OOP class design question...

[photo312]

I have this:

<?php

class User{

var $userid;
var $username;
var $firstname;
var $lastname;
var $password;
var $email;
var $signupdate;
var $lastlogin;
var $city;
var $state;
var $zip;
var $registrationstatus;
var $activestatus;
var $forumname;

function User($userId){
	$this->userid=$userId;
}

function getFirstName(){

//get firstname;
}

}//end class User

//**********************************************

class Trainer extends User{

var $experience;
var $trainerstyle;
var $reasonfortraining;
var $fieldofstudy;
var $degree;
var $yearsofexperience;
var $certifications;
var $educationalbackground;
var $specialization;
var $liabilityinsurance;
var $cpr;

function Trainer($id){

}
}
//**********************************************
?>

$Trainer = new Trainer(34);
$Trainer->getFirstName();

At the bottom I need to get the firstname, but how do I get the first name from the User class, if I instantiated the Trainer class....in other words, how do I pass the userId to the parent class?

Paul

[arborint]

Because Trainer extends User, you simply need to make the code in User like this:

function getFirstName(){
    return $this->firstname;
} 

PS - this is not really a design question, but a "how do I code this" question for the main PHP forum.

[photo312]

You misunderstood my question. I know how to code php. I needed advice on how to pass the id up the hiararchy of class. I know that now. I have another question here: ( php 4 )

<?php

class User{

var $userid;
var $username;
var $firstname;
var $lastname;
var $password;
var $email;
var $signupdate;
var $lastlogin;
var $city;
var $state;
var $zip;
var $registrationstatus;
var $activestatus;
var $forumname;

function User($userId){
	$this->userid=$userId;
}

function getFirstName(){
	return $this->firstname;
}

}//end class User

//**********************************************

class Trainer extends User{

var $experience;
var $trainerstyle;
var $reasonfortraining;
var $fieldofstudy;
var $degree;
var $yearsofexperience;
var $certifications;
var $educationalbackground;
var $specialization;
var $liabilityinsurance;
var $cpr;

function Trainer($id){
	$this->User($id);//passing it to the parent constructor
}

}//end Trainer class
?>

how do I fill the information in those classes. do I need to create another class that will fill out those values for me?
when I code this:

$Trainer = new Trainer(34);
$Trainer->getFirstName();
$Trainer->getExperience();

the classes are still empty so I get nothing....I need a way to fill out all the values . Should I include a function in teh trainer class that filles out the trainer values and user class that fills out user values in the user class?

Help me out...

[arborint]

function Trainer($id){
    $this->User($id);//passing it to the parent constructor
} 

This code should work correctly.

the classes are still empty so I get nothing....I need a way to fill out all the values . Should I include a function in teh trainer class that filles out the trainer values and user class that fills out user values in the user class?

Yes, set User properties with methods in User, and et Trainer properties with methods in Trainer.

You misunderstood my question. I know how to code php. I needed advice on how to pass the id up the hiararchy of class. I know that now. I have another question here: ( php 4 )

Again, these are "how to code it" questions that will get more responses in the main PHP forum.