Check if images exist, else null

Report · Mar 20, 2013

I have images relating with each post. Some only 1 and as many as 10. But the problem is I am creating a variable for each image ($pix1, $pix2 etc.), and if say the post or article has only one image linked to it, it doesn't echo the full description... Here is the code which I am defining the varibles and replacing the placeholders with the corresponding variable.

<?php foreach ($pix2 as $picture2) { ?>

<?php foreach ($pix3 as $picture3) { ?>

<?php

$image2 = $picture2['filename'];

$image3 = $picture3['filename'];

$image_path = '../../content_management/image_upload/';

$placeholders = array('[image2]', '[image3]');

$image_location = array('<a class="fancybox" href="' . $image_path . '' . $image2 . '" data-fancybox-group="gallery"><img src="' . $image_path . '' . $image2 . '" /></a>', '<a class="fancybox" href="' . $image_path . '' . $image3 . '" data-fancybox-group="gallery"><img src="' . $image_path . '' . $image3 . '" /></a>');

$rawstring = $featured_article['description'];

$new_string = $rawstring;

$new_string = str_replace($placeholders, $image_location, $new_string);

echo $new_string;

?>

<?php } ?>

So what is happening is that a new post has only two images associated with it, it doesn't post the description. As in the description I am puting placeholders of where I want the image for example "[image2]". And that way the placeholder [image2] will be replaced with the second image. But since it doesn't have a third image it doesn't post the description field.

Is there any functions I can use to check if the $pix variables have an image defined? Or any input on the best way to check this? Any help would be great!

Thanks,

Riley

Report · Mar 20, 2013

I am thinking what I need to do is something similar to below. Marked in bold is the new code added, but doesn't work. If I am in the right direction please let me know!!! I also changed the variables in the $image_location array as well.

<?php foreach ($pix2 as $picture2) { ?>

<?php foreach ($pix3 as $picture3) { ?>

<?php

$image2 = $picture2['filename'];

$image3 = $picture3['filename'];

if (isset($image2)) {

$image2 = $img2;

} else {

$image2 = NULL;

}

if (isset($image3)) {

$image3 = $img3;

} else {

$image3 = NULL;

}

$image_path = '../../content_management/image_upload/';

$placeholders = array('[image2]', '[image3]');

$image_location = array('<a class="fancybox" href="' . $image_path . '' . $image2 . '" data-fancybox-group="gallery"><img src="' . $image_path . '' . $image2 . '" /></a>', '<a class="fancybox" href="' . $image_path . '' . $image3 . '" data-fancybox-group="gallery"><img src="' . $image_path . '' . $image3 . '" /></a>');

$rawstring = $featured_article['description'];

$new_string = $rawstring;

$new_string = str_replace($placeholders, $image_location, $new_string);

echo $new_string;

?>

<?php } ?>

Report · Mar 20, 2013

>But the problem is I am creating a variable for each image ($pix1, $pix2 etc.)

Ugh. I would not do it that way. If you have a variable number of images, then just create an array to store the image path, descriptions and locations.

Report · Mar 20, 2013

Can you please go into more detail?

I have tried another way by having variable $image = all image in query. Now should I count the images or rows in this variable? And if so do what with them?

Report · Mar 20, 2013

>Can you please go into more detail?

I'm suggesting using a multidimensional array to store the details associated with each image. Of course, you may not even need this - why can't you just loop through your recordset?

>I have tried another way by having

>variable $image = all image in query.

Not sure what you mean. How are you storing multiple images in a single variable?

>Now should I count the images or rows in this

>variable? And if so do what with them?

Really need to know more about how your data is structured and what you are doing with it.

Report · Mar 20, 2013

Ok so how the images are stored are as follows:

Tables

Images: | Post2Images | Post:

ID Filename | Image_ID Post_ID | ID Name Description

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Image1 | 1 1 | 1 Post1 This is description of post 1

2 Image2 | 2 1 |

3 Image3 | 3 1 |

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4 Photo1 | 4 2 | 2 Post2 This is description of post 2

5 Photo2 | 5 2 |

So the above example is 2 different posts with Post 1 has 3 associated images, Post 2 has 2 associated images.

In my description I put placeholders [image1], [image2] ect. And with the origional post above I created an array with [image2] [image3] that will find those in the description field and replace those with variable $image2 and $image3 where those variables are as follows:

$photo_post = getPhotoPostByLinkname($Read, $_GET[post]);

$pix1 = getRelatedPhotos1($Read, $photo_post['post_id']);

$pix2 = getRelatedPhotos2($Read, $photo_post['post_id']);

$pix3 = getRelatedPhotos3($Read, $photo_post['post_id']);

Where each function is as follows:

function getRelatedPhotos1($read, $post_id) {

$sql = "SELECTimages.photo_id, filename

FROM images

INNER JOIN Post2Images USING (image_id)

WHERE post_id = $post_id

LIMIT 0, 1";

return $read->fetchAll($sql);

}

And then:

<?php foreach ($pix2 as $picture2) { ?>

<?php foreach ($pix3 as $picture3) { ?>

<?php

$image2 = $picture2['filename'];

$image3 = $picture3['filename'];

I hope this will help explain my method and what I am trying to accomplish.

Report · Mar 21, 2013

So now attemptying to loop through it I have made a few changes, which seems to be improving but am still not having the correct output.

This is Post 2 which has 2 related images as shown above. The description is as follows:

------------------------

The description....

[image]

------------------------

Instead of putting a number in each image, I am now just calling them all [image]. I don't know if this is more effective but what is now happending is as shown bellow: If echoes the description and displayes the first image at the two [image] place holders, then loops through and echoes the description again this time with the second image at the two [image] place holders.

------------------------

The description...

[image1]

The description...

[image2]

------------------------

And here is the code I am working with...

<?php foreach ($photos as $picture) { ?>

<?php

$count = count($picture);

for($i = 1; $i<= $count; $i++) {

$image[$i] = $picture['filename'];

$image_path = '../../content_management/image_upload/';

$placeholders = array("[image]");

$image_location = array('<a class="fancybox" href="' . $image_path . '' . $image[$i] . '" data-fancybox-group="gallery"><img src="' . $image_path . '' . $image[$i] . '" /></a>');

}

$rawstring = $photo_article['description'];

$new_string = $rawstring;

$new_string = str_replace($placeholders, $image_location, $new_string);

echo $new_string;

?>

<?php } ?>

Report · Mar 21, 2013

Sorry, been busy and won't get a chance to read your replies till later. Another thing that would help is a link to your site to see the layout, or at least an annotated screen shot.

Report · Mar 21, 2013

Here is my best at a sreen shot. It's zoomed out..

.