PHP IF condition?

Question

How would I better write an IF statement for this condition?

I have 4 variables to check wheather it's null or not.

$pdf_locator21e, $pdf_locator21d, $pdf_locator21c, $pdf_locator21b

IF $pdf_locator21e has values { $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\5pg.pdf"; } IF it's NULL, then move to step 2
IF $pdf_locator21d has values { $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\4pg.pdf"; } IF it's NULL, then move to step 3
IF $pdf_locator21c has values { $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\3pg.pdf"; } IF it's NULL, then move to step 4
IF $pdf_locator21b has values { $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\2pg.pdf"; } IF it's NULL

ELSE

{ $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\CMS-485-487-1pg.pdf"; }

I want to check is IF $pdf_locator21e has values first, then it will use 5pg.pdf and STOP checking for pdf_locator21d, pdf_locator21c, and pdf_locator21b.

IF pdf_locator21e is NULL then it will check for pdf_locator21d, and so on..

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 19:22:09Z

2

You want to use if, elseif, and else. Additionally the empty function allows you to check is a variable is not empty (or not null). In the example below I'm using the ! to do the opposite (i.e. if not empty). The reason I choose to use that instead of just if($prd_locator21e) is because if it's not set, that would result in PHP Warning: error messages because the variable isn't set.

You're looking for something along these lines:

if ( ! empty($pdf_locator21e) )
  $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\5pg.pdf";
elseif ( ! empty($pdf_locator21d) )
  $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\4pg.pdf";
elseif ( ! empty($pdf_locator21c) )
  $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\3pg.pdf";
elseif ( ! empty($pdf_locator21b) )
  $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\2pg.pdf";
else
  $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\CMS-485-487-1pg.pdf"

As pointed in the comments below, you could use isset instead of ! empty to check if a variable is set. The difference is that it would allow values like FALSE or 0 or an empty string which are considered to be empty.

For example:

if ( isset($pdf_locator21e) )
  $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\5pg.pdf";

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 19:22

CommunityBot

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answered Jul 12, 2011 at 5:41

Francois Deschenes

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2 Comments

VolkerK Over a year ago

Just as a side-note: keep in mind that empty($x) tests false!==(bool)$x, i.e. $x='0'; echo empty($x) ? 'is empty':'not empty'; will print is empty.

Francois Deschenes Over a year ago

@VolkerK - That's right and depending on the case isset may be more appropriate.

Nanne · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-12 05:42:07Z

0

I'd say you use if ... elseif....else

so

if($pdf_locator21e){
      $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\5pg.pdf";
}elseif($pdf_locator21d){
       pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\4pg.pdf"; 
...
}else{
    $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\CMS-485-487-1pg.pdf"; 
}

answered Jul 12, 2011 at 5:42

Nanne

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Comments

Chandresh M · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-12 05:47:21Z

0

you can use isset() function for your task.

    if (isset($pdf_locator21e) && $pdf_locator21e != "")
      $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\5pg.pdf";
    else
      $pdf_original = "forms\pdfForms\CMS-485-487-1pg.pdf"

and so on....

Thanks.

answered Jul 12, 2011 at 5:47

Chandresh M

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