Observer Noob help?

[absurdparadox]

Hey guys, trying to get my first Observer working.

I have placed the following in includes/auto_loaders/config.test_ordernum.php:

$autoLoadConfig[0][] = array('autoType'=>'class',
                              'loadFile'=>'observers/class.test_observer.php');
$autoLoadConfig[0][] = array('autoType'=>'classInstantiate',
                              'className'=>'test_ordernum',
                              'objectName'=>'test_ordernum'); 

And I have placed the following in include/classes/observers/class.test_observer.php:

class test_ordernum extends base {

    function test_ordernum() {
        $this->attach($this, array('NOTIFY_CHECKOUT_PROCESS_AFTER_ORDER_CREATE'));
    }
        
    function update(&$class, $notifier, $paramsArray) {
        global $db;
        $sql = "INSERT INTO test_ordernum ( orders_id, ordernum) VALUES ('55','test')";
        $result = $db->Execute($sql);
    }
} 

Now, I know for sure that the file is loading, because if I put some jacked up syntax in it, it errors out.

However, my problem is that that query is never running. I'm under the assumption that that is literally all I need in my class -- update should automatically be called when the notificaton is triggered.

Maybe it has something to do with the autoload "breakpoint"? I tried various levels, but no luck. Maybe theres some obvious syntax or reference issue (php is not forte, but I am in experienced in other languages)

Long story short, what I'm trying to do is create an alphanumeric order numer thats based on order date, and due to interfacing with a third party system, it is just easier to store it, instead of doing the display-hack that I've seen a lot of order number modifications do.

Any help is appreciated!

[absurdparadox]

<jayz>Can I get a help help?</jayz>

[absurdparadox]

Still looking for a little help on this issue, if anyone can provide it!

[DrByte]

While I would recommend using a breakpoint of 90 or higher, I see nothing wrong with that code, and in fact when I just tested it now it works fine for me. Well, I say "fine" because I know it's attempting the query because I get this back:

1146 Table 'my_database_name.test_ordernum' doesn't exist
in:
[INSERT INTO test_ordernum ( orders_id, ordernum) VALUES ('55','test')]

[DrByte]

I tested it on a development copy of the not-yet-released v139 ... and it works fine.
But it doesn't fire properly on 1.3.8.

So, as a workaround, you'll need to replace the contents of your /includes/classes/class.base.php file with the following to make it work on 1.3.8:

<?php
/** 
 * File contains just the base class
 *
 * @package classes
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2009 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: class.base.php 14535 2009-10-07 22:16:19Z wilt $
 */
/**
 * abstract class base
 *
 * any class that wants to notify or listen for events must extend this base class
 *
 * @package classes
 */
class base {
  /**
   * method used to an attach an observer to the notifier object
   * 
   * NB. We have to get a little sneaky here to stop session based classes adding events ad infinitum
   * To do this we first concatenate the class name with the event id, as a class is only ever going to attach to an
   * event id once, this provides a unigue key. To ensure there are no naming problems with the array key, we md5 the unique
   * name to provide a unique hashed key. 
   * 
   * @param object Reference to the observer class
   * @param array An array of eventId's to observe
   */
  function attach(&$observer, $eventIDArray) {
    foreach($eventIDArray as $eventID) {
      $nameHash = md5(get_class($observer).$eventID);
      base::setStaticObserver($nameHash, array('obs'=>&$observer, 'eventID'=>$eventID));
    }
  }
  /**
   * method used to detach an observer from the notifier object
   * @param object
   * @param array
   */
  function detach($observer, $eventIDArray) {
    foreach($eventIDArray as $eventID) {    
      $nameHash = md5(get_class($observer).$eventID);
      base::unsetStaticObserver($nameHash);
    }
  }
  /**
   * method to notify observers that an event as occurred in the notifier object
   * 
   * @param string The event ID to notify for
   * @param array paramters to pass to the observer, useful for passing stuff which is outside of the 'scope' of the observed class.
   */
  function notify($eventID, $paramArray = array()) {
    $observers = & base::getStaticObserver();
    if (!is_null($observers))
    {
      foreach($observers as $key=>$obs) {
        if ($obs['eventID'] == $eventID) {
          $obs['obs']->update($this, $eventID, $paramArray);
        }
      }
    }
  }
  function & getStaticProperty($var)
  {
    static $staticProperty;
    return $staticProperty;
  }
  function & getStaticObserver() {
    return base::getStaticProperty('observer');
  }
  function & setStaticObserver($element, $value)
  {
    $observer =  & base::getStaticObserver();
    $observer[$element] = $value;
  }
  function & unsetStaticObserver($element)
  {
    $observer =  & base::getStaticObserver();
    unset($observer[$element]);
  }
}

[absurdparadox]

That did the trick! Thanks a ton!

Is it not fully released for 1.3.8? I mean, why did that file need to be updated, for it to work? (Just curious)

Also, holy crap @ number of posts!

[DrByte]

That did the trick! Thanks a ton!

You're welcome.

Is it not fully released for 1.3.8? I mean, why did that file need to be updated, for it to work? (Just curious)

I found some bugs with it when I was testing some things while developing 1.3.9, and so we looked at what might be causing it and found some flaws in the original design of the notifier/observer stuff in the base class. So, we rolled those into the upcoming 1.3.9. The stuff I posted has not been extensively tested on 1.3.8, but I know it works for the case you mentioned above. I can't speak to other uses, but I would be surprised if there were any adverse side-effects. It will not be released officially for 1.3.8 though. But it will be in 1.3.9. You're welcome to use it on your site in the meantime.

Also, holy crap @ number of posts!

LOL -- well, we don't just write the software, we support it too ;)