Illegal string offset when using string to reference array

Question

I have classes, each with a date related member variable that always has the same naming format - field_{$node->type}_date

For example, if I my node type was 'car', the date field would be named field_car_date

So I am looping over all my nodes and I want to access the date related field for each of them. However I am getting an error. Here's the code

$date_field_key = 'field_' . $node->type . '_date';
if (isset($node->$date_field_key['und'][0]['value'])) {

I get an error because of the second line. The error is - Illegal string offset 'und' The date related variable is an array and it does have an element with the key 'und'. If I write out the line explicitly - $node->field_car_date['und'][0]['value'] - it works fine. It's just when I dynamically create the field name that I get this problem.

Any solution for this, is my syntax incorrect?

The syntax is not incorrect, but you express something else with it as you obviously intend to. — hakre
– hakre, Commented Aug 12, 2012 at 20:05

David · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-12 20:09:47Z

5

You need to surround you key value in {} because it's a dynamically-assigned variable.

In your second line, you have $node->$date_field_key['und'][0]['value'] where you should have:

$node->{$date_field_key}['und'][0]['value']

Notice the {} surrounding the date_field_key

Good luck!

edited Aug 12, 2012 at 20:09

answered Aug 12, 2012 at 20:00

David

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3 Comments

hakre Over a year ago

Try: $node->{$date_field_key}['und'][0]['value'] instead.

hakre Over a year ago

I'm pretty sure that is not called objet declaration. A little bit more precision with an answer won't be bad, because it is an answer and others expect a certain level of guidance with it.

David Over a year ago

You seem to be following me around today, hakra :)

hakre · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-12 20:03:04Z

2

There is no reason to spare the variable:

$array = $this->$date_field_key;
$value = $array['und'][0]['value'];

If you get it to work, we then can discuss more advanced topics.

answered Aug 12, 2012 at 20:03

hakre

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