PHPExcel passing PHP variables into spreadsheet properties - php

Question

<?php
//Initialize variables for downloads
$report_name = $_POST['herd-reports-download-name'];
$filetype = $_POST['group1'];
$farm_id = $_POST['farm_id'];
$username = $_POST['user_name'];
$json_array = json_decode($_POST['table_data'], true);
$wksDescription = "Report generated for farm";
//Branch casing depending on filetype
switch($filetype) {
case 'PDF':
generate_pdf();
break;
case 'Excel':
generate_excel();
break;
}
//Functions for downloads here.
function generate_pdf() {
//echo 'pdf';
}
function generate_excel() {
//echo 'excel';
require '../includes/libraries/PHPExcel/Classes/PHPExcel.php';
$objPHPExcel = new PHPExcel(); //Spreadsheet generated, one worksheet is always added to it.
$cacheMethod = PHPExcel_CachedObjectStorageFactory::cache_in_memory_serialized;
PHPExcel_Settings::setCacheStorageMethod($cacheMethod); //Serializes to cut memory usage slightly at a minor performance hit.
$objPHPExcel->getProperties()->setCreator("myself")
->setLastModifiedBy("myself")
->setTitle("Report for a farm")
->setSubject("A report")
->setDescription($wksDescription)
->setKeywords("office 2007 etc")
->setCategory("Report File");
$objPHPExcel->setActiveSheetIndex(0)
->setCellValue('A1', 'Snoop Dawg');
//Once it's done, begin prep to output to browser
$objPHPExcel->setActiveSheetIndex(0);
header('Content-Type: application/vnd.ms-excel');
header("Content-Disposition: attachment;filename=vroom");
header('Cache-Control: max-age=1');
$objWriter = PHPExcel_IOFactory::createWriter($objPHPExcel, 'Excel5');
$objWriter->save('php://output');
}
?>
My question is on setDescription() and setting the file name, why won't php variables work? They are currently returning nothing in those respective areas. It's probably a matter of manipulating them somehow, as setDescription() takes a string as an argument, and I'm passing a string, but it doesn't work. Nothing is being returned.
The file downloads fine, but properties that aren't strictly a string being passed aren't being set.

Answer 1

try making that variable global within the function.
function generate_excel() {
global $wksDescription;
The variable doesn't exist within the scope of the function unless you pull it in from the outside.