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Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 21:09:23 -0400
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Subject: static/object method
From: hans@velum.net (Hans Lellelid)

Hi all,

I have a pattern I'm trying to implement in PHP5 using a class that 
could be called statically or non-statically.  Perhaps "pattern" gives 
this too much legitimacy :)  I can't figure out how to do this & wanted 
to ask if a) it's possible at all and b) if there's been any solution 
discussed for such an approach.

Here's what I'm trying to do, but can't figure out a way in PHP5 (or a 
non-hack way in PHP4):

- AuthorFinder is a class that can be used statically for default 
behavior or instantiated if customized behavior is needed.

static, default behavior, probably accounts for 80% of uses:

$c = new Criteria(Author::NAME, "Leo");
$a = AuthorFinder::find($c);

instantiated behavior for performing customizations:

$c = new Criteria(Author::NAME, "Leo");
$af = new AuthorFinder();
$af->setLimit(5);
$a = $af->find($c);

Is there *any* way to accomplish that in PHP5?  I can't reference $this 
-- even to check isset() (which would probably be misleading anyway) 
from inside a method declared as static.  If I do not declare the method 
static then calling it statically triggers E_STRICT error which I want 
to avoid since I'm writing PHP5 code.   Perhaps I'm missing an obvious 
solution, in which case I apologize & probably should have asked 
php-general.

It would be *really* cool if PHP could support this type of pattern, as 
there have been a few cases where I've wanted to apply this in PHP5.  
Perhaps this has already been discussed & I just didn't notice.

Thanks,
Hans