In PHP 4, only constant initializers for var variables are allowed. To initialize variables with non-constant values, you need an initialization function which is called automatically when an object is being constructed from the class. Such a function is called a constructor (see below).
Code:
<?php
class Cart {
/* None of these will work in PHP 4. */
var $todays_date = date("Y-m-d");
var $name = $firstname;
var $owner = 'Fred ' . 'Jones';
/* Arrays containing constant values will, though. */
var $items = array("VCR", "TV");
}
/* This is how it should be done. */
class Cart {
var $todays_date;
var $name;
var $owner;
var $items = array("VCR", "TV");
function Cart() {
$this->todays_date = date("Y-m-d");
$this->name = $GLOBALS['firstname'];
/* etc. . . */
}
}
?>