Is this a Bug? HTTP_POST_VARS weirdness in PHP4.03/4.04

Hi, I was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same problem. I have upgraded from 4.02 to 4.03pl1 and now my forms are broken. I have a script structure like so: <?php // some function declarations and includes go here // script mainline // was form submitted? if (isset($HTTP_POST_VARS)) { if (!$retval = validate_form($HTTP_POST_VARS)) { // Houston, we have a problem... print $retval["errmsg"]; } else { // poke data into database & display confirmation/error $postval = postData($retval["postData"]); print $postval["errmsg"]; } } else { // display the form print input_form(); } ?> For some strange reason, php4.03 (& 4.04dev) seems to think that $HTTP_POST_VARS is set, the first time the page is called. It never ever drops into the else condition on the first call. Using if ($REQUEST_METHOD=="POST") allows me to get around the problem for now, but that means changing a whole swag of scripts. Can anyone explain to me why this behaviour has changed? Or is it a bug? Thanks. Ignatius Teo G2 Project Manager Web Development & Online Technologies Group Snail: Information Technology Directorate Southern Cross University PO Box 157, Lismore NSW 2480 Voice: +61 2 6620-3221 Fax : +61 2 6620-3033 Email:iteo@scu.edu.au