($prop); } //return a reference to the child object function & getChild(){ return $this->child; } //print the child object properties function display(){ $this->child->toString(); } } class class2{ var $properties; //array function class2(){ $this->properties = array(); } function & setProperty($new_property){ $this->properties[] = $new_property; } function & getProperty($index){ return $this->properties[$index]; } function toString(){ print_r($this->properties); } } $main = & new class1(); $child1 = & new class2(); $child1->setproperty("first");//displayed $main->setChild($child1); $child1->setproperty("second"); //NOT DISPLAYED $main->setChildProperty("third"); //displayed $tmp = & $main->getChild(); //get a reference to the child object $tmp->setProperty("forth");//displayed $main->display(); //output : Array ( [0] => first [1] => third [2] => forth ) ?>

Hallo. Thogh I am not really sure if this solves your problem, but you should take a closer look at your method setChild(). Your parent-class has a property which you want to be an array. [snip] var $child; //array [/snip] But setChild() turns it into an object since the passed parameter ($child) is an object. [snip] $this->child=$child; [/snip] You should rather use something like array_push() or just $this->child[] = $child; Daniel -- WWE e-commerce IT GmbH Eiffestrasse 462, D-20537 Hamburg Tel.: +49-40-2530659-0, Fax: +49-40-2530659-50