Passing a php variable into a gravity forms hook

Question

I think I'm getting really confused with return'ing and echo'ing variables.

I've got this gravity forms hook from their support...

add_filter('gform_field_value_facebook_name', 'my_custom_population_function');
function my_custom_population_function($value){
    return 'boom!';
}

This works and returns 'boom!' as my form field default variable.

This is pretty straight forward for a general text string, but I am trying to return a PHP variable instead.

I am loading the facebook PHP SDK in my functions.php at a higher scope than the gravity form hook. The facebook SDK definitely works, for example I am currently echoing this in my wordpress theme files...

echo $userData['name']

But my question is, why does it not work if I try and return the above variable inside the gravity for hook?

Please see what I have tried below, but it returns nothing...

add_filter('gform_field_value_facebook_name', 'my_custom_population_function');
function my_custom_population_function($value){
    return $userData['name'];
}

I've also tried something similar in my wordpress functions.php, when trying to echo a variable in a filter...

$fb_app_id      = '12345678910';

// APP ID FILTER
add_action( 'fb_app_id', 'echo_fb_app_id' );
function echo_fb_app_id() {
    echo $fb_app_id;
}

But this returns nothing and the scope is the same.

Can anyone please enlighten me to why I can't pass these variables around. I think thats the technical term. Thank you very much.

gen_Eric · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-08 17:27:29Z

3

This is because in PHP, functions don't read global variables without the global keyword.

$fb_app_id      = '12345678910';

// APP ID FILTER
add_action( 'fb_app_id', 'echo_fb_app_id' );
function echo_fb_app_id() {
    global $fb_app_id; // tells PHP to use the global variable
    echo $fb_app_id;
}

Try to add global $userData; to your my_custom_population_function.

edited May 8, 2012 at 17:27

answered May 8, 2012 at 17:21

gen_Eric

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3 Comments

Keil Over a year ago

or like this $GLOBALS['fb_app_id']

Joshc Over a year ago

Massive thank you @Rocket - both of your solutions worked - I think I'm getting javascript scope mixed up with how php uses higher variables.

gen_Eric Over a year ago

@Joshc: Yeah, this would've worked in JavaScript. PHP's slightly different.

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