using variables passed to views as global in function helpers

[eluser]Mackstar[/eluser]
I have a custom helper that I want to use in my views

It contains a function that dynamically manipulates values added to the form. Because I want it to use dynamic variables, but using global doesn't seem to work. Even if I hard code my variables

This is what I am doing

Code:

function form_values($variable, $head=NULL)
{
    if($head)
        global ${$head};
    if(isset(${$head}[$variable]))
        return ${$variable};
    elseif($head)
        return set_value("{$head}[{$variable}]");
    else
        return set_value($variable);
}

I have a array set into $account and am calling it as in

Code:

<input type="text" name="account[name]" value="<?php echo form_values("name", "account"); ?>" size="50" />

I have complete access to the $account array in the view.

Why is this not registering the array as a global?

Thanks in advance

Richard

[eluser]TheFuzzy0ne[/eluser]
Probably because the array is not in the global scope. Where are you defining it?

[eluser]Mackstar[/eluser]
Thanks for the reply,

I am defining it in the controller

Code:

$data["account"]=$result[0];
$this->layout->view('/accounts/edit', $data);

Should I define it in the controller as a global? Or is there another way to get it into the global scope?

Thanks again

Richard

[eluser]Mackstar[/eluser]
OK thanks, I worked it out myself but I wouldn't have thought about it without your prompt.

Rather than passing the array through the view loader, I defined it as a global.
Thanks fuzzy one!


Richard