Managing default values in form submissions

[irkengir]

I've got this code:

$in = $this->getInput();
$clean = array('txtTitle'           => $this->_escape($in->getRaw('txtTitle'))           or '',
               'selClient'          => $in->getInt('selClient')                          or 0,
               'selSubclient'       => $in->getInt('selSubclient')                       or 0,
               'fsVideo'            => $in->getInt('fsVideo')                            or true,
               'txtUrlStream'       => $this->_escape($in->getRaw('txtUrlStream'))       or '',
               'txtUrlDownload'     => $this->_escape($in->getRaw('txtUrlDownload'))     or '',
               'txtWidth'           => $this->getInt('txtWidth')                         or 0,
               'txtHeight'          => $this->getInt('txtHeight')                        or 0,
               'txtMsgFeedback'     => $this->_escape($in->getRaw('txtMsgFeedback'))     or '',
               'txtMsgStream'       => $this->_escape($in->getRaw('txtMsgStream'))       or '',
               'txtMsgDownload'     => $this->_escape($in->getRaw('txtMsgDownload'))     or '',
               'fsQuestionnaire'    => $this->getInt('fsQuestionnaire')                  or true,
               'txtMsgOnStart'      => $this->_escape($in->getRaw('txtMsgOnStart'))      or '',
               'txtMsgOnceFinished' => $this->_escape($in->getRaw('txtMsgOnceFinished')) or '');
$clean = (object)$clean;

It's getting posted values from a form or if they aren't present assigning them with a default.

However there are a couple of problems:

• The first line ($in = $this->getInput();) can fail, as in return NULL, if the form hasn't been posted in which case $in->getRaw('txtTitle') generates an E_FATAL because $in isn't an object.
• I can't make the assignment of $clean conditional based on $in because then my defaults wouldn't be assigned.

So basically I'm looking for a nice solution for managing default values where form isn't posted or any single field isn't posted.

[foofoonet]

Do some conditional testing to see if the object is set, is_object() http://fr.php.net/is_object might be one, or if not a simple
if($in = $this->getInput()){
//do stuff
} might do it.

or else, as you say it return NULL;

if($this->getInput()==NULL){stop script}

http://www.deformedweb.co.uk/php_variable_tests.php Now beware, testing for null is not my best skill, take a look at that table in the link!

This is one of those cases where UnitTesting would help keep your sanity - and save you Sooooo much time.
http://www.lastcraft.com/simple_test.php
http://www.marcclifton.com/tabid/98/Default.aspx