explode() doesn't work when preg_replace() calls a function

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March 3rd, 2003, 01:03 AM

Robert K S

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Location: Cleveland OH USA

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explode() doesn't work when preg_replace() calls a function

I'm trying to write a PHP routine that parses web pages and replaces a custom HTML tag, <picture>, with an <img> tag that includes a link to a resized cached picture generated by the same tag replacement function. I'm using preg_replace() to do the <picture>-to-<img> replacement. But, quite strangely inside the part of the routine that parses the <picture> tag attributes, the explode() function decides he's tired of working and he walks right off the job.

In the example code below, both Method 1 and Method 2 should echo the same $content, but for some mysterious reason, they don't! They SHOULD be functionally equivalent, but they're not: in Method 1, the explode() function gets lazy and refuses to do its job. Please try running this sample code so that you may marvel at the inexplicable result. Can anybody tell me what the heck is going on?

All the best,
Robert K S

PHP Code:


		
			
<?



function preg_split_then_explode($picture_tag_attributes) {

  list($picture_id_and_size, $picture_replacement) = preg_split('/\s+/', $picture_tag_attributes);

  list($picture_id, $picture_size) = explode("_", $picture_id_and_size);

  return('$picture_id = '.$picture_id.'<br>$picture_size = '.$picture_size);

}



// Method 1: preg_replace() calls a function

$content = '<picture 125_small>';

$content = preg_replace('/((<\s*picture\s*)([^>]*)(>))/i', preg_split_then_explode("$3"), $content);

echo $content;



echo '<p>';



// Method 2: bypassing the preg_replace step

$content = '125_small';

list($picture_id_and_size, $picture_replacement) = preg_split('/\s+/', $content);

list($picture_id, $picture_size) = explode("_", $picture_id_and_size);

$content = '$picture_id = '.$picture_id.'<br>$picture_size = '.$picture_size;

echo $content;



// Method 2 works, but in Method 1, the explode() function decides not to work!  Why??



?>

Last edited by Robert K S : March 3rd, 2003 at 02:16 AM.