Saving multiline strings that contain variables, into a file with PHP and CodeIgniter

Question

I'm trying to save a multiline string, something like this in plain text:

define host {
        use                     template;
        host_name               $host_name;
        address                 46.224.2.220;
        contacts                $email;
}

but variables e.g. $host_name and $email must be replaced with their values. s

I couldn't figure this out. any way to achieve this?

Regular expression replacement preg_replace() - if you have tried that, what's wrong with it? — Mats Petersson, Dec 20 '12 at 18:36
Thank you, actually I don't know how to keep that spacing and the shape similar to how it is displayed above. — Zim3r, Dec 20 '12 at 18:53
I don't see why preg_/str_replace would change that - assuming you read it in right - which is a different matter that you didn't ask about, nor am I sure about the answer. — Mats Petersson, Dec 20 '12 at 19:01
I think I did something wrong and your right. I'll try again. Thanks — Zim3r, Dec 20 '12 at 19:04

user1190992 · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-21T04:53:40.540

1

You can use str_replace

$plain_text = "define host {
        use                     template;
        host_name               $host_name;
        address                 46.224.2.220;
        contacts                $email;
}";


$find = array("$host_name", "$email");
$replace = array($host_name, $email);

$new_plain_text = str_replace($find, $replace, $plain_text);

edited Dec 21 '12 at 04:53

answered Dec 20 '12 at 19:00

user1190992

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3
8

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 21 '12 at 00:38

$variables are expanded when the string is specified in double quotes or with heredoc syntax (reference). So you can simply do:

$host_name = 'foo';
$email = 'bar';

$plain_text = "define host {
        use                     template;
        host_name               $host_name;
        address                 46.224.2.220;
        contacts                $email;
}";

However, the variables have to be defined before the string expression. If they're not, you can use the str_replace() method explained in other answers.

Saving multiline strings that contain variables, into a file with PHP and CodeIgniter

2 Answers2