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Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 09:27:31 +0100
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Subject: How to tell if a method is called statically in PHP4?
From: marcus@synchromedia.co.uk (Marcus Bointon)

Apologies for posting this here, but I can't find a documented solution for
this and PHP-General has not provided any ideas. I'm wondering if it's even
possible.

<?php
class A {
var $Anotstatic;
  function A() {
    $this->Anotstatic = true;
  }
  function dynamic() {
    if (!isset($this) or !is_a($this, 'A') or !(isset($this->Anotstatic) and
$this->Anotstatic))
        echo "Method called statically\n";
    else
        echo "dynamic-only function\n";
  }
  function test ()
  {
     A::dynamic(); //How to stop this working?
  }
}

class B {
function test() {
  A::dynamic();
}
}

$a = new A();
$a->dynamic(); //Passes, dynamic call allowed
A::dynamic(); //Passes, static call prevented
$b = new B;
$b->test(); //Passes, static call prevented
$a->test(); //Fails, static call allowed
?>

This works for the first 3 tests (so I'm getting there), but not the fourth,
that is a dynamic method being called statically from an instance of the
same class. Is there something I've missed that will allow me to intercept
this style of call?

I know that this problem goes away in PHP5, and that the setting of $this in
static calls from other instances is not a bug (though it's at the root of
this problem). Is there some other property like $this that doesn't have
this behaviour?

Many thanks for any suggestions,

Marcus
-- 
Marcus Bointon
Synchromedia Limited: Putting you in the picture
marcus@synchromedia.co.uk | http://www.synchromedia.co.uk