OOP PHP grouping related functions into a single object

[weegillis]

<?php 
 $today = date("Y-m-d");
 function notBefore($startDate)
 {
  global $today;
  return ($startDate < $today);
 };
 function notAfter($endDate)
 {
  global $today;
  return ($endDate > $today);
 };
 function isToday($targetDate)
 {
  global $today;
  return ($targetDate == $today);
 };
 ?>

Is there a way to create a single object with the above functions as properties? I can visualize it well enough in JavaScript, but PHP is a bit over my head at present. This can't be rocket science, but the blocks in my mind treat it as such. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

ADD:

Typical usage is as follows:

<?php
 if(notBefore("2011-11-22") && notAfter("2011-12-25"))
 {
 ?>
       <tr id="w1151">
       ...
       </tr>
<?php }; ?>

[qdb]

you need to create a class with those functions defined as public functions.
probably a constructor that would initialize the $today variable.
the usage would be
obj = new myClass();
obj->notBefore(...);

[kgun]

Functions are members of a class. Normally called methods. Variables are also called properties and states.

An object is an instance of a class.

Example. If an integer were a class, 1, 17, ... would be instances of that class.

More precise example: That starts in point 2 in the link below.

Some people say that the php manual is so well written that it can be read as a book. Therefore I recommend that you start here: http://php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.php

A free book http://www.computer-books.us/php_2.php that I have not read.

[weegillis]

Here's a really dumb question: in this usage, do I even need OOP? Would it be a waste, or just pointless chasing of one's own tail? It's not like this is very abstract.

[williamc]

it would be a waste IMO, use a single function for all 3 values and return them as an array. Being that it is just simple math that is being done, it will not matter speedwise in the least. You could even return the values as pipe delimited $val1|$val2|$val3 and use something like

list($val1, $val2, $val3) = explode('|', getValues($startDate, $endDate, $targetDate));

[weegillis]

While I was thinking on your method, @williamc, this one sort of popped out...

<?php if(duration('w1151')) include_once "weeks/w1151.txt"; ?>

and the library would contain this...

<?php 
$today = date("Y","m","d");

function between($startDate,$endDate)
{
 global $today;
 return(($startDate < $today) && ($endDate > $today));
};

$weeks = array(
 'w1150' => between('2011-11-15','2011-12-17'),
 'w1151' => between('2011-11-22','2011-12-24'),
 'w1152' => between('2011-11-29','2011-12-31'),
 'w1201' => between('2011-12-06','2012-01-07'),
 'w1202' => between('2011-12-13','2012-01-14')
);

function duration($id)
{
 foreach($weeks as $key => $flag)
 {
 if($id == $key) return $flag;
 };
};

 ?>

The target date is irrelevant to the usage, so I dropped it. The array would need regular upkeep, but even it could be generated from two seeds, and then add 7 to each to populate the array. Then only the seeds need maintenance, unless one can generate them, too. Probably can, just using $today as a reference. I planned this to always have the current week at the top of 5 weeks showing. Even if I have prepared for weeks in advance, we only need the 5 pertinent ones to be zeroed in on in any one page generation.

I guess my next question would be, can one use functions inside an array definition? Would it actually be better to push each row onto the array?

Add: like this (even though it's not pushing)...

$weeks = array();
$weeks['w1150'] = between('2011-11-15','2011-12-17');
$weeks['w1151'] = between('2011-11-22','2011-12-24');
$weeks['w1152'] = between('2011-11-29','2011-12-31');
$weeks['w1201'] = between('2011-12-06','2012-01-07');
$weeks['w1202'] = between('2011-12-13','2012-01-14'); 

And could I do something like this?

function duration($id) { return $weeks[$id]; }; 

[williamc]

seems to me your array is doing months rather than weeks, but in either case why not simply loop to build the weeks array

[weegillis]

The between period is 5 weeks, Sunday to the fifth Saturday. On each new Sunday, a week drops off the top and one is added to the bottom, putting that date in the top left corner That's why the weeks look like months.

[weegillis]

Have ground it all down to a mixture of the above ideas. Still need to create an engine for the between dates; having a bit of a time working with timestamps and all. Something will come about, eventually. The following is working as expected.

<?php 
 $today = date("Y-m-d");
 function notBefore($startDate)
 {
  global $today;
  return ($startDate < $today);
 };
 function notAfter($endDate)
 {
  global $today;
  return ($endDate > $today);
 };
 function between($startDate,$endDate)
 {
  return (notBefore($startDate) && notAfter($endDate));
 };
 $weeks = array( 
 // ...
  'w1205' => between('2012-01-01','2012-02-04'),
  'w1206' => between('2012-01-08','2012-02-11'),
  'w1207' => between('2012-01-15','2012-02-18'),
  'w1208' => between('2012-01-22','2012-02-25'),
  'w1209' => between('2012-01-29','2012-03-03'),
  'w1210' => between('2012-02-05','2012-03-10'),
  'w1211' => between('2012-02-12','2012-03-17'),
  'w1212' => between('2012-02-19','2012-03-24'),
  'w1213' => between('2012-02-26','2012-03-31')
 // ...
  );
 function setRow($id)
 {
  global $weeks;
  foreach($weeks as $key => $flag)
  {
   if($id == $key) return $flag;
  };
  return FALSE;
 };
 ?>

The implementation is as follows:

<?php 
 $cwd = getcwd();
 ...
 $rSpan = " rowspan=\"2\"";
 ?>
    ...
    <tbody>
<?php 
 chdir('includes');
 if(setRow("w1205")){$pRow = $rSpan; include_once "w1205.inc"; if($pRow){iceView(4,6);};}; // *
 if(setRow("w1206")){$pRow = $rSpan; include_once "w1206.inc"; if($pRow){iceView(7,7);};};
 if(setRow("w1207")){$pRow = $rSpan; include_once "w1207.inc"; if($pRow){iceView(7,7);};}; 
 if(setRow("w1208")){$pRow = $rSpan; include_once "w1208.inc"; if($pRow){iceView(4,7);};};
 if(setRow("w1209")){$pRow = $rSpan; include_once "w1209.inc"; if($pRow){iceView(7,3);};}; 
 if(setRow("w1210")){$pRow = ""; include_once "w1210.inc"; if($pRow) {iceView(0,7);};}; 
 if(setRow("w1211")){$pRow = ""; include_once "w1211.inc"; if($pRow) {iceView(0,7);};}; 
 if(setRow("w1212")){$pRow = ""; include_once "w1212.inc"; if($pRow) {iceView(0,7);};}; 
 if(setRow("w1213")){$pRow = ""; include_once "w1213.inc"; if($pRow) {iceView(0,7);};};
 chdir($cwd);
 ?>
    </tbody>
    ...

* iceView() is discussed in this thread: preg_replace and resource drain

Until I get that engine written, the file will need maintenance. Eventually both the array in the library and the rows in the html template can be driven by one engine. Always more to do...

Thank you everyone for your input. Everything starts from a seed.