asked on

Parsing error with JSON

I am using some coding from datatables - and yes a newbie,
I have problems with the data not being pulled and after some debugging, I have this error:

Parse error on line 1:
SSP: : simple($_GET,
^
Expecting '{', '['

I have attached the snippet of coding and have tried several syntax but can not seem to get it right. Long day.
I have also posted the coding from the entire page...
Could someone be as so kind as to help with it? Thank you...

);

echo json_encode(
	SSP::simple( $_GET, $sql_details, $table, $primaryKey, $columns )
);

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<?php

/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 * Easy set variables
 */

// DB table to use
$table = 'datatables_demo';
echo $table;

// Table's primary key
$primaryKey = 'id';
echo $primaryKey;

// Array of database columns which should be read and sent back to DataTables.
// The `db` parameter represents the column name in the database, while the `dt`
// parameter represents the DataTables column identifier. In this case object
// parameter names
$columns = array(
	array( 'db' => 'first_name', 'dt' => 'first_name' ),
	array( 'db' => 'last_name',  'dt' => 'last_name' ),
	array( 'db' => 'position',   'dt' => 'position' ),
	array( 'db' => 'office',     'dt' => 'office' ),
	array(
		'db'        => 'start_date',
		'dt'        => 'start_date',
		'formatter' => function( $d, $row ) {
			return date( 'jS M y', strtotime($d));
		}
	),
	array(
		'db'        => 'salary',
		'dt'        => 'salary',
		'formatter' => function( $d, $row ) {
			return '$'.number_format($d);
		}
	)
);

// SQL server connection information
$sql_details = array(
	'user' => 'root',
	'pass' => '1Lanceandme2',
	'db'   => 'testexample',
	'host' => 'localhost'
);


/* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 * If you just want to use the basic configuration for DataTables with PHP
 * server-side, there is no need to edit below this line.
 */

require( 'ssp.class.php' );

echo json_encode(
	SSP::simple( $_GET, $sql_details, $table, $primaryKey, $columns )
);

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Ray Paseur

JSON_Encode() function expects a string, an array, or an object for input. What is the value produced by this static method?

SSP::simple( $_GET, $sql_details, $table, $primaryKey, $columns );

Overthere

ASKER

That's a good question! I should have dump the vars. Here are the results of doing so: ( I starred out the pass -didn't want to post that!)

datatables_demo
id
Arrayarray(4) { ["user"]=> string(4) "root" ["pass"]=> string(12) "************" ["db"]=> string(11) "testexample" ["host"]=> string(9) "localhost" } array(0) { }
 {"error":"An error occurred while connecting to the database. The error reported by the server was: could not find driver"}

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I have checked to ensure the drivers are installed by doing this: (and they did exist and I got my php info too.)
And I checked the php.ini too.
I do not know what else to check - pathing problem ? but where?
Once again Ray, I am lost..sigh

<?PHP
if (!function_exists('mysqli_init') && !extension_loaded('mysqli')) {
    echo 'We don\'t have mysqli!!!';
} else {
    echo 'Phew we have it!';
}

?>

<?php
phpinfo(); 
?>

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Overthere

ASKER

Added note. I am using Web Matrix 3. One site uses Php 5.3 and it reports that it has mysqli.
The site that I am having problems with is set to use PHP 5.4 and says it DOESN'T have mysqli!
Each site can be set to a different language etc.
So, how do I fix that site that can not find the mysqli?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Ray Paseur

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Overthere

ASKER

Thank you Ray -
I am going to try your coding and the advice....
I really like PHP, and gaining more experience with it and with the sometimes problems.
But a lot to learn yet.
I have a lot of experience with other languages (some arcade now - ha ha!) and with XML processing (bunches!)
Right now, I am trying to resolve the pathing issue to the new installed version of PHP - it keeps showing the old version - boo! I think once that is resolved, its going to be easier.
Like eating an elephant - one bite at a time....

Overthere

ASKER

as always good stuff from Ray!

Ray Paseur

Thanks for the points.

This article may not be viewable yet, but you can bookmark it and come back in a day or two. It's largely inspired by your question here, so it covers some of the ways of understanding XML and JSON - similarities and differences - with PHP and JavaScript code examples.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/22519/Understanding-JSON-in-PHP-and-JavaScript-Applications.html