PHP problem: Extracting a value from a query string

by 10 replies
13
So, I'm having what is probably a really basic brain fart here. I have a script that's getting code back from Aweber after someone confirms a subscription. The URL contains subscriber data, in this format, as it appears in the location bar:

Code:
http://example.com/scriptname.php?email=user%40example.com&from=user%40example.com&meta_adtracking=adtrackcode&meta_message=1&name=Freddie&unit=listname&add_url=http%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Ffirstscript.php%3Fpage%3D678&add_notes=256.0.0.7&custom%20ref=678

I am attempting to extract that last value (678) from the query string, using this bit of code:

Code:
<?php

error_reporting (E_ALL ^ E_NOTICE);

$default = 1;
$value = $_GET['custom ref'];

if($value != "") {
  $newvalue = $_GET['custom ref'];
} else {
  $newvalue = $default;
}
?>
I've tried it as $_GET['custom ref'] and $_GET['custom%20ref'], and it makes no difference. All it ever returns is the default value of '1'.

What am I screwing up?


Paul
#programming #extracting #problem #query #string
  • Hi!

    The var name should be translated to custom_ref, so try: $_GET['custom_ref'].

    Also you can output all GET vars to see what is actually in there like this:

    var_dump($_GET);
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • The query string I get from Aweber is custom%20ref. I'll try it with the underscore, though. Thanks.

    Gonna take a while. When you test too many subscriptions from the same IP, it seems Aweber starts slowing them down. A lot. Makes sense from an abuse-prevention perspective, but it's a nuisance for testing your own process changes...


    Paul
    • [1] reply
    • the best thing will be to use var_dump($_GET); to get all the $get values and see what is returned. you can use something like
      <pre>
      var_dump($_GET);
      </pre>
      To have a cleaner view of the output
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • The underscore worked. Thank you, psvent.

    That one tiny thing was keeping me from getting a new project rolled out. Amazing how something that small can have such an annoyingly large impact.
    • [1] reply
    • I wonder why they chose to use a non-standard variable name in the first place? :confused:
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
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    PHP problem: Extracting a value from a query string

    So, I'm having what is probably a really basic brain fart here. I have a script that's getting code back from Aweber after someone confirms a subscription. The URL contains subscriber data, in this format, as it appears in the location bar: Code: http://example.com/scriptname.php?email=user%40example.com&from=user%40example.com&meta_adtracking=adtrackcode&meta_message=1&name=Freddie&unit=listname&add_url=http%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Ffirstscript.php%3Fpage%3D678&add_notes=256.0.0.7&custom%20ref=678